Language Guide

G L O S S A R Y
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whether you declare it as global or local.
The scope of a property extends to the
entire script or script object in which it
is declared.
script A series of written instructions that,
when executed, cause actions in
applications and on the desktop.
scriptable application An application that
can respond to application commands sent
to it when an application such as Script
Editor runs a script.
script application An application whose
only function is to run the script associated
with it.
script code A constant that identifies
a particular script system for use on
Macintosh computers.
script editor An application used to create
and modify scripts.
Script Editor The script-editing applica-
tion that comes with the AppleScript
English language dialect.
scripting addition A file that provides
additional commands you can use in
scripts. Each scripting addition contains one
or more command handlers. If a scripting
addition is located in the Scripting
Additions folder (in the Extensions folder of
the System Folder), the command handlers
it provides are available for use by any
script whose target is an application on
that computer.
script object A user-defined object in a
script that combines data (in the form of
properties) and potential actions (in the
form of handlers).
script object definition A compound
statement that contains a collection of
properties, handlers, and other AppleScript
statements. A script object definition begins
with the reserved word script, followed
by an optional variable name, and ends
with the keyword end (or end script).
script property A named container in
which to store a value. Script properties are
similar to variables, but they are persistent.
Unlike variable values, script property
values are saved when you save a script.
script system A collection of system
software facilities that allow for the visual
representation of a particular writing
system. Script systems include Roman,
Japanese, Hebrew, Greek, and Thai.
simple statement A statement that is
contained on a single line and ends with
a return character. See also compound
statement.
simple value A value, such as an
integer or a constant, that does not
contain other values.
statement A series of AppleScript words,
similar to an English sentence, that contains
a request for an action or an expression to
be evaluated. See also compound
statement, simple statement.
string An ordered series of characters (a
character string). String is an AppleScript
value class.
Styled Text A synonym for the
AppleScript value class String. A string
referred to as Styled Text may include
style and font information.