File paths and moving files

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Level 1

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File paths and moving files

I'm having trouble with what I thought would be a simple script. All I want to do is create a simple script that moves Pages templates into the appropriate template folder. I keep getting the following error:

"Applescript Error
Finder got an error: Handler can't handle objects of this class"

Here's the script that has the error:

set theFile to choose file
set theFolder to path to application support from user domain
set thePath to theFolder & "iWork:Pages:Templates:My Templates:"
display dialog thePath as string -- displays correct path the the folder I want
tell application "Finder"
move theFile to thePath
end tell

I appreciate any help I can get.

thanks,

G4 Tower, Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Jun 6, 2008 8:39 AM

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Answer 1

Camelot

Level 9

54,339 points

Jun 6, 2008 9:17 AM in response to tjrazor

You've run into one of those subtle coercion issues in AppleScript.

The problem lies with the line:

set thePath to theFolder & "iWork:Pages:Templates:My Templates:"

In this case, theFolder is an alias (the result of the path to command) and "iWork:Pages...." is a text object. When you concatenate two different classes (e.g. alias and string) the result is a list:

-->{alias "HD:users:username:Library:Application Support:", "iWork:Pages:Templates:My Templates:"}

Therefore, the move command fails because you're telling the Finder to move a file into a list, which can't be done.

The solution is quite simple - be more expilict about what thePath is. In this case, simple appending "as text" to the line fixes the problem:

set thePath to theFolder & "iWork:Pages:Templates:My Templates:" as text

Now thePath is a single text object which the Finder will coerce to a folder path when used in the move command. If you want to be even more explicit, you could:

move theFile to folder thePath

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Answer 2

tjrazor Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 6, 2008 9:39 AM in response to Camelot

Thanks so much for your help. I thought I had tried that, but now I see I had "as string" rather than "as text" I rarely work with Applescript and I would have thought those were the same. Anyway, the script now works and I'd like to make one adjustment. I'd like to create a new folder and put the file in that folder. Here's the script, but I'm getting a different error. Hopefully it's just a silly mistake.

set theFile to choose file
set theFolder to path to application support from user domain
set thePath to theFolder & "iWork:Pages:Templates:" as text
display dialog thePath as string
set baseFolder to make new folder at thePath with properties {name:"GS Templates"} -- added this
tell application "Finder"
move theFile to folder baseFolder
end tell

Error I'm getting is:
"AppleScript Error
Can't make current application into type location reference."

I appreciate your time,

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Answer 3

Camelot

Level 9

54,339 points

Jun 6, 2008 9:45 AM in response to tjrazor

This one's quite simple - AppleScript can't create folders - at least not on it's own.

You need the Finder to make the folder for you. Therefore the 'make new folder' line needs to be inside the 'tell application "Finder"' block.

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Answer 4

tjrazor Author

Level 1

0 points

Jun 6, 2008 9:50 AM in response to Camelot

I tried the following:

set theFile to choose file
set theFolder to path to application support from user domain
set thePath to theFolder & "iWork:Pages:Templates:" as text
display dialog thePath as string
--set baseFolder to make new folder at thePath with properties {name:"GS Templates"}
tell application "Finder"
make new folder at thePath with properties {name:"GS Templates"}
end tell
set finalFolder to thePath & "GS Templates:" as text
tell application "Finder"
move theFile to folder finalFolder
end tell

Error:
"AppleScript Error
Finder got an error: Can't make class folder."

Once again, I appreciate your help.

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Answer 5

dev_sleidy

Level 4

1,570 points

Jun 6, 2008 6:41 PM in response to tjrazor

Enter the code below ...

-- Code starts here --

property tPath : ((path to application support from user domain) as string) & "iWork:Pages:Templates:My Templates:"

on run {} -- Allow user to select multiple files.
my handle_items(choose file with multiple selections allowed)
end run

on open (dItems) -- Allow user to drag multiple files onto applet.
my handle_items(dItems)
end open

on handle_items(localItems)
repeat with i in localItems -- Move selected items.
try
tell application "Finder" to move item i to folder tPath
end try
end repeat
end handle_items

-- Code ends here --

... and save as an application (AppleScript applet).

Now, you can double click on the applet for manual, or drag items onto the applet for automatic, processing.

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