Some of the AppleScript dictionary definitions are sparse. The format for AppleScript dictionaries and their definitions are determined by Apple. The .sdef type dictionaries used in Macintosh Script Editor in Mac OS X v10.3 (Panther) and later give more scope. The Help in Microsoft Visual Basic Editor is even more thorough, however.
If you're a real Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) expert, you may not need longer descriptions and examples for terms you're translating to AppleScript. But they are available.
AppleScript reference guides
Microsoft provides AppleScript Office reference guides
(www.microsoft.com/mac/developers)
for Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. They provide in-depth descriptions and examples of usage for every term in the dictionaries, and essential introductory essays explaining how to script. For example, the Microsoft Word 2004 AppleScript Reference (http://download.microsoft.com/download/1/3/E/13E8AE25-78F7-41A8-B252-F09C465CE29C/Word2004AppleScriptRef.pdf)
guide provides a full discussion about how to use ranges, and shows examples.
The main body of each guide consists of the application's full VBA Help adapted to AppleScript, sometimes with unique AppleScript-only information. These reference guides will be your most important resources for scripting Microsoft Office for Mac.
Newsgroups
For personal help, write to the appropriate Office for Mac newsgroup:
microsoft.public.mac.office
microsoft.public.mac.office.entourage
microsoft.public.mac.office.excel
microsoft.public.mac.office.powerpoint
microsoft.public.mac.office.word
You can subscribe to a newsgroup by using a newsreader or a Google Group. A newsreader posts your questions very quickly, usually within seconds. If you use a Google Group, it can take longer.
If you want to use a newsreader, you can subscribe using the Microsoft News Server (msnews.microsoft.com) in Microsoft Entourage by doing the following:
In Entourage, in the folder list, click Microsoft News Server.
If you see a message asking if you want to receive the list of newsgroups from this server, click Receive.
In the Display newsgroups containing box, type .mac.
Hold down CONTROL and click the newsgroup that you want, and then click Subscribe.
To use a Google Group, click the appropriate Browser link on the Product forums page (www.microsoft.com/mac)
on the Office for Mac
Web site.
Mailing lists
Another place to get AppleScript help, particularly help that is not specific to the Office
applications, is by joining the AppleScript-Users Apple Mailing List (http://lists.apple.com/mailman/listinfo/applescript-users).
Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs)
Microsoft
Mac MVPs are acknowledged by peers and by Microsoft
for their active participation in user communities around the globe. These volunteers spend countless hours sharing their expertise with fellow Macintosh
users, helping them get the most out of Office for Mac
applications. Many Mac MVPs own or contribute to Office for Mac
resource Web sites, which are listed on the Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) (www.microsoft.com/mac)
page.
