In addition to viewing values in an outliner, you can edit those values, and use those values to help edit a script.

Changing a Value

In an outliner, a scalar property value is writeable, and can be changed — unless it is badged with the crossed-out pencil icon () indicating that it is not writeable.

Be careful! When you change the value of a property ultimately belonging to an application, you are changing real world facts about that application in real time. For example, if you change the value of the name property of a document file object belonging to the Finder, you change the actual name of an actual file.

On the other hand, when you’re debugging a script and you use this feature to alter a value belonging to the script (such as a variable), this feature is harmless and extremely useful.

To edit a simple scalar value (a string or number):

• Select the line and press Return. Alternatively, choose Edit Value from the contextual menu.

The entry in the Value column will become editable. When you’re done:

• Press Return or click elsewhere to make your change take effect.

If a value is an editable enumeration, it is represented as a pop-up menu listing the possible enumerator values. To edit the value:

• Choose a new value from the pop-up menu.

Editing a Script

A line of an outliner represents a reference to an element or property (or a variable). You can capture this reference as AppleScript code, to use it in a script. To turn a line of an outliner into a reference:

• Control-click a line of the outline, and choose Paste Tell from the contextual menu. A reference to that object is pasted into the frontmost script. Hold Option to paste into a new script.

• Or, drag-and-drop the line from the outliner into a script window.

• Or, in a dictionary window, select the line; then press the Paste Tell button in the toolbar, or choose Dictionary > Paste Tell XXX (where “XXX” is the name of the application). Hold Option to create and paste into a new script window.

• Select the line and choose Edit > Copy. Then paste wherever you want the reference to go.

• Or, choose Copy Reference from the contextual menu. Then paste wherever you want the reference to go.

A line of an outliner also represents the value of whatever it is a reference to. You can capture this value. To turn a line of an outliner into a value:

• Select the line, hold Shift, and choose Edit > Copy Value. Then paste wherever you want the value to go.

• Or, choose Copy Value from the contextual menu. Then paste wherever you want the value to go.