Using AppleScript to access CURL on OS X makes downloading web content a snap. Note that some web servers, such as Google, do no allow you to download content via CURL because of license issues. (For Google, they would rather you use their SOAP API to download content.)

This simple example downloads a page from the internet and places it into the "result" field. You can also use the "parameters" field to add search terms if needed.

This example only scratches the surface of what you could do. CURL has the ability to download files to your hard drive. Using an auto enter container field based on a path, you could download a graphic from the internet and then automatically import it. CURL also supports other protocols such as FTP and HTTPS. You can easily create a solution to interact with a credit cart service such as Authorize.net to charge credit cards directly in your FileMaker database. (Using their AIM method)

For more information on CURL, check out http://curl.haxx.se/. You can also view the man page from the terminal using "man curl"

Download the example file (FileMaker 7 and OS X required )

Below is a script I worked up so that I could easily resize photos for my photography section. It uses the Big Cat Script Plugin by Ranchero Software. (Also home to NetNewsWire)

I've been looking for quite a while for an EASY way to turn AppleScript code into HTML. After scouring the net, about the only solution I've found worth even talking about is "Convert Script to Markup Code" available at http://homepage.mac.com/jonn8/as/

Simply put, if you need to post an AppleScript on the net, use this application. It also supports the AppleScript protocol so that a user can simply click on a link to have the AppleScript open in the Script Editor.