iTunes is Apple’s now-ubiquitous digital music application. The software enables you to rip your own music from audio CD to disk, mix your own playlists of MP3 files and burn music to CD-R using a CD-RW drive. AppleScript is Apple’s powerful scripting engine that’s integrated right into Mac OS. Using AppleScript, you can automate complex series of actions into a single command.
When Apple released iTunes 2.0, the software came equipped with extensive AppleScript support and this new collection shows off some of what that added functionality can do.
With the new Scripts folder placed inside of iTunes’ home folder, a new script menu appears in the iTunes menu bar. New items include playlist management features that help you copy, delete, enable and disable tracks, additional iTunes controls, iTunes and iPod library summary info and the ability to automate online searches using CDDB, as well as online music resellers CDNOW and eMusic. 28 scripts are included in total.
Do you have Apple’s productivity suite AppleWorks installed? The “Build CD Tray Insert” script will automatically extract your selected iTunes playlist to an AppleWorks template (also included). Several different styles of templates are included, and they install as a new AppleWorks Starting Points tab. The templates are designed to be printed using Avery CD tray insert labels. Twenty-five ITC fonts are also included in the collection to help you customize the look of your tray inserts. An Add to iTunes Library droplet application is also included.
The iTunes Scripts for iTunes 2.0 collection is a free download. Separate archives for Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X are available.