Frontier 1 Brochure

Introducing UserLand Frontier™ The Power Behind the Icons They say the Macintosh is easy to use. But why is it so hard to find all the locked files in a folder and unlock them? Or delete all the random files created since the last time your network server was backed up? With UserLand Frontier, you don’t have to choose between pretty icons and the power to customize and automate your Macintosh. For the first time, you can have power and ease-of-use! Can you explain a complicated set of steps to a less-sophisticated user? Write a script instead of explaining. If there’s a tedious job you have to do, write a script that runs while you go to lunch. Is there some set of operations you do all the time? Write a script to automate it. If you’ve ever written a dBASE application, a HyperTalk script, a spreadsheet macro or an MS-DOS or Unix batch script, Frontier is for you. You can turn tedious, error-prone clicking and dragging into efficient scripts that even the most inexperienced user can easily double-click on. If you can do it in the Finder, you can probably write a Frontier script that automates it. Frontier is the first scripting software that allows you to write your own desktop utilities to customize, automate and simplify the Macintosh. Finally, there’s an easy way to write scripts to manage networks and System 7- compatible applications. Frontier has all the development tools you need to get your scripts running quickly, including a full script debugger and structured symbol tables you can watch and edit while your scripts are running. When you’re done, you can link scripts into Frontier’s editable menu bar, or save them to the Finder desktop. On the following pages we can only show the big picture — how the components of Frontier tie together to create the most powerful desktop scripting environment available on any personal computer. It’s just a taste of what it’s like to use Frontier. Because Frontier is a full, no-compromise scripting language, there really are no limits! Dave Winer, President UserLand Software, Inc. © 1992 UserLand Software, Inc. 1 Finally, an easy way to customize and automate your Macintosh! Write your own utilities to control the Macintosh desktop, networks and System 7-compatible applications. The Main Window It’s your gateway to the power of Frontier. Each of the four buttons links you to one of the powerful components of the Frontier scripting system. With the flag flipped up, Frontier’s power is neatly tucked away. Desktop Scripts Scripts that live on the Finder desktop are called “desktop scripts.” Double- click on the icon to run the script. Hold down the cmd-key to edit the script’s source code. © 1992 UserLand Software, Inc. 2 A Script Window Frontier scripts are easy because they’re outlines. Collapse details to get the big picture. Reorganize whole sections of code with a single command. Scripts can drive the Macintosh operating system or Apple event “wires” in Sys…