Compile AppleScripts and other OSA language scripts.
Syntax
osacompile [-l language] [-e command] [-o name] [-d] [-r type:id]
[-t type] [-c creator] [-x] [-s] [-u] [-a arch] [file ...]
Example
$ osacompile -o myNewApp.app myScript.scpt
Options
-l language
Override the language for any plain text files.
Normally, plain text files are compiled as AppleScript.
-e command
Enter one line of a script. Script commands given via -e are prepended
to the normal source, if any. Multiple -e commands can be given to build
up a multi-line script.
Because most scripts use characters that are special to many shell programs
(e.g., Apple-Script uses single and double quote marks, (, ), and *),
the command will have to be correctly quoted and escaped to get it past the shell intact.
-o name
Place the output in the file name.
If -o is not specified, the resulting script is placed in the file 'a.scpt'.
-d Place the resulting script in the data fork of the output file.
-r type:id
Place the resulting script in the resource fork of the output file, in the
specified resource.
-t type
Set the output file type to type. Type is a four-character code.
If this option is omitted and the output file does not exist, the
type is set to 'osas', that is, a compiled script.
-c creator
Set the output file creator to creator. Creator is a four-charac-
ter code. If this option is omitted and the output file does not
exist, the creator is set to 'ToyS', that is, Script Editor.
-x Save the resulting script as execute only.
-s Stay-open applet. This option is only valid when a new bundled
applet or droplet is being created.
-u Use startup screen. This option is only valid when a new bundled
applet or droplet is being created.
-a arch
Create the applet or droplet for the specified target architecture
arch. The allowable values are 'i386' and 'ppc'. By default,
bundled applets and droplets are created as universal binaries.
This option is only valid when a new bundled applet or droplet is
being created.
If no options are specified, osacompile produces a classic Mac OS format script file, that is, type `osas' (compiled script), creator `ToyS' (Script Editor), with the script data in the scpt:128 resource and nothing in the data fork. This format is compatible with all Mac OS and macOS systems.
If the -o option is specified and the file does not already exist, osacompile uses the filename extension to determine what type of file to create. If the filename ends with `.app', a bundled applet or droplet will be created. (macOS only)
If the filename ends with `.scptd', a bundled compiled script will be created. Otherwise, the resulting script will be placed in the resource fork and/or data fork of the output file depending upon what other options are specified.
The -d and -r options are not exclusive. If exactly one is specified, the script is written only to that fork. If both are specified, the script is written to both forks.
Compile demo.scpt into final.app:
$ osacompile -o final.app demo.scpt
“Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot; others transform a yellow spot into the sun” ~ Pablo Picasso
osascript - Execute AppleScript.
Show hidden files.scpt - Toggle the display of hidden files in Finder (will restart finder).
Introduction to AppleScript - Language Guide.