Automating Numbers (JXA-first, AppleScript discovery)

Relationship to the macOS automation skill

• Standalone for Numbers, aligned with automating-mac-apps patterns.
• Use automating-mac-apps for permissions, shell, and UI scripting guidance.
• PyXA Installation: To use PyXA examples in this skill, see the installation instructions in automating-mac-apps skill (PyXA Installation section).

Core Framing

• Numbers AppleScript dictionary is AppleScript-first; discover there.
• JXA provides logic and data processing.
• Objects are specifiers; read via methods, write via assignments.
• Handle errors from Numbers operations using try/catch blocks and Application error checking.

Workflow (default)

1. Discover terms in Script Editor (Numbers dictionary).
2. Prototype minimal AppleScript commands.
3. Port to JXA and add defensive checks.
4. Prefer batch reads and clipboard shim for writes.
5. Use UI scripting only for dictionary gaps.