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Chapter 6 - Resolving and Creating Object Specifier Records / Reference to Resolving and Creating Object Specifier Records

Routines for Resolving and Creating Object Specifier Records

Creating Object Specifier Records

The Apple Event Manager provides five functions that you can use to create some of the components of an object specifier record or to assemble an object specifier record:

• The CreateOffsetDescriptor function creates an offset descriptor record, which specifies the position of an element in relation to the beginning or end of its container.
• The CreateCompDescriptor function creates a comparison descriptor record, which specifies how to compare one or more Apple event objects with either another Apple event object or a descriptor record.
• The CreateLogicalDescriptor function creates a logical descriptor record, which specifies a logical operator and one or more logical terms for the Apple Event Manager to evaluate.
• The CreateRangeDescriptor function creates a range descriptor record, which specifies a series of consecutive elements in the same container.
• The CreateObjSpecifier function assembles an object specifier record, which identifies one or more Apple event objects, from other descriptor records.

Instead of using these functions, you can create the corresponding descriptor records yourself using the AECreateDesc function, add them to an AE record using other Apple Event Manager routines, and coerce the AE record to a descriptor record of type typeObjectSpecifier. However, in most cases it is easier to use the functions listed in this section.

All of these functions except for CreateOffsetDescriptor include a disposeInputs parameter. If the value of this parameter is TRUE, the function automatically disposes of any descriptor records you have provided as parameters to the function. If the value is FALSE, the application must dispose of the records itself. A value of FALSE may be more efficient for some applications because it allows them to reuse descriptor records.

For more information about these functions and examples of their use, see "Creating Object Specifier Records," which begins on page 6-64.

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Subtopics

CreateOffsetDescriptor

CreateCompDescriptor

CreateLogicalDescriptor

CreateRangeDescriptor

CreateObjSpecifier