.numbers to .csv

Question

.numbers to .csv

Using Catalina on MacPro, simple conversion of a valid .numbers file to .csv

simple code ( I tried commented out lines with same error message):

tell application "Numbers"

activate

--open "/Users/joem/Desktop/playExcelNumbers.numbers"

--export "/Users/joem/Desktop/playExcelNumbers.numbers" ¬

--to file "/Users/joem/Destop/playExcelNumbers.csv" as CSV

save "/Users/joem/Desktop/playExcelNumbers.numbers" as ¬

"LSDocumentTypeCSV" in "/Users/joem/Destop/playExcelNumbers"

end tell

Error (same one if uncomment the export line and comment out the save line):

Numbers got an error: Can’t make "/Users/joem/Desktop/playExcelNumbers.numbers" into type specifier.

Anybody spot the issue? Thanks!

Posted on Mar 6, 2021 12:33 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

jamargevicius Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 8, 2021 11:44 AM in response to SGIII

Thanks SG ... from the library, I found the close and quit classes, so the following code brings up the numbers sheet momentarily (i.e. a blink), and the end result is just the .csv file. ... I guess that will have to do unless someone comes up with a more "silent" solution. Speed is not an issue. (interestingly, the code from your 1st suggestion didn't work -- shown below the operational code)

tell application "Numbers". -- this works, but "blinks" the sheet on/off

set theDoc to open file "500G internal HD:Users:joem:Desktop:test.numbers"

export theDoc to file "500G internal HD:Users:joem:Desktop:test.csv" as CSV

set theDoc to close saving no

quit "Numbers"

end tell

~~~~~~~~ doesn't work ~~~~~~~~

-- gives this error: The document “test.numbers” could not be exported as “test”.

tell application "Numbers"

set theDoc to open "/Users/joem/Desktop/test.numbers"

export theDoc to "/Users/joem/Desktop/test.csv" as CSV

set theDoc to close saving no

quit "Numbers"

end tell

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Answer 2

SGIII

Level 8

36,140 points

Mar 7, 2021 7:12 AM in response to jamargevicius

You're really close!

Just need to have the script tell Numbers which doc to save

This will work:

tell application "Numbers"
	set theDoc to open "/Users/joem/Desktop/test.numbers"
	export theDoc to "/Users/joem/Desktop/test.csv" as CSV
end tell

Or, using HFS paths, where you can use things like 'path to Desktop Folder' and 'path to Documents Folder' :

tell application "Numbers"
	set theDoc to open file "Macintosh HD:Users:joem:Desktop:test.numbers"
	export theDoc to file "Macintosh HD:Users:joem:Desktop:test.csv" as CSV
end tell

SG

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Answer 3

Badunit

Level 7

28,540 points

Mar 6, 2021 5:12 PM in response to jamargevicius

Maybe something in this link will help:

https://iworkautomation.com/numbers/document-export.html#export-CSV

I think the problem is you are trying to do Numbers suite operations on Finder items.

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Answer 4

Mar 7, 2021 1:45 PM in response to SGIII

Thank you very much SG for the quick response ! ... both codes worked fine :) .... is there a way to not have the Numbers sheet come up? ... I just want a passive csv conversion. Thanks.

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Answer 5

SGIII

Level 8

36,140 points

Mar 7, 2021 7:48 PM in response to jamargevicius

There might be a way to avoid having the Numbers document open but it likely would involve a lot of coding beyond my ken.

SG

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.numbers to .csv

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