AppleScript to stroke Return key 18 times w/2 sec. delay?

Question

Level 1

6 points

AppleScript to stroke Return key 18 times w/2 sec. delay?

Hello Everyone,

I’m trying write an AppleScript to stroke the Return key 18 times with a 2 second delay between each stroke. With a 2 second delay at the start.

I’ll use Spark to active it.

The app that I’ll be using it for is not AppleScript aware...is that a problem?

Am I on the right road?....

repeat 18 times

delay 2

keystroke "return"

end repeat

I know I’m missing something...meaning a lot!

Thanks,

John V

G4 QuickSilver Dual One Gig Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Posted on Mar 18, 2006 7:15 PM

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Answer 1

Camelot

Level 9

58,527 points

Mar 18, 2006 8:59 PM in response to Niel

Oops, good catch, Niel 🙂

Or, you can 'keystroke return' (with no quotes) since 'return' is a known keyword in AppleScript.

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Answer 2

Camelot

Level 9

58,527 points

Mar 18, 2006 8:01 PM in response to John Vitollo

You're almost there. The one thing you're missing is that you need to target "System Events' in order to effect the keystroke:

repeat 18 times
delay 2
tell applications "System Events"
keystroke "return"
end tell
end repeat

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Answer 3

John Vitollo Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 18, 2006 8:28 PM in response to Camelot

Wow...this is cool! Many thanks Camelot!

I tried the applescript and it types the word "return"...I'm trying to "press" the return key. Is "keystroke" not the proper action?

Actually I tried replacing "keystroke" with "press" and "hit" but got a syntax error.

Thanks,

John V.

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Answer 4

Niel

Level 10

741,851 points

Mar 18, 2006 8:57 PM in response to John Vitollo

Try highlighting the return text in the script and pushing the Return key on the keyboard; this should place a carriage return in the script, which will then be sent to the application when run.

(11188)

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Answer 5

John Vitollo Author

Level 1

6 points

Mar 18, 2006 9:20 PM in response to Camelot

Sweet!

That was it. Both posts sloved the problem. I went with "keystroke return" as hitting the return key just made a new line in the script editor and didn't make it obvious what was going on.

You saved my index finger from a lot of pressing the return key.

Many thanks guys I appreciate it very much!

Best Regards,

John V.

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