The "conduit" is the hook that the programmer uses to access the code available as a service. The actual functionality is something that is left for the programmer to develop. For example, with Word Service, the programmers at Devon Technologies <http://www.devon- technologies.com/products/freeware/services.php> wrote a bunch of code to do all the formatting and other tasks available. By using the Apple defined methods, they are able to advertise these services to other programs that support services. There are a number of services provided by Apple (e.g. Grab) that can be thought of as being "under the hood" since everyone gets them as part of OS X, but those programs are using the same service conduit as Devon and Omni and others have used to advertise their services. Norm --- Norman A. Cohen nacohen at mac.com "As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain; and as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality." Albert Einstein On Dec 29, 2005, at 08:45 AM, net kat wrote: > those calc and word service services are really what I'm talking > about...you just drop those little guys in and start rockin. > > maybe this is obvious to some, but do those services merely serve > as a conduit to things "under the hood" already in OS X? > > nk