Scripting Pages (new twist)

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Level 1

28 points

Scripting Pages (new twist)

I've been successfully using an Applescript that uses Pages (and other iWork apps) to convert files to PDF format (e.g., for Word documents it opens Pages, opens the Word document and then does a Save As specifying PDF format, essentially exporting the file).

In a recent update of Pages has kinda ruined this script. Occasionally I will open a file that will create the document review warnings panel ("Some warnings have occurred. Would you like to review them now?". In the past this hasn't mattered, but now it hangs Pages and the scripting engine and I have to Force Quit it). I, of course, don't know which files will trigger this apriori.

I'm certainly no Applescript expert, but I've combed the net and the script dictionary for Pages and can't find something that can detect if this dialog pops up and essentially ignore it (i.e., "Don't Review").

Is there some magic option in Pages or Applescript that I can employ to once again make this script useful? (Alternatively, anyone have a way of generating PDFs from Word documents without purchasing MS-Office?)

Thanks very much,

- dave

OS X: 10.7.4, Pages '09 V4.2 (1008)

Posted on Sep 9, 2012 11:41 AM

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Answer 1

fruhulda

Level 6

15,161 points

Sep 9, 2012 10:31 PM in response to davebets

You ca always do the process manually.

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Answer 2

Sep 10, 2012 7:21 AM in response to davebets

And, I'm no Automator expert, but from what I do know, Automator may be a better option than Applescript.

Jerry

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Answer 3

davebets Author

Level 1

28 points

Sep 10, 2012 7:34 AM in response to Jerrold Green1

If Automator in any way supported Pages I would agree with you (my guess is that the issue is the other way around). Keynote is the only iWork application that has Automator hooks as far as I can tell. Just checked Mountain Lion to see if that was still true. If you have a specific Automator option to point me at, please do. I've looked.

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Answer 4

Jeff Shenk

Level 4

2,993 points

Sep 10, 2012 11:17 AM in response to davebets

I'm not sure how you are going about this, and since I am running Pages 4.1 on Snow Leopard, I don't get the dialog box that is causing your problem. I just tried a version of the script that will follow with some additional lines to call an Open dialog between opening the file and saving it, and it saved anyway leaving the dialog open in front. Maybe something in this would help you.

I put a file test.doc on the desktop (it did create a document warning about a substitution, but I don't get the dialog). I then ran the following script:

set x to alias ((path to desktop as text) & "test.doc")

set y to (path to desktop as text) & "test.pdf"

tell application "Pages"

openx

set theDocument to front document

save theDocument as "SLDocumentTypePDF" in y

end tell

It saved the PDF file, even with the "Open…" dialog in front.

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Answer 5

Sep 10, 2012 12:57 PM in response to davebets

Dave,

I recall reading an Automator tutorial for batch printing, but even if my memory serves me, it might take some time to find it. I took a look in Yvan Koenig's Box account and found this Applescript that looks applicable.

Jerry

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