83 lines
3.5 KiB
TeX
83 lines
3.5 KiB
TeX
\section{\module{aepack} ---
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Conversion between Python variables and AppleEvent data containers}
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\declaremodule{standard}{aepack}
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\platform{Mac}
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%\moduleauthor{Jack Jansen?}{email}
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\modulesynopsis{Conversion between Python variables and AppleEvent
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data containers.}
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\sectionauthor{Vincent Marchetti}{vincem@en.com}
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The \module{aepack} module defines functions for converting (packing)
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Python variables to AppleEvent descriptors and back (unpacking).
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Within Python the AppleEvent descriptor is handled by Python objects
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of built-in type \class{AEDesc}, defined in module \refmodule{Carbon.AE}.
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The \module{aepack} module defines the following functions:
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\begin{funcdesc}{pack}{x\optional{, forcetype}}
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Returns an \class{AEDesc} object containing a conversion of Python
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value x. If \var{forcetype} is provided it specifies the descriptor
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type of the result. Otherwise, a default mapping of Python types to
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Apple Event descriptor types is used, as follows:
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\begin{tableii}{l|l}{textrm}{Python type}{descriptor type}
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\lineii{\class{FSSpec}}{typeFSS}
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\lineii{\class{FSRef}}{typeFSRef}
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\lineii{\class{Alias}}{typeAlias}
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\lineii{integer}{typeLong (32 bit integer)}
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\lineii{float}{typeFloat (64 bit floating point)}
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\lineii{string}{typeText}
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\lineii{unicode}{typeUnicodeText}
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\lineii{list}{typeAEList}
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\lineii{dictionary}{typeAERecord}
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\lineii{instance}{\emph{see below}}
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\end{tableii}
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If \var{x} is a Python instance then this function attempts to call an
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\method{__aepack__()} method. This method should return an
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\class{AEDesc} object.
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If the conversion \var{x} is not defined above, this function returns
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the Python string representation of a value (the repr() function)
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encoded as a text descriptor.
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\end{funcdesc}
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\begin{funcdesc}{unpack}{x\optional{, formodulename}}
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\var{x} must be an object of type \class{AEDesc}. This function
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returns a Python object representation of the data in the Apple
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Event descriptor \var{x}. Simple AppleEvent data types (integer,
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text, float) are returned as their obvious Python counterparts.
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Apple Event lists are returned as Python lists, and the list
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elements are recursively unpacked. Object references
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(ex. \code{line 3 of document 1}) are returned as instances of
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\class{aetypes.ObjectSpecifier}, unless \code{formodulename}
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is specified. AppleEvent descriptors with
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descriptor type typeFSS are returned as \class{FSSpec}
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objects. AppleEvent record descriptors are returned as Python
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dictionaries, with 4-character string keys and elements recursively
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unpacked.
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The optional \code{formodulename} argument is used by the stub packages
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generated by \module{gensuitemodule}, and ensures that the OSA classes
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for object specifiers are looked up in the correct module. This ensures
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that if, say, the Finder returns an object specifier for a window
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you get an instance of \code{Finder.Window} and not a generic
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\code{aetypes.Window}. The former knows about all the properties
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and elements a window has in the Finder, while the latter knows
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no such things.
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\end{funcdesc}
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\begin{seealso}
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\seemodule{Carbon.AE}{Built-in access to Apple Event Manager routines.}
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\seemodule{aetypes}{Python definitions of codes for Apple Event
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descriptor types.}
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\seetitle[http://developer.apple.com/techpubs/mac/IAC/IAC-2.html]{
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Inside Macintosh: Interapplication
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Communication}{Information about inter-process
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communications on the Macintosh.}
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\end{seealso}
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