3 Replies Latest reply on May 14, 2012 1:43 PM by davidanders

Mac Question - Use Filemaker's Applescript functionality to open a Finder window to a directory

DanielClark Feb 9, 2011 7:04 AM

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Hi, I am trying to use Filemaker to run an Applescript (using the Perform Applescript command) that will open a Finder window to a directory that I want to get access to. The trick here is, is that this directory is going to be composed of multiple elements of a field on one of my Filemaker table layouts. Here's an example of what I want to do:

I have a table of records in Filemaker, each with a unique document number field that I assign to each record. The Document number is in the form of a phone number (XXX-YYY-ZZZZ). Each record in my database has associated files on my Mac that are organized according to their document number in a file on the root drive called "FILES" (so its path is "/FILES"). So if I am looking at a record with Document Number 123-456-7890, I want the Finder to open a new window and navigate to the folder "/FILES/123/456/" (where files 123-456-0000 through 123-456-9999 are stored) - and if possible - highlight that record in that directory. So how can I do this?

And if that method can't be done, can I use Filemaker to tell Applescript to just plug that whole field into a Spotlight search?

Thanks.

1. Re: Mac Question - Use Filemaker's Applescript functionality to open a Finder window to a directory

TSBear Feb 9, 2011 9:30 AM (in response to DanielClark)

Daniel Clark:

Thanks for posting!

You can accomplish this by using the calculated AppleScript option within the Perform AppleScript step. I've included the basic calculation below. You'll just need to edit the table and field names.

"tell application \"Finder\"" & ¶ &

"activate" & ¶ &

"reveal POSIX file \"/FILES/" & Left(${tableName}::fieldName;3) & "/" & Middle(${tableName}::fieldName;5;3) & "/" & Right(${tableName}::fieldName;4) & "\"" & ¶ &

"end tell"

This will equate to the following:

tell application "Finder"

activate

reveal POSIX file "/FILES/<the first three characters in your field>/<the 5th-7th characters in your field>/<the last 4 characters in your field>"

end tell

Please let me know if you run into any issues implementing this.

TSBear

FileMaker, Inc.
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2. Re: Mac Question - Use Filemaker's Applescript functionality to open a Finder window to a directory

symbister May 13, 2012 9:23 PM (in response to DanielClark)

trawling through old posts trying to set up an Applescript to open a Finder window and then a particular folder, my calculated script is:

"tell application \"Finder\"" & ¶ &

"activate" & ¶ & 

"reveal POSIX file \"/General Documents/Annual Programs/Artistic Proposals June 2012/"  & ArtPropLog::storage & "\"" & ¶ &

"end tell"

but receive error message "AppleEvent Handler failed" : "Unknown error -10000"

without spending months trying to learn AppleScript - can anybody help? I'm surmising that the back-slashes are escaping the following quotes

many thanks

3. Re: Mac Question - Use Filemaker's Applescript functionality to open a Finder window to a directory

davidanders May 14, 2012 1:43 PM (in response to DanielClark)

I would suggest

1] making a folder at the root level of the boot drive named "xxx'

2] create an appropriate file in the xxx folder called "zzz'

3] write the applescript code using native navigation (not POSIX)

4] maybe run the applescript in the Finder before running from Filemaker

With success, modify the first three conditions, one at a time, to achieve your goal (taking notes as you go)

Wikipedia Applescript
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AppleScript

Smile and SmileLab, available from (Satimage)
A third-party freeware/commercial IDE for AppleScript, itself written entirely in AppleScript. Smile is free, and primarily designed for AppleScript development.

http://applescript.wikia.com/wiki/AppleScript_Tutorial_Wiki

https://www.google.com/search?q=applescirpt+tutorial
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