From: macmod (Info-Mac Moderator) Date: Tue, 21 Dec 93 11:15:48 PST Subject: New AppleScript Kit MOVED OVER PR NEWSWIRE AT 8:16 AM, EDT MONDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1993. Contact: Emilio Robles Apple Computer, Inc. (408) 862-5671 or Toni Giusti Cunningham Communication, Inc. (408) 982-0400 Apple Delivers New AppleScript Scripter's Kit for Solution Providers New Toolkit Allows Solution Providers to Integrate Off-the-shelf Applications Across Desktops and Networks for Increased Productivity CUPERTINO, California--December 13, 1993--Apple Computer, Inc. today introduced its AppleScript Scripter's Kit, a new software tool that enables solutions providers and end-users to integrate elements of commercial Macintosh software applications across desktops and networks. By providing an easy way to integrate computing processes across different off-the-shelf applications, AppleScript allows users to dramatically boost productivity. The AppleScript Scripter's Kit brings Apple's scripting language to a new class of users. Now, the power and extendibility of AppleScript is available to solutions providers, in-house developers, value-added resellers (VARs), system integrators and end-users. Since April 1993, AppleScript has been available as a software developer's kit for commercial software developers. "AppleScript is a key technology that provides significant added value to customers' existing desktop and networked applications, without costly investment in new operating system technologies," said AppleSoft senior vice president and general manager David Nagel. "Building on the extensible foundation of System 7 and our cross- platform Open Scripting Architecture (OSA), AppleScript is at the heart of Apple's commitment to make computing easier and more focused on users' needs. AppleScript and the OSA provide a clear path towards Apple's universal compound document environment known as OpenDoc." The AppleScript Scripter's Kit includes an enhanced version of Apple's scripting language, AppleScript 1.1, an enhanced script editor, and an interface processor from Software Designs Unlimited, Inc. AppleScript is a system-software-level scripting language that enables users to integrate components of commercial and in-house software applications. The interface builder from Software Designs Unlimited, Inc., allows users to build interfaces for their scripts. Powerful New Automation Features The AppleScript scripting language enables users to tightly integrate the functionality of standard, off-the-shelf applications as well as in-house, enterprise-wide programs to build customized scripts that automate business processes and increase productivity. For example, with AppleScript, a sales department can automatically generate a weekly report that invokes functions from a series of scriptable applications such as Microsoft Excel, FileMaker Pro and QuarkXPress. AppleScript can gather data from one application, process it in another and present it in a third automatically at a given time or based on an event, locally or over a network. Before AppleScript, these time-consuming functions needed to be performed manually by launching and working directly in each individual application. "Scriptable" Applications Since the AppleScript Software Developer's Kit was introduced in April 1993, over 80 independent software vendors (ISVs) are now shipping AppleScript-aware applications (see related news release). ISVs that provide scriptable applications include: Aldus, Beyond, Claris, Great Plains, Microsoft, Quark, Symantec, UserLand and WordPerfect among others. "AppleScript has built a loyal following among commercial developers. Through OSA, AppleScript is open, extensible and operates across networks, which makes it an attractive solution for a wide variety of applications and solutions," said Chuck Piercey, product marketing manager for AppleScript. "Today's leading commercial software developers have recognized the payoff of AppleScript for themselves as well as for their users and have mobilized to make sure they can take advantage of this powerful technology." Scriptable products help ISVs reach new users by enabling their products to be built into more solutions. AppleScript gives ISVs an easy way to differentiate their products and leverage new technologies such as voice recognition. In addition, AppleScript helps ISVs reduce development time and costs by removing the need to create a proprietary scripting language. Solution Providers The AppleScript Scripter's Kit is an important tool for corporate solution providers because it introduces new business opportunities. With the Scripter's Kit, solution providers such as in-house developers, consultants, VARs and system integrators, can tightly link components of existing software applications to provide tailored solutions. The ability to easily leverage proven, commercial applications in new ways allows solution providers to enhance the functionality and value of their product. AppleScript Scripter's Kit lets solution providers take a more targeted business approach. Since AppleScript can directly record user actions in certain applications, solution providers can customize their products to meet very specific user needs or provide solutions that are easily customizable by the user. "AppleScript is gaining momentum because it encourages new levels of functionality and efficiency with today's leading applications," said Tony De Young, of San Francisco-based production company ARTLab. "Scripting gives us the ability to access and leverage the millions of lines of commercial software code and provide our customers with the kind of focused solutions they need. For example, we used AppleScript to mimic an existing workflow that had previously taken 30 people six weeks to complete. Using AppleScript with three existing software programs, we were able to produce the same results with one person in two hours." End Users Ultimately, AppleScript allows end-users to focus on getting work done quickly. The Scripter's Kit allows users to combine familiar applications in custom ways to automate routine work and perform complex, time-consuming tasks. The AppleScript Scripter's Kit The AppleScript Scripter's Kit, targeted at solution providers and end users, contains AppleScript 1.1 and a script editor that automatically generates and edits scripts based on user's actions. The Scripter's Kit also includes: an interface processor that enables building custom interfaces for scripts; support for multiple dialects that provides for scripting in non-English languages (French and Japanese are included); and a redistribution license for AppleScript system software and interface processor runtime code. The AppleScript scripting language is integrated into the Macintosh operating system and conforms to Apple's cross-platform Open Scripting Architecture (OSA) standard. Developed in cooperation with third-party developers, the OSA provides a standard way for mainstream applications to interact with any scripting system and is a key deliverable of Apple's OpenDoc technology. OpenDoc is a compound document architecture that enables users to create compound, customizable documents. AppleScript is an element of Apple's long- term strategy to automate the Macintosh computing environment, improve application interaction and provide a foundation technology for OpenDoc. Software Developer's Kit AppleScript was offered initially as a toolkit for commercial software developers in April and is now updated to Version 1.1. The AppleScript Developer's Kit for commercial developers includes the AppleScript Scripter's Kit plus a pre-release version of the scriptable finder and development tools. Apple also licenses the AppleScript runtime software and the script editor to commercial developers for shipment with their products. For more information on licensing, developers worldwide should contact Apple Software Licensing at (408) 974-4667. Pricing and Availability The U.S. suggested retail price of the AppleScript Scripter's Kit 1.1 is $189. Volume purchases of site licenses are available for the AppleScript Scripter's Kit through the Apple volume licensing program. The AppleScript Scripter's Kit 1.1 is planned to be available at the end of the month and will be able to be ordered through software resellers, Apple authorized resellers and APDA -- Apple's source for developer tools. APDA can be reached in the United States at (800) 282-2732; in Canada at (800) 637-0039; or internationally at (716) 871-6555. Apple resellers can be located by calling (800) 538-9696. All customers have access to toll-free telephone support by calling Apple Assurance at (800) SOS-APPL. Advanced scripting support is available for a fee by calling (800) 950-2442. -30- Apple, the Apple logo, and Macintosh are registered trademarks and System 7 and AppleScript are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. EDITOR'S NOTE: The AppleScript Scripter's Guide, which lists all scriptable applications, is available by contacting Cindy Cooper of Cunningham Communication, Inc. at AppleLink address: CCI.Calif. If you are interested in receiving Apple releases via fax, call (800) AAPL-FAX and enter I.D. number 6172. END Transmitted: 93-12-13 12:28:54 EST