X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > AppleScripting Tables in QuarkXPress

(Nonpublished) - AppleScripting Tables in QuarkXPress.

The release of QuarkXPress 7 has brought with it a number of enhancements that provide AppleScript developers with greater control over tables. In this month’s column, we will explore a number of ways to use AppleScript to interact with tables in QuarkXPress 7. [Read more...]

X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > Scripting the Non-Scriptable

Vol. 5, Num. 2 - Scripting the Non-Scriptable.

Those who regularly use AppleScript to automate their QuarkXPress-based workflows can attest to the fact that every now and then you may run into a roadblock. While QuarkXPress’ AppleScript support is fairly extensive, unfortunately not every single feature and function is accessible via scripting. In many cases, these limitations pertain to areas that are not commonly automated by the masses. However, since workflows can vary from user to user, these situations are sometimes encountered and when they are, workarounds must be identified. [Read more at X-Ray Magazine online...]

X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > Using AppleScript to Interact with Images

Vol. 5, Num. 1 - Using AppleScript to Interact with Images.

We have spent some time in previous columns discussing how AppleScript may be used to interact with text in QuarkXPress projects. In this issue we are going to begin discussing AppleScript interaction with images in QuarkXPress projects. We will explore a number of image-related topics, including placing images, scaling images, offsetting images, and more. [Read more at X-Ray Magazine online...]

X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > Giving your QuarkXPress AppleScripts a Facelift

Vol. 4, Num. 5 - Giving your QuarkXPress AppleScripts a Facelift.

Writing AppleScripts is an excellent way to make your QuarkXPress workflow more efficient, leaving you more time to be creative. As you develop scripts for yourself, you should also consider distributing those scripts to others so that they may become more efficient too. However, with this distribution, be prepared for the inevitable confusion that often accompanies running your AppleScripts by other users. [Read more at X-Ray Magazine onine...]

X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > Automating PDF Creation with AppleScript

Vol. 4, Num. 4 - Automating PDF Creation with AppleScript.

I am sure that QuarkXPress users can attest to the fact that there are many time-consuming and repetitive tasks that take place in any desktop-publishing workflow. I have been developing custom AppleScripts to automate just these types of tasks for my clients for years. In the many desktop- publishing automation scripts that I have developed, similarities can’t help but be noticed, even in the most obscure workflows. In QuarkXPress-based workflows, one task that stands-out as a very commonly automated task is the process of using AppleScript to convert QuarkXPress documents to PDF. [Read more at X-Ray Magazine online...]

X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > AppleScripting QuarkXPress 7

Vol. 4, Num. 3 - AppleScripting QuarkXPress 7.

QuarkXPress 7 is now available, and is full of great new features and options that will make your documents better than ever and your desktop-publishing workflow more efficient, but what has changed with regard to QuarkXPress’ AppleScript support, if anything? [Read more at X-Ray Magazine online...]

X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > Tips for Updating Your QuarkXPress AppleScripts

Vol. 4, Num. 2 - Tips for Updating Your QuarkXPress AppleScripts.

Many long-time QuarkXPress users will probably agree, if it works, then leave it alone. This ideology is evident in many QuarkXPress-based workflows, especially those that have been working reliably for years and years. If you attend a QuarkXPress users’ group meeting, or a QuarkXPress- related seminar, you will no doubt find people using all different versions of QuarkXPress, from version 3.32 and even earlier, to the latest and greatest. [Read more at X-Ray Magazine online...]

X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > Automator for QuarkXPress Users

Vol. 4, Num. 1 - Automator for QuarkXPress Users.

Until this month, my articles have focused on methods of controlling QuarkXPress with AppleScript, the scripting language that is built into the Macintosh® operating system. In this month’s article, I am going to switch gears slightly. Rather than discussing ways to control QuarkXPress via AppleScript (we’ll get back to that in my next column), I would like to talk about something new – Automator. [Read more at X-Ray Magazine online...]

X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > Scripting Text (Part 2)

Vol. 3, Num. 5 - Scripting Text (Part 2).

In my last article, I began a discussion about interacting with text in QuarkXPress documents with the use of AppleScript. Much of what you will do with AppleScript and QuarkXPress will involve working with text. This is obviously a fairly complex topic, and it can’t possibly be covered in a single article. Therefore, for this issue, I would like to expand on the previous article and explore text interaction in greater detail. [Read more at X-Ray Magazine online...]

X-Ray Magazine Scripting Quark Article > Scripting Text

Vol. 3, Num. 4 - Scripting Text.

Learning how to automate QuarkXPress with AppleScript can be simple or complex, depending upon the tasks that you plan to automate.
First, you need an understanding of the core AppleScript language. You can do this by familiarizing yourself with the AppleScript Language Guide, which can be found on Apple's AppleScript web site at http://www.apple.com/applescript. A comprehensive AppleScript book, such as Danny Goodman's AppleScript Handbook, available from SpiderWorks, LLC, (http://www.spiderworks.com) is also a good way to get started. Next, you will need to be familiar with QuarkXPress' AppleScript support. This can be done by opening and reviewing QuarkXPress' AppleScript dictionary in Script Editor, and by exploring QuarkXPress' Apple Events Scripting documentation, DOCUMENTS > APPLE EVENTS SCRIPTING FOLDER within your QuarkXPress folder.

You will learn quickly that QuarkXPress' AppleScript support is fairly robust, and many of the repetitive and time-consuming tasks that you perform within QuarkXPress on a daily basis can be automated with AppleScript. In future articles, we will discuss using AppleScript to automate many of these tasks, including working with picture boxes, printing, and more. This month, however, we will begin with discussing how AppleScript can be used to automate interaction with something that affects every QuarkXPress user — text.

There are a large number of text-related tasks that can be automated in QuarkXPress with AppleScript, much more than can fit into a single article. Therefore, for now, we will discuss a small subset of these tasks, including creating a text box, adding text to a text box, and retrieving text from a text box. We will continue our exploration of AppleScript-based text interaction further in future articles, but, you are encouraged to continue exploring on your own as well. [Read more at X-Ray Magazine online...]