Installation manual
Chapter 9 Automating Tasks 169
Using Scripting and Automation Tools with Remote Desktop
You can use tools like AppleScript and Automator in conjunction with Remote Desktop.
By combining tools, you increase the power and control you have over automating
tasks. For example, you can use AppleScript to automate Remote Desktop itself. Also
by using Automator actions, you can even create your own interfaces to Apple Remote
Desktop functions without having to give users access to Remote Desktop.
Using AppleScript with Remote Desktop
AppleScript is a powerful and versatile scripting language that is built into Mac OS X.
You can use AppleScript to create shortcuts, automate repetitive tasks, or even make
custom applications that save you a great amount of time. AppleScript is an English-
like language you can use to write scripts that contain commands. Scripts can make
decisions based on user interaction, or by parsing and analyzing data, documents, or
situations. Remote Desktop is scriptable, as are many other Mac OS X applications, and
it can be controlled with AppleScript commands. AppleScript is a complete language
with conditional statements, comparison and arithmetic operations, and the ability to
store variables.
This documentation doesn’t teach AppleScript language syntax or programming
practices. For information about learning how to program with AppleScript, see the
AppleScript onscreen help.
This section provides a brief description of AppleScript, a brief discussion of using the
Remote Desktop AppleScript dictionary, and a sample script.
AppleScript Basics
AppleScript scripts consist of commands that are sent to objects. Objects can be a
wide variety of things, including applications, scripts, windows, settings, or the Finder.
These objects can receive a specic set of commands and respond with the desired
actions. Essentially, a script tells an application (Remote Desktop in this case) to either
complete a certain task or retrieve information. You can give the script decision-
making capabilities by using conditional statements; you can give the script a memory
by dening variables.
Remote Desktop has made all of its fundamental functions scriptable. The tasks
that you perform as an administrator by pointing and clicking the mouse can all be
accomplished by running an AppleScript script. For example, you can:
Get information about a computer Â
Rename a computer Â
Add computers to a list Â
Copy or install items Â
Execute a report task Â