PDF Ebook Automator Programming Guide
Automator is an application from Apple that automates repetitive procedures performed on a computer. With Automator users can construct arbitrarily complex workflows from modular units called actions. An action performs a discrete task, such as opening a file, cropping an image, or sending a message. A workflow is a number of actions in a particular sequence; when the workflow executes, data is piped from one action to the next until the desired result is achieved.
Apple includes a suite of ready-made actions with Automator, but developers are encouraged to contribute their own actions. You can create actions which are implemented as loadable bundles using either AppleScript, Objective-C, or a combination of the two languages. You can also create actions using shell scripts or other scripting languages such as Perl and Python.
Automator was introduced in Mac OS X version 10.4. It does not run on earlier systems. The development features of Automator were introduced with Xcode 2.0. Additional development features have been added in Xcode 2.1. This document notes these newer features when it mentions them.
Contents
Introduction to Automator Programming Guide
- Who Should Read This Document
Organization of This Document
See Also
Automator and the Developer
- Constructing Workflows With Automator
Workflow Scenarios
Developing for Automator
Automator Actions as Universal Binaries
How Automator Works
- The Development Components of Automator
Loadable Bundle Architecture
A New Workflow
An Unarchived Workflow
Programming Implications of Loadable Bundles
Threading Architecture
The Automator Classes
Design Guidelines for Actions
- What Makes a Good Action?
Action Input and Output
Naming an Action
The User Interface of an Action
Developing an Action
- Creating an Automator Action Project
Constructing the User Interface
Using the Cocoa-Automator Palette
Establishing Bindings
Specifying Action Properties
Using the Automator Property Inspector
Writing the Action Description
Writing the Action Code
Internationalizing the Action
Localized Strings
Localizing the Automator Properties
Internationalizing Resource Files
Testing, Debugging, and Installing the Action
Testing and Debugging Strategies
Installing Actions
Frequently Asked Questions About Debugging Automator Actions
Show When Run
- The “Show Action When Run” Option
Refining Show When Run
Specifying Properties for Show When Run
Grouping User-Interface Objects
Implementing an AppleScript Action
- The Structure of the on run Command Handler
Other AppleScript Scripts
Hybrid Actions
Updating Non-bound Parameters
Implementing an Objective-C Action
- Specifying Cocoa Type Identifiers
Implementing runWithInput:fromAction:error:
Updating Action Parameters
Loading and Executing Scripts
Creating Shell Script Actions
- The Run Shell Script Action
Custom Shell Script Actions
Creating the Shell Script Action Project
Composing the Action View
Automator Properties for Shell Script Actions
Writing the Script
Debugging and Testing Shell Script Actions
Creating a Conversion Action
Defining Your Own Data Types
- When to Define a Data Type
Creating the Definition Bundle
Specifying Defined Types
Adding a Localization
Automator Action Property Reference
- Property Keys and Values
Type Identifiers
Document Revision History
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