1
2:mod:`aepack` --- Conversion between Python variables and AppleEvent data containers
3====================================================================================
4
5.. module:: aepack
6   :platform: Mac
7   :synopsis: Conversion between Python variables and AppleEvent data containers.
8   :deprecated:
9.. sectionauthor:: Vincent Marchetti <vincem@en.com>
10.. moduleauthor:: Jack Jansen
11
12The :mod:`aepack` module defines functions for converting (packing) Python
13variables to AppleEvent descriptors and back (unpacking). Within Python the
14AppleEvent descriptor is handled by Python objects of built-in type
15:class:`AEDesc`, defined in module :mod:`Carbon.AE`.
16
17.. note::
18
19   This module has been removed in Python 3.x.
20
21
22The :mod:`aepack` module defines the following functions:
23
24
25.. function:: pack(x[, forcetype])
26
27   Returns an :class:`AEDesc` object  containing a conversion of Python value x. If
28   *forcetype* is provided it specifies the descriptor type of the result.
29   Otherwise, a default mapping of Python types to Apple Event descriptor types is
30   used, as follows:
31
32   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
33   | Python type     | descriptor type                   |
34   +=================+===================================+
35   | :class:`FSSpec` | typeFSS                           |
36   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
37   | :class:`FSRef`  | typeFSRef                         |
38   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
39   | :class:`Alias`  | typeAlias                         |
40   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
41   | integer         | typeLong (32 bit integer)         |
42   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
43   | float           | typeFloat (64 bit floating point) |
44   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
45   | string          | typeText                          |
46   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
47   | unicode         | typeUnicodeText                   |
48   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
49   | list            | typeAEList                        |
50   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
51   | dictionary      | typeAERecord                      |
52   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
53   | instance        | *see below*                       |
54   +-----------------+-----------------------------------+
55
56   If *x* is a Python instance then this function attempts to call an
57   :meth:`__aepack__` method.  This method should return an :class:`AEDesc` object.
58
59   If the conversion *x* is not defined above, this function returns the Python
60   string representation of a value (the repr() function) encoded as a text
61   descriptor.
62
63
64.. function:: unpack(x[, formodulename])
65
66   *x* must be an object of type :class:`AEDesc`. This function returns a Python
67   object representation of the data in the Apple Event descriptor *x*. Simple
68   AppleEvent data types (integer, text, float) are returned as their obvious
69   Python counterparts. Apple Event lists are returned as Python lists, and the
70   list elements are recursively unpacked.  Object references (ex. ``line 3 of
71   document 1``) are returned as instances of :class:`aetypes.ObjectSpecifier`,
72   unless ``formodulename`` is specified.  AppleEvent descriptors with descriptor
73   type typeFSS are returned as :class:`FSSpec` objects.  AppleEvent record
74   descriptors are returned as Python dictionaries, with 4-character string keys
75   and elements recursively unpacked.
76
77   The optional ``formodulename`` argument is used by the stub packages generated
78   by :mod:`gensuitemodule`, and ensures that the OSA classes for object specifiers
79   are looked up in the correct module. This ensures that if, say, the Finder
80   returns an object specifier for a window you get an instance of
81   ``Finder.Window`` and not a generic ``aetypes.Window``. The former knows about
82   all the properties and elements a window has in the Finder, while the latter
83   knows no such things.
84
85
86.. seealso::
87
88   Module :mod:`Carbon.AE`
89      Built-in access to Apple Event Manager routines.
90
91   Module :mod:`aetypes`
92      Python definitions of codes for Apple Event descriptor types.
93