source: trunk/essentials/dev-lang/python/Doc/mac/libaetools.tex@ 3400

\section{\module{aetools} ---
         OSA client support}

\declaremodule{standard}{aetools}
  \platform{Mac}
%\moduleauthor{Jack Jansen?}{email}
\modulesynopsis{Basic support for sending Apple Events}
\sectionauthor{Jack Jansen}{[email protected]}


The \module{aetools} module contains the basic functionality
on which Python AppleScript client support is built. It also
imports and re-exports the core functionality of the
\module{aetypes} and \module{aepack} modules. The stub packages
generated by \module{gensuitemodule} import the relevant
portions of \module{aetools}, so usually you do not need to
import it yourself. The exception to this is when you
cannot use a generated suite package and need lower-level
access to scripting.

The \module{aetools} module itself uses the AppleEvent support
provided by the \module{Carbon.AE} module. This has one drawback:
you need access to the window manager, see section \ref{osx-gui-scripts}
for details. This restriction may be lifted in future releases.


The \module{aetools} module defines the following functions:

\begin{funcdesc}{packevent}{ae, parameters, attributes}
Stores parameters and attributes in a pre-created \code{Carbon.AE.AEDesc}
object. \code{parameters} and \code{attributes} are 
dictionaries mapping 4-character OSA parameter keys to Python objects. The
objects are packed using \code{aepack.pack()}.
\end{funcdesc}

\begin{funcdesc}{unpackevent}{ae\optional{, formodulename}}
Recursively unpacks a \code{Carbon.AE.AEDesc} event to Python objects.
The function returns the parameter dictionary and the attribute dictionary.
The \code{formodulename} argument is used by generated stub packages to
control where AppleScript classes are looked up.
\end{funcdesc}

\begin{funcdesc}{keysubst}{arguments, keydict}
Converts a Python keyword argument dictionary \code{arguments} to
the format required by \code{packevent} by replacing the keys,
which are Python identifiers, by the four-character OSA keys according
to the mapping specified in \code{keydict}. Used by the generated suite
packages.
\end{funcdesc}

\begin{funcdesc}{enumsubst}{arguments, key, edict}
If the \code{arguments} dictionary contains an entry for \code{key}
convert the value for that entry according to dictionary \code{edict}.
This converts human-readable Python enumeration names to the OSA 4-character
codes.
Used by the generated suite
packages.
\end{funcdesc}

The \module{aetools} module defines the following class:

\begin{classdesc}{TalkTo}{\optional{signature=None, start=0, timeout=0}}

Base class for the proxy used to talk to an application. \code{signature}
overrides the class attribute \code{_signature} (which is usually set by subclasses)
and is the 4-char creator code defining the application to talk to.
\code{start} can be set to true to enable running the application on
class instantiation. \code{timeout} can be specified to change the
default timeout used while waiting for an AppleEvent reply.
\end{classdesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{_start}{}
Test whether the application is running, and attempt to start it if not.
\end{methoddesc}

\begin{methoddesc}{send}{code, subcode\optional{, parameters, attributes}}
Create the AppleEvent \code{Carbon.AE.AEDesc} for the verb with
the OSA designation \code{code, subcode} (which are the usual 4-character
strings), pack the \code{parameters} and \code{attributes} into it, send it
to the target application, wait for the reply, unpack the reply with
\code{unpackevent} and return the reply appleevent, the unpacked return values
as a dictionary and the return attributes.
\end{methoddesc}