14 February 2003

By Kurt Foss, Planet PDF Editor

Apple Computer has posted a new update installer for its "Jaguar" (Mac OS X 10.2) operating system software, with a few new twists for PDF users. According to the brief update description in AppleCare Document #70167:

"The 10.2.4 Update delivers enhanced functionality and improved reliability for the following applications, services and technologies: Address Book, Classic compatibility, Finder, FireWire, Graphics, OpenGL, and Sherlock. It includes AFP and Windows file service improvements, as well as audio, disc recording, graphics, and printing improvements."

But elsewhere on Apple.com there's information about several new PDF-related features and capabilities in the new version of OS X that provide a variety of new PDF Workflow options, including enhanced use of Applescript. In addition to the previous ability to create PDFs directly in OS X through the 'Save-As' menu, v. 10.2.4 adds "the option to process the saved PDF file with AppleScript scripts that can perform a variety of tasks such as adding the saved file to a compressed archive, or including the PDF in an outgoing email message."

To access the PDF workflow options, click the 'PDF' button in the Print dialog (below). All available options and scripts are listed in the PDF workflow pop-up menu.

Apple has posted an example script that will "create a new message in the Mail application and add the created PDF files to the message as attachments."

In addition, Dwight Kelly of Apago adds the following:

"Apago has created a simple AppleScript which automatically enables PDF Services support for Apago's PDFshrink and PDF Enhancer products."

Installation Instructions

Download the script, then ...

1. Double-click on EnablePDFServices.dmg to mount the disk image
2. Double-click on the script "Enable Apago PDF Services.scpt"
3. Apple's Script Editor will start
4. Click on the "Run" button
5. Quit Script Editor

"If you have any questions or comments, please send an email to support@apago.com."

The Mac OS X 10.2.4 Update is slightly more than 40MB and is available free of charge via Software Update and as a standalone installer.

MORE INFO

To Top

• Planet PDF Forum (forum.planetpdf.com)

• PDF Store (www.pdfstore.com)

• Adobe Acrobat Reader - free downloads from the PDF Store

• AppleCare Document #70167 - Mac OS X 10.2.4 Update

• AppleCare Document #107362 - About the Mac OS X 10.2.4 Update

• Apple - Update Installers

• Scriptable Applications: OS X & PDF - includes example script