Learn Mac Automation with Ruby Scripting teaches you an easier way to automate all of the AppleScript-able applications in Mac OS X–one that doesn"t resort to AppleScript. This book shows you how to translate AppleScript code into Ruby, gets you started taking advantage of the many features of Ruby that AppleScript lacks, and shows Ruby users how to leverage all the power of Apple Events with Ruby and the rbappkscript extension. Ruby has a number of advantages over AppleScript, but foremost among them is its increasing popularity across platforms as a powerful, concise, and logically consistent language. Apple includes Ruby with the developer downloads for Mac OS X, and there"s a natural affinity among Ruby developers for Macs. And while AppleScript maintains a core base of users, many developers prefer to avoid it. This title serves a dual audience of Ruby users who want to automate their use of Mac OS X and AppleScript users looking for an easier way to automate and create more platform-neutral automation scripts. Serves as a complete guide to Mac system and application automation with Ruby Introduces "just enough" Ruby for scripters of any skill level Covers Apple Events and Mac OS X "scriptability" without the need for a detailed technology lesson What you"ll learn Perform object-oriented scripting with Apple Events Target objects within a specified application Use Ruby"s methods the right way to send commands and manipulate objects Map Apple Event data types to Ruby"s classes Learn how to use the dictionary resource in general, as well as specific application dictionaries Explore powerful Ruby alternatives to AppleScripts" "scripting additions" Who is this book for? AppleScript users tired of AppleScript"s limitations who want to use a more modern, powerful scripting language, as well as Ruby users who want to communicate with scriptable Mac OS X applications but don"t want to learn AppleScript.