Macworld Article > Latest iWork update is another win for AppleScript

scriptLate last year, Apple generated a wave of negative press after releasing slimmed down Mac versions of the iWork apps—Keynote, Numbers, and Pages. Rewritten from the ground up to focus on ease of use, consistency, and iCloud support, the apps lacked lots of the useful productivity features that Mac users had come to use. One major setback was a significant reduction in AppleScript support, a problem for anyone attempting to automate an iWork-based office workflow.

I’m pleased to say that this week, Apple has delivered!  The iWork apps have received a notable set of AppleScript improvements across the board. [Read more on Macworld.com...]

Macworld Article > AppleScript makes a comeback in Numbers 3.1 iWork Update

scriptBack in November, I wrote about the growing concern in the Mac community that Apple might be abandoning AppleScript. The occasion was the virtual removal of AppleScript support from the iWork apps (Keynote, Numbers, and Pages). At the time, I stressed that Mac users should remain calm, that this was nothing new, that the level of AppleScript support in any given app had always ebbed and flowed from release to release.

Looks like we’ve just had another ebb and flow.

[Read more on Macworld.com...]

Macworld Article > The state of AppleScript: Let’s not panic … yet

scriptIt’s that time again. A new version of OS X is out, and with it come the recurring cries of AppleScript’s demise. But let’s try to remain calm: Recent Internet rumors that the sky is falling may be slightly exaggerated. Nobody knows for sure what the future holds, but personally, I don’t think AppleScript is going anywhere just yet.

[Read more on Macworld.com...]

Mac Automation Made Simple Video Podcast > Creating a Microsoft Entourage 2008 Automator Workflow

Episode 12
Date: 12.23.2008
Duration: 00:06:50
Creating a Microsoft Entourage 2008 Automator Workflow
In this episode of Mac Automation Made Simple, Ben Waldie demonstrates how to use Automator to perform tasks in Microsoft Entourage 2008, including attaching PDF versions of documents to outgoing messages, and importing attachments into Aperture.
[View in Tunes...] [View at Peachpit.com...]

Mac Automation Made Simple Video Podcast > Creating a Microsoft PowerPoint 2008 Automator Workflow

Episode 11
Date: 12.09.2008
Duration: 00:07:56
Creating a Microsoft PowerPoint 2008 Automator Workflow
In this episode of Mac Automation Made Simple, Ben Waldie demonstrates how to use Automator to perform tasks in Microsoft PowerPoint 2008, including converting a presentation to image files for import into iPhoto, and converting to a QuickTime movie.
[View in Tunes...] [View at Peachpit.com...]

Mac Automation Made Simple Video Podcast > Creating a Microsoft Excel 2008 Automator Workflow

Episode 10
Date: 11.25.2008
Duration: 00:07:17
Creating a Microsoft Excel 2008 Automator Workflow
In this episode of Mac Automation Made Simple, Ben Waldie demonstrates how to use Automator to perform tasks in Microsoft Excel 2008. Ben shows you a workflow to batch convert Excel workbooks to .csv format and one that builds address labels in Excel.
[View in Tunes...] [View at Peachpit.com...]

Mac Automation Made Simple Video Podcast > Creating a Microsoft Word 2008 Automator Workflow

Episode 9
Date: 11.11.2008
Duration: 00:07:33
Creating a Microsoft Word 2008 Automator Workflow
In this episode of Mac Automation Made Simple, Ben Waldie demonstrates how to create an Automator workflow that converts Microsoft Word 2008 documents to PDF or HTML format, and uploads them to a Web server via FTP.
[View in Tunes...] [View at Peachpit.com...]

MacVoices Interview > Microsoft Office 2008 Automator Actions

Listen to Ben Waldie discuss the new Microsoft Office 2008 Automator actions.
[iTunes] [Listen]

Peachpit Blog Post > Creating a Microsoft Word 2008 Automator Workflow

05.02.08 - Creating a Microsoft Word 2008 Automator Workflow.

The final Office 2008 example Automator workflow this week is for Microsoft Word. This workflow will retrieve a list of selected contacts in Address Book. It will then extract the name and address for each of those contacts, add it to a new Word document, apply bold formatting, and save the document to the desktop. You’ve now got a list of address labels, ready to be printed. [Read more at Peachpit.com...]

Peachpit Blog Post > Creating a Microsoft PowerPoint 2008 Automator Workflow

05.01.08 - Creating a Microsoft PowerPoint 2008 Automator Workflow.

Today’s Office 2008 Automator workflow is a PowerPoint workflow. First, you’ll be asked to choose some photos from your Aperture, iPhoto, or Photo Booth library. Next, the workflow will create a slideshow presentation in PowerPoint. Once the presentation has been created, it will be saved to the Desktop as a QuickTime movie. You could then e-mail the slideshow movie to a friend, upload it to your Web site, import it into iTunes and convert it for your iPod or iPhone, and more. [Read more at Peachpit.com...]