Inside Macintosh: AppleScript Language Guide / Part 2 - AppleScript Language Reference

Chapter 5 - Objects and References

Reference Forms

A reference form is the syntax, or rule, for writing a phrase that identifies an object or group of objects. For example, the Index reference form allows you to identify an object by its number, as in

word 5 of paragraph 10

AppleScript includes other reference forms for identifying objects in applications. Table 5-1 summarizes the reference forms you can use to identify objects. Each section that follows includes a brief explanation of the reference form, a syntax summary, and examples of how to use the reference form to specify application objects. The Filter reference form is described in more detail in "Using the Filter Reference Form," which begins on page 140.

Reference forms

Reference form	Purpose
Arbitrary Element	Specifies an arbitrary object in a container
Every Element	Specifies every object of a particular class in a container
Filter	Specifies every object in a particular container that matches conditions defined in a Boolean expression
ID	Specifies an object by its ID property
Index	Specifies the position of an object with respect to the beginning or end of a container
Middle Element	Specifies the middle object in a container
Name	Specifies an object by its Name property
Property	Specifies a property of an application object, a record, a script object, or a date
Range	Specifies a series of objects
Relative	Specifies the position of an object in relation to another object