[X4U] Decent book on scripting language

[Christopher Collins]

Hi Ed,

Not sure if this is useful or not, but I found a bunch of PDF files on  
apple's website detailing Automator and AppleScript.

Might be a good start?

cjc


On 23/05/2008, at 3:28 PM, Ed Gould wrote:

> I am spending way too much time doing a repetitive tasks of moving  
> files around.
>
> I guess I need some sort of scripting language that will allow me to  
> automate this task. I know I will never be able to totally automate  
> it as (at times) it needs human judgement, but I can live with the  
> "few" exceptions.
>
> Simply put I need to move a file from one folder to another folder  
> (BUT) if there is a duplicate don't move it.
> The from folder will remain constant but the receiving folder will  
> change depending on the first character of the file.
>
> I am somewhat familiar with one or two other scripting languages but  
> have zero knowledge on anything Apple might have.
>
> Can someone suggest a scripting language that will be able to test  
> easily if a file exists and *move* files from foldera to folderb (or  
> "c" or "d" or "e" etc)
>
> At first a friend suggested automater but he looked at it and said  
> he didn't think so.
>
> I would like to be able to use (what I call symbolics or someone  
> might call a variable)  eg: move &1stchartest.pdf to folder&1stchat 
> \&1stchartest.pdf
> this would (if 1st char was say a) move atest.pdf folder\atest.pdf   
> I know the example is not clear but the scripting language needs to  
> be able to actually move files and be able to have variable names  
> used in the file move as well as destinations.
>
> The languages I know this is extremely simple so I am guessing there  
> is one for Apple as well.
>
> Is there one, if so what is a decent book on it?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ed
>
> ps: If it makes any difference I am stuck on 10.4 for the  
> foreseeable future