Want to learn Applescript, but I also need to learn the alternative scripting for Windows so it can work the same way in solutions on both platforms. Is there any?

What are you trying to accomplish with scripting? There are several plugins that handle interapplication communications.

I posted a Q in scriptmaker forum for toggling kiosk and desktop, where someone suggested a applescript. That seemed like what I was looking for, except for that code didn't work. So, I want to learn and get the Win alternative as well. And while I was dwelling by the thought, maybe it would be possible to script to get/copy the harddrive serial, which I was planning to use for copy protecting of a solution.

I see the hint of not having to invent the wheel again, and that there is plugin options, but the satisfaction by actually learn something myself, is a graceful inspiration I possess at the moment.

I've found a great little thing from www.hiddensoft.com called AutoIt which allows you to manipulate the windows gui and you can compile the script into a windows executable.

Unfortunately it needs to be on the users machine for it to work.

You can pass all kinds of variables to it - i use it for starting up word and pasting data from filemaker into it.

I use the autoupdate feature of filemaker server to download a whole load of these scripts (50+) to users computers when they start the database to make sure they've got the most up-to-date version

Saves messing about with activex and stuff - oh and it can let you completely re-brand filemaker window title and everything - very very useful!!

In general, the equivalent to AppleScript is VBscript. It's free & installed on most Windows boxes (all since 98), you can write the syntax in Notepad. There are a ton of resources available on the internet.

VBscript is a subset of the Visual Basic, but it contains some features that even VB does not have (access all of the registry, regular expressions,...).

This Devcon, Jimmy Jones and I are doing a session on AppleScript and VBscript, lots of great examples, ...