OSA(3)							User Contributed Perl Documentation						    OSA(3)

NAME

       Mac::OSA - Provide interface to Open Scripting Architecture

SYNOPSIS

	   use Mac::OSA;

	   use Mac::OSA qw(OSALoad OSAStore OSAExecute);

DESCRIPTION

       Access to Inside Macintosh is essential for proper use of these functions.  Explanations of terms, processes and procedures are provided
       there.  Any attempt to use these functions without guidance can cause severe errors in your machine, including corruption of data. You have
       been warned.

   Constants
       kOSAComponentType
       kOSAGenericScriptingComponentSubtype
       kOSAFileType
       kOSASuite
       kOSARecordedText
       kOSAScriptIsModified
       kOSAScriptIsTypeCompiledScript
       kOSAScriptIsTypeScriptValue
       kOSAScriptIsTypeScriptContext
       kOSAScriptBestType
       kOSACanGetSource
       typeOSADialectInfo
       keyOSADialectName
       keyOSADialectCode
       keyOSADialectLangCode
       keyOSADialectScriptCode
       kOSAScriptResourceType
       typeOSAGenericStorage
	   Types and keywords.

       kOSANullScript
       kOSANullMode
       kOSAModeNull
	   Default values.

       kOSASupportsCompiling
       kOSASupportsGetSource
       kOSASupportsAECoercion
       kOSASupportsAESending
       kOSASupportsRecording
       kOSASupportsConvenience
       kOSASupportsDialects
       kOSASupportsEventHandling
	   Feature flags.

       kOSAModePreventGetSource
       kOSAModeNeverInteract
       kOSAModeCanInteract
       kOSAModeAlwaysInteract
       kOSAModeDontReconnect
       kOSAModeCantSwitchLayer
       kOSAModeDoRecord
       kOSAModeCompileIntoContext
       kOSAModeAugmentContext
       kOSAModeDisplayForHumans
       kOSAModeDontStoreParent
       kOSAModeDispatchToDirectObject
       kOSAModeDontGetDataForArguments
       kOSAModeDontDefine
	   Mode flags.

       kOSAErrorNumber
       kOSAErrorMessage
       kOSAErrorBriefMessage
       kOSAErrorApp
       kOSAErrorPartialResult
       kOSAErrorOffendingObject
       kOSAErrorExpectedType
       kOSAErrorRange
       typeOSAErrorRange
       keyOSASourceStart
       keyOSASourceEnd
	   Error handling.

       kOSAUseStandardDispatch
       kOSANoDispatch
       kOSADontUsePhac
       kGenericComponentVersion
	   Dispatching flags

   Functions
       OSALoad SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTDATA, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSALoad function loads script data and returns a script ID. The generic scripting component uses the descriptor record in the
	   SCRIPTDATA parameter to determine which scripting component should load the script. If the descriptor record is of type
	   typeOSAGenericStorage, the generic scripting component uses the trailer at the end of the SCRIPTDATA to identify the scripting
	   component. If the descriptor record's type is the subtype value for another scripting component, the generic scripting component uses
	   the descriptor type to identify the scripting component.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAStore SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTID, DESIREDTYPE, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSAStore function returns script data in a descriptor record so that the data can later be saved in a resource or written to the
	   data fork of a document. You can then reload the data for the descriptor record as a compiled script (although possibly with a
	   different script ID) by passing the descriptor record to OSALoad().	Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAExecute SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, COMPILEDSCRIPTID, CONTEXTID, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSAExecute function executes the compiled script identified by the COMPILEDSCRIPTID parameter, using the script context identified
	   by the CONTEXTID parameter to maintain state information, such as the binding of variables, for the compiled script. After successfully
	   executing a script, OSAExecute returns the script ID for a resulting script value, or, if execution does not result in a value,
	   "undef".

       OSADisplay SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTVALUEID, DESIREDTYPE, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSADisplay function coerces the script value identified by SCRIPTVALUEID to a descriptor record of the text type specified by the
	   DESIREDTYPE parameter, if possible. Valid types include all the standard text descriptor types defined in the Apple Event Registry:
	   Standard Suites, plus any special types supported by the scripting component.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAScriptError SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SELECTOR, DESIREDTYPE
	   Whenever the OSAExecute() function returns the error errOSAScriptError, you can use the OSAScriptError function to get more specific
	   information about the error from the scripting component that encountered it. (This information remains available only until the next
	   call to the same scripting component.) The information returned by OSAScriptError depends on the value passed in the SELECTOR
	   parameter, which also determines the descriptor type you should specify in the DESIREDTYPE parameter.

	   Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSADispose SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTID
	   The OSADispose function releases the memory assigned to the script data identified by the SCRIPTID parameter. The SCRIPTID passed to
	   the OSADispose function is no longer valid if the function returns successfully. A scripting component can then reuse that SCRIPTID for
	   other script data.  Return zero if no error was detected.

       OSASetScriptInfo SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTID, SELECTOR, VALUE
	   The OSASetScriptInfo function sets script information according to the value you pass in the selector parameter. If you use the
	   kOSAScriptIsModified constant, OSASetScriptInfo sets a value that indicates how many times the script data has been modified since it
	   was created or passed to OSALoad. Some scripting components may provide additional constants.  Return zero if no error was detected.

       OSAGetScriptInfo SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTID, SELECTOR
	   The OSAGetScriptInfo function returns various results according to the value you pass in the SELECTOR parameter.  Returns an integer
	   value which may need to be recast as the desired type.

       OSASetProperty SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, MODEFLAGS, SCRIPTID, VARIABLENAME, SCRIPTVALUEID
	   The OSASetProperty function sets the value of a script property in a specified script.  VARIABLENAME is an AEDesc.

       OSAGetProperty SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, MODEFLAGS, SCRIPTID, VARIABLENAME
	   The OSAGetProperty function gets the value of a script property in a specified script.  VARIABLENAME is an AEDesc.  Returns an AEDesc.

       OSAGetAppTerminology SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, MODEFLAGS, FILE, TERMINOLOGYID
	   OSAGetAppTerminology gets one or more scripting terminology resources from the specified file.  Returns an AEDesc.

       OSAScriptingComponentName SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT
	   The OSAScriptingComponentName function returns a descriptor record that you can coerce to a text descriptor type such as typeChar. This
	   can be useful if you want to display the name of the scripting language in which the user should write a new script.  Return "undef" if
	   an error was detected.

       OSACompile SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SOURCEDATA, MODEFLAGS, [PREVIOUSSCRIPTID]
	   You can pass a descriptor record containing source data suitable for a specific scripting component (usually text) to the OSACompile
	   function to obtain a script ID for the equivalent compiled script or script context. To compile the source data as a script context for
	   use with OSAExecuteEvent() or OSADoEvent(), you must set the kOSAModeCompileIntoContext flag, and the source data should include
	   appropriate handlers.  Return zero if no error was detected.

       OSACopyID SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, FROMID, [TOID]
	   The OSACopyID function replaces the script data identified by the script ID in the TOID parameter with the script data identified by
	   the script ID in the FROMID parameter.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAGetSource SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTID, [DESIREDTYPE]
	   The OSAGetSource function decompiles the script data identified by the specified script ID and returns a descriptor record containing
	   the equivalent source data.	Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSACoerceFromDesc SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTDATA, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSACoerceFromDesc function coerces the descriptor record in the SCRIPTDATA parameter to the equivalent script value and returns a
	   script ID for that value.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSACoerceToDesc SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTID, DESIREDTYPE, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSACoerceToDesc function coerces the script value identified by SCRIPTID to a descriptor record of the type specified by the
	   DESIREDTYPE parameter, if possible.	Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSASetDefaultTarget SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, TARGET
	   The OSASetDefaultTarget function establishes the default target application for Apple event sending and the default application from
	   which the scripting component should obtain terminology information. For example, AppleScript statements that refer to the default
	   application do not need to be enclosed in "tell/end tell" statements.  Return zero if no error was detected.

       OSAStartRecording SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, [COMPILEDSCRIPTTOMODIFYID]
	   The OSAStartRecording routine turns on Apple event recording. Subsequent Apple events are recorded (that is, appended to any existing
	   statements) in the compiled script specified by the COMPILEDSCRIPTTOMODIFYID parameter.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAStopRecording SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, COMPILEDSCRIPTID
	   The OSAStopRecording function turns off recording. If the script is not currently open in a script editor window, the
	   COMPILEDSCRIPTTOMODIFYID parameter supplied to OSAStartRecording() is then augmented to contain the newly recorded statements.  If the
	   script is currently open in a script editor window, the script data that corresponds to the compiledScriptToModifyID parameter supplied
	   to OSAStartRecording() is updated continuously until the client application calls OSAStopRecording.	Return zero if no error was
	   detected.

       OSALoadExecute SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTDATA, CONTEXTID, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSALoadExecute function loads script data and executes the resulting compiled script, using the script context identified by the
	   CONTEXTID parameter to maintain state information such as the binding of variables. After successfully executing the script,
	   OSALoadExecute disposes of the compiled script and returns either the script ID for the resulting script value or, if execution does
	   not result in a value, the constant kOSANullScript.	Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSACompileExecute SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SOURCEDATA, CONTEXTID, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSACompileExecute function compiles source data and executes the resulting compiled script, using the script context identified by
	   the CONTEXTID parameter to maintain state information such as the binding of variables. After successfully executing the script,
	   OSACompileExecute disposes of the compiled script and returns either the script ID for the resulting script value or, if execution does
	   not result in a value, the constant kOSANullScript.	Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSADoScript SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SOURCEDATA, CONTEXTID, DESIREDTYPE, MODEFLAGS
	   Calling the OSADoScript function is equivalent to calling OSACompile() followed by OSAExecute() and OSADisplay(). After compiling the
	   source data, executing the compiled script using the script context identified by the CONTEXTID parameter, and returning the text
	   equivalent of the resulting script value, OSADoScript disposes of both the compiled script and the resulting script value.  Return
	   "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSASetCurrentDialect SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, DIALECTCODE
	   Set the current dialect for a scripting component.  Return zero if no error was detected.

       OSAGetCurrentDialect SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT
	   Get the dialect code for the dialect currently being used by a scripting component.	Returns the code for the current dialect of the
	   specified scripting component.

       OSAAvailableDialects SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT
	   Obtain a descriptor list containing information about each of the currently available dialects for a scripting component.  Return
	   "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAGetDialectInfo SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, DIALECTCODE, SELECTOR
	   After you obtain a list of dialect codes by calling OSAAvailableDialectCodeList(), you can pass any of those codes to OSAGetDialectInfo
	   to get information about the corresponding dialect. The descriptor type of the descriptor record returned by OSAGetDialectInfo depends
	   on the constant specified in the SELECTOR parameter.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAAvailableDialectCodeList SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT
	   Obtain a descriptor list containing dialect codes for each of a scripting component's currently available dialects.	Return "undef" if
	   an error was detected.

       OSAExecuteEvent SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, THEAPPLEEVENT, CONTEXTID, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSAExecuteEvent function attempts to use the script context specified by the contextID parameter to handle the Apple event
	   specified by the THEAPPLEEVENT parameter.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSADoEvent SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, THEAPPLEEVENT, CONTEXTID, MODEFLAGS
	   The OSADoEvent function resembles both OSADoScript() and OSAExecuteEvent().	However, unlike OSADoScript(), the script OSADoEvent
	   executes must be in the form of a script context, and execution is initiated by an Apple event. Unlike OSAExecuteEvent(), OSADoEvent
	   returns a reply Apple event rather than the script ID of the resulting script value.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAMakeContext SCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, CONTEXTNAME, [PARENTCONTEXT]
	   The OSAMakeContext function creates a new script context that you may pass to OSAExecute() or OSAExecuteEvent(). The new script context
	   inherits the bindings of the script context specified in the PARENTCONTEXT parameter.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAGetDefaultScriptingComponent GENERICSCRIPTINGCOMPONENT
	   The OSAGetDefaultScriptingComponent function returns the subtype code for the default scripting component. This is the scripting
	   component that will be used by OSAStartRecording(), OSACompile(), or OSACompileExecute() if no existing script ID is specified. From
	   the user's point of view, the default scripting component corresponds to the scripting language selected in the Script Editor
	   application when the user first creates a new script.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSASetDefaultScriptingComponent GENERICSCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTINGSUBTYPE
	   The OSASetDefaultScriptingComponent function sets the default scripting component for the specified instance of the generic scripting
	   component to the scripting component identified by the SCRIPTINGSUBTYPE parameter.  Return zero if no error was detected.

       OSAGetScriptingComponent GENERICSCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTINGSUBTYPE
	   The OSAGetScriptingComponent function returns an instance of the scripting component identified by the SCRIPTINGSUBTYPE parameter. Each
	   instance of the generic scripting component keeps track of a single instance of each component subtype, so OSAGetScriptingComponent
	   always returns the same instance of a specified scripting component that the generic scripting component uses for standard scripting
	   component routines.	Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAGetScriptingComponentFromStored GENERICSCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, SCRIPTDATA
	   The OSAGetScriptingComponentFromStored function returns the subtype code for the scripting component that created the script data
	   specified by the SCRIPTDATA parameter.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

       OSAGenericToRealID GENERICSCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, GENERICSCRIPTID
	   Given a GENERICSCRIPTID (that is, a script ID returned by a call to a standard component routine via the generic scripting component),
	   the OSAGenericToRealID function returns the equivalent component-specific script ID and the component instance that created that script
	   ID as an array.

       OSARealToGenericID GENERICSCRIPTINGCOMPONENT, THESCRIPTID, THEEXACTCOMPONENT
	   The OSARealToGenericID function performs the reverse of the task performed by OSAGenericToRealID(). Given a component-specific SCRIPTID
	   and an exact scripting component instance (that is, the component instance that created the component-specific script ID), the
	   OSARealToGenericID function returns the corresponding generic script ID.  Return "undef" if an error was detected.

AUTHOR

       Written by Matthias Ulrich Neeracher <neeracher@mac.com>, documentation by Bob Dalgleish <bob.dalgleish@sasknet.sk.ca>.	Currently
       maintained by Chris Nandor <pudge@pobox.com>.

perl v5.16.2							    2013-08-25								    OSA(3)