Apple Delivers New AppleScript Scripter's Kit for Solution Providers

New Toolkit Allows Solution Providers to Integrate Off-the-shelf
Applications Across Desktops and Networks for Increased Productivity

CUPERTINO, California--December 13, 1993--Apple Computer, Inc. today
introduced its AppleScript Scripter's Kit, a new software tool that
enables solutions providers and end-users to integrate elements of
commercial Macintosh software applications across desktops and networks.
providing an easy way to integrate computing processes across different
off-the-shelf applications, AppleScript allows users to dramatically boost
productivity.

The AppleScript Scripter's Kit brings Apple's scripting language to a new
class of users. Now, the power and extendibility of AppleScript is
available to solutions providers, in-house developers, value-added
resellers (VARs), system integrators and end-users. Since April 1993,
AppleScript has been available as a software developer's kit for
commercial software developers.

"AppleScript is a key technology that provides significant added value to
customers' existing desktop and networked applications, without costly
investment in new operating system technologies," said AppleSoft senior
vice president and general manager David Nagel. "Building on the
extensible foundation of System 7 and our cross-platform Open Scripting
Architecture (OSA), AppleScript is at the heart of Apple's commitment to
make computing easier and more focused on users' needs. AppleScript and
the OSA provide a clear path towards Apple's universal compound document
environment known as OpenDoc."

The AppleScript Scripter's Kit includes an enhanced version of Apple's
scripting language, AppleScript 1.1, an enhanced script editor, and an
interface processor from Software Designs Unlimited, Inc. AppleScript is a
system-software-level scripting language that enables users to integrate
components of commercial and in-house software applications. The interface
builder from Software Designs Unlimited, Inc., allows users to build
interfaces for their scripts.

Powerful New Automation Features 

The AppleScript scripting language enables users to tightly integrate the
functionality of standard, off-the-shelf applications as well as in-house,
enterprise-wide programs to build customized scripts that automate
business processes and increase productivity.

For example, with AppleScript, a sales department can automatically
generate a weekly report that invokes functions from a series of
scriptable applications such as Microsoft Excel, FileMaker Pro and
QuarkXPress. AppleScript can gather data from one application, process it
in another and present it in a third automatically at a given time or
based on an event, locally or over a network. Before AppleScript, these
time-consuming functions needed to be performed manually by launching and
working directly in each individual application.

"Scriptable" Applications 

Since the AppleScript Software Developer's Kit was introduced in April
1993, over 80 independent software vendors (ISVs) are now shipping
AppleScript-aware applications (see related news release). ISVs that
provide scriptable applications include: Aldus, Beyond, Claris, Great
Plains, Microsoft, Quark, Symantec, UserLand and WordPerfect among
others.

"AppleScript has built a loyal following among commercial developers.
Through OSA, AppleScript is open, extensible and operates across networks,
which makes it an attractive solution for a wide variety of applications
and solutions," said Chuck Piercey, product marketing manager for
AppleScript. "Today's leading commercial software developers have
recognized the payoff of AppleScript for themselves as well as for their
users and have mobilized to make sure they can take advantage of this
powerful technology."

Scriptable products help ISVs reach new users by enabling their products to
be built into more solutions. AppleScript gives ISVs an easy way to
differentiate their products and leverage new technologies such as voice
recognition. In addition, AppleScript helps ISVs reduce development time
and costs by removing the need to create a proprietary scripting
language.

Solution Providers

The AppleScript Scripter's Kit is an important tool for corporate solution
providers because it introduces new business opportunities. With the
Scripter's Kit, solution providers such as in-house developers,
consultants, VARs and system integrators, can tightly link components of
existing software applications to provide tailored solutions. The ability
to easily leverage proven, commercial applications in new ways allows
solution providers to enhance the functionality and value of their
product.

AppleScript Scripter's Kit lets solution providers take a more targeted
business approach. Since AppleScript can directly record user actions in
certain applications, solution providers can customize their products to
meet very specific user needs or provide solutions that are easily
customizable by the user.

"AppleScript is gaining momentum because it encourages new levels of
functionality and efficiency with today's leading applications," said Tony
De Young, of San Francisco-based production company ARTLab. "Scripting
gives us the ability to access and leverage the millions of lines of
commercial software code and provide our customers with the kind of
focused solutions they need. For example, we used AppleScript to mimic an
existing workflow that had previously taken 30 people six weeks to
complete. Using AppleScript with three existing software programs, we were
able to produce the same results with one person in two hours."

End Users 

Ultimately, AppleScript allows end-users to focus on getting work done
quickly. The Scripter's Kit allows users to combine familiar applications
in custom ways to automate routine work and perform complex,
time-consuming tasks.

The AppleScript Scripter Kit 

The AppleScript Scripter's Kit, targeted at solution providers and end
users, contains AppleScript 1.1 and a script editor that automatically
generates and edits scripts based on user's actions. The Scripter's Kit
also includes: an interface processor that enables building custom
interfaces for scripts; support for multiple dialects that provides for
scripting in non-English languages (French and Japanese are included); and
a redistribution license for AppleScript system software and interface
processor runtime code.

The AppleScript scripting language is integrated into the Macintosh
operating system and conforms to Apple's cross-platform Open Scripting
Architecture (OSA) standard. Developed in cooperation with third-party
developers, the OSA provides a standard way for mainstream applications to
interact with any scripting system and is a key deliverable of Apple's
OpenDoc technology. OpenDoc is a compound document architecture that
enables users to create compound, customizable documents. AppleScript is
an element of Apple's long-term strategy to automate the Macintosh
computing environment, improve application interaction and provide a
foundation technology for OpenDoc.

Software Developer's Kit 

AppleScript was offered initially as a toolkit for commercial software
developers in April and is now updated to Version 1.1. The AppleScript
Developer's Kit for commercial developers includes the AppleScript
Scripter's Kit plus a pre-release version of the scriptable finder and
development tools. Apple also licenses the AppleScript runtime software
and the script editor to commercial developers for shipment with their
products. For more information on licensing, developers worldwide should
contact Apple Software Licensing at (408) 974-4667.

Pricing and Availability 

The U.S. suggested retail price of the AppleScript Scripter's Kit 1.1 is
$189. Volume purchases of site licenses are available for the AppleScript
Scripter's Kit through the Apple volume licensing program.

The AppleScript Scripter's Kit 1.1 is planned to be available at the end of
the month and will be able to be ordered through software resellers, Apple
authorized resellers and APDA--Apple's source for developer tools. APDA
can be reached in the United States at (800) 282-2732; in Canada at (800)
6370039; or internationally at (716) 871-6555. Apple resellers can be
located by calling (800) 538-9696.

All customers have access to toll-free telephone support by calling Apple
Assurance at (800) SOS-APPL. Advanced scripting support is available for a
fee by calling (800) 950-2442.

Apple Computer Inc, 20525 Mariana Ave, Cupertino, CA 95014
408-996-1010

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