AppleScript Programming/System Events

One of the many things that can be used with Applescript is System Events. It is always first executed by the "tell" command.

 tell application "System Events"

This will tell applescript to execute commands associated with the program System Events. For example, the command:

 keystroke "e"

Will literally type the letter "e".

Here's a simple program:

tell application "TextEdit"
        activate
        make new document
end tell
tell application "System Events"
        keystroke "Support Wikibooks!"
end tell

It will open the application TextEdit, start a new document, and type the phrase "Support Wikibooks!"

You can also use keystroke tab (note that there are no quotes) to type a tab, and keystroke return to enter a new line.

tell application "TextEdit"
        activate
        make new document
end tell
tell application "System Events"
        keystroke "Support Wikibooks!"
        keystroke return
        keystroke "by donating!"
end tell

Which will create a new document with Support Wikibooks! and by donating, on another line.

Now you may be wondering, How do I preform key combinations like command+q (Works with other modifier keys, like option, and control)

Key combos is a three line code consisting of

key down {command}
keystroke "q"
key up {command}

You can also hold down many keys at a time using the augment of key down and key up but separating keys using commas

Here is a program that will open text edit and then quit it using command+q:

tell application "TextEdit"
        activate
end tell
 
delay 3.0
 
tell application "System Events"
        key down {command}
        keystroke "q"
        key up {command}
end tell

You can also use one line commands for keystrokes, such as:

tell application "System Events" to keystroke "c" using command down

It is possible to use combokeys in oneline like this:

keystroke "h" using {command down, shift down}

Which will invoke Copy in most Mac applications