How to run scripts in Numbers?

Question

kharisma Author

Level 1

106 points

How to run scripts in Numbers?

In Yvan Koenig's script, the instructions say

"Save the script as a Script: numberInLetters.scpt

Move the newly created application into the folder:

<startup Volume>:Users:<yourAccount>:Library:Scripts:Applications:Numbers:

Maybe you would have to create the folder Numbers and even the folder Applications by yourself.

Put the cursor in the cell which contains the number to translate.

menu Scripts > Numbers > numberInLetters"

---

What I have done so far:

placed a script in that location

checked option in AppleScript Editor "Show Script menu in menu bar"

closed and opened Numbers since doing all that

Still no Script menu.

What else do I need to do to get the Script menu to display in Numbers?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.5)

Posted on Jul 31, 2013 6:07 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 31, 2013 6:40 PM in response to kharisma

Badunit has a good description here that I confirmed works (at least for the script he was presenting).

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5207406?answerId=22620660022#22620660022

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Answer 2

kharisma Author

Level 1

106 points

Jul 31, 2013 6:53 PM in response to Wayne Contello

My question was copy-and-pasted from that thread.

The only other thing that thread mentions is to run the script from AppleScript itself.

That's not what I'm asking.

I keep finding references to being able to run scripts from within Numbers, as per the instructions I mentioned. It's not working for me.

What else do I need to do to run AppleScripts from within Numbers itself?

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Answer 3

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Jul 31, 2013 11:25 PM in response to kharisma

Hi kharisma,

This is what did with the script:

Selected everything from (* to --[/SCRIPT] (omitting {code} )

Pressed command-C to Copy.

Opened AppleScript Editor.

Went AppleScript Editor > Preferences.

Checked "show Script menu in Menu bar"

Closed preferences.

Clicked in the script area and Pasted.

Went File > Save to open the Save Dialogue.

Chose Script from the File Format: popup menu.

Navigated to the Desktop and clicked Save.

Switched to Finder and opened a Finder window.

Pointed the window to the Desktop. Sorted by Date to bring the newly saved file to the top.

(Later repeated the steps above, saving the same script as an Application with the name Num2wdsResults. Moved both to the folder noted below.)

Clicked otside the window to deslelect it.

Pressed and held the option key.

Went Go > Library to open my user Library.

Released option key.

Navigated/constructed path to Library > Scripts > Applications > Numbers.

Dragged newly saved file to the newly made Numbers folder.

Launched Numbers (which opened a new blank document)

Entered numbers in A2 through A11.

Selected each in turn and went Script menu > Numbers2words

(or on alternate rows, Script menu > num2wds)

Resuts as shown. Note the limitations demonstrated in the yellow rows.

The script may be saved as either a Script or an Application. Both produce the same results.

To run either from within Numbers, select a cell containing a number, then select the script from the Script menu in Numbers.

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 4

kharisma Author

Level 1

106 points

Aug 1, 2013 12:18 AM in response to Barry

See, I've been looking in the wrong place for the Script icon.

All the descriptions seemed to suggest that it would appear as an extra menu in Numbers, or on the Numbers toolbar.

It was never clear that I should look on the toolbar at the top of my desktop!

I'd done all the other things you mentioned.

I was just looking in the wrong place. 😁

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Answer 5

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Aug 1, 2013 12:45 AM in response to kharisma

"It was never clear that I should look on the toolbar at the top of my desktop!"

And you shouldn't. You should look in the Menu bar (across the top of your monitor/display), just like it says in AppleScript Editor Preferences:

Regards,

Barry

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Answer 6

kharisma Author

Level 1

106 points

Aug 1, 2013 1:05 AM in response to Barry

I interpret "menu bar" as something I see when an App is open.

The script icon is at the top of the screen, and is on display even when I have no apps open; so it is at the top of my desktop/screen/monitor ...

I regard that part as a "utility" toolbar 'cos it has internet connection, sound, etc.

Also, menu bars have menus - i.e. words. Toolbars have icons. When an app is open, the apps menu goes on the left, but I think of that as a whole separate entity sharing a zone with the toolbar.

I know that Parallels puts an icon there, but it never occurred to me that this area was also regarded as a "menu bar", let alone "the" menu bar.

I've been using Macs for 5-6 years now, but quickly passed the knowledge level of the only long-term Mac users I knew. Pardon me for winging it for this long 😝

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Answer 7

Barry

Level 9

60,023 points

Aug 1, 2013 9:25 AM in response to kharisma

"I interpret "menu bar" as something I see when an App is open.

The script icon is at the top of the screen, and is on display even when I have no apps open; so it is at the top of my desktop/screen/monitor ..."

"No apps open"? Doesn't happen often when the machine is turned on. Finder, which has been around since 1984, is an application.

From the Mac help documents:

The first item in the menu bar is the Apple menu, which has been labeled with an icon since before OS X was introduced.

The second item in the menu bar is the Application menu, labeled with the name of the currently active (ie. 'front') application. When you have no other applications running, or when Finder is the active application, that menu label says "Finder". Right now, mine says "Safari".

As the Menu bar started to fill up, Apple looked for space saving changes, and egan replacing multi-character labels with icons for those items at the right end of the Menu bar. Most of these are still menus. The only items on my (OS X v 10.8) Menu bar not incuding a menu are the audio icon (contains a slider), Spotlight, and Notifications.

Even the clock may be displayed on the menu bar. This is from the Date and Time pane in System Preferences:

It's been the Menu bar since 1984. Still is. 😉

Regards,

Barry

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