73 lines
2.9 KiB
TeX
73 lines
2.9 KiB
TeX
\section{\module{aepack} ---
|
|
Conversion between Python variables and AppleEvent data containers}
|
|
|
|
\declaremodule{standard}{aepack}
|
|
\platform{Mac}
|
|
%\moduleauthor{Jack Jansen?}{email}
|
|
\modulesynopsis{Conversion between Python variables and AppleEvent
|
|
data containers.}
|
|
\sectionauthor{Vincent Marchetti}{vincem@en.com}
|
|
|
|
|
|
The \module{aepack} module defines functions for converting (packing)
|
|
Python variables to AppleEvent descriptors and back (unpacking).
|
|
Within Python the AppleEvent descriptor is handled by Python objects
|
|
of built-in type \class{AEDesc}, defined in module \refmodule{AE}.
|
|
|
|
The \module{aepack} module defines the following functions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
\begin{funcdesc}{pack}{x\optional{, forcetype}}
|
|
Returns an \class{AEDesc} object containing a conversion of Python
|
|
value x. If \var{forcetype} is provided it specifies the descriptor
|
|
type of the result. Otherwise, a default mapping of Python types to
|
|
Apple Event descriptor types is used, as follows:
|
|
|
|
\begin{tableii}{l|l}{textrm}{Python type}{descriptor type}
|
|
\lineii{\class{FSSpec}}{typeFSS}
|
|
\lineii{\class{FSRef}}{typeFSRef}
|
|
\lineii{\class{Alias}}{typeAlias}
|
|
\lineii{integer}{typeLong (32 bit integer)}
|
|
\lineii{float}{typeFloat (64 bit floating point)}
|
|
\lineii{string}{typeText}
|
|
\lineii{unicode}{typeUnicodeText}
|
|
\lineii{list}{typeAEList}
|
|
\lineii{dictionary}{typeAERecord}
|
|
\lineii{instance}{\emph{see below}}
|
|
\end{tableii}
|
|
|
|
If \var{x} is a Python instance then this function attempts to call an
|
|
\method{__aepack__()} method. This method should return an
|
|
\class{AE.AEDesc} object.
|
|
|
|
If the conversion \var{x} is not defined above, this function returns
|
|
the Python string representation of a value (the repr() function)
|
|
encoded as a text descriptor.
|
|
\end{funcdesc}
|
|
|
|
\begin{funcdesc}{unpack}{x}
|
|
\var{x} must be an object of type \class{AEDesc}. This function
|
|
returns a Python object representation of the data in the Apple
|
|
Event descriptor \var{x}. Simple AppleEvent data types (integer,
|
|
text, float) are returned as their obvious Python counterparts.
|
|
Apple Event lists are returned as Python lists, and the list
|
|
elements are recursively unpacked. Object references
|
|
(ex. \code{line 3 of document 1}) are returned as instances of
|
|
\class{aetypes.ObjectSpecifier}. AppleEvent descriptors with
|
|
descriptor type typeFSS are returned as \class{FSSpec}
|
|
objects. AppleEvent record descriptors are returned as Python
|
|
dictionaries, with keys of type \class{?} and elements recursively
|
|
unpacked.
|
|
\end{funcdesc}
|
|
|
|
|
|
\begin{seealso}
|
|
\seemodule{AE}{Built-in access to Apple Event Manager routines.}
|
|
\seemodule{aetypes}{Python definitions of codes for Apple Event
|
|
descriptor types.}
|
|
\seetitle[http://developer.apple.com/techpubs/mac/IAC/IAC-2.html]{
|
|
Inside Macintosh: Interapplication
|
|
Communication}{Information about inter-process
|
|
communications on the Macintosh.}
|
|
\end{seealso}
|