Applescript in Automator

I'm having an odd problem. With iChat launched and online, Automator is returning an error of 'Application isn't running' when I run the following script:
on run {input, parameters}
tell application "iChat"
set status to offline
end tell
end run
Running the script (sans 'run' handler) in Applescript, it works just fine. At this point, I'm just about conent to find out how to do the whole workflow in applescript, but this problem confuses me enough to want to know an answer. Any ideas as to where this is coming from?
Thanks
dennis
iMac Intel 20" Mac OS X (10.4.8)

I did look through the dictionary. Unfortunately, the further I explore iChat's Applescriptability, the more dissapointed and confused I become.
Commands seem to toggle status instead of setting it and I still get the error of 'Application not running' when, in fact, it is running.
I even found an Automator Action Set for iChat and that behaves just as backwards and unpredictably as iChat's own Applescript Dictionary.
Has anyone invested any time in working with iChat in Automator? It's an extremely confusing beast.
Thanks
Dennis

Similar Messages

Applescript and automator

I have studyed html for 3 days and wordpress for 3 days , word , excel for 5 days, and llustrator and photoshop 13 yeas ago for 6 months.
and still now its so hard to understand some how.
but I am in need of understading now with the printed documents from my computer.
and I wonder , so there are many defferent way to communicate with anyone out side of the world, right?
like I know email , fax, facetime,
but there are other way now I think because of the documents I found.
and also with applescript and automator can do anything possible like even the child can click one and start conecting etc..
I have the copy from its ,
does anyone have time to explain me what it is?
It's not that of teenager who doesn't want paretns to know or else,
but I am quite serious for my situations.
Please Help !
Mac OS snow leopard to lion to moutain lion,,,,,
but I don't know when it started yet.

Using JavaScript to script System Events wouldn't be any better, since it uses the same Apple Events mechanism (how well it uses it is another topic). To hold down a key you would need to use something that has access to the deeper system APIs, most likely using Xcode.
And yes, your code snippet will press the arrow key 5 times (I am guessing that the missing space in key code is a typo). You can place the cursor in a bunch of text in another application such as TextEdit, and use your script to activate it before performing the key codes to get a better idea of what is happening (trying to reposition the cursor in the Script Editor will reveal a bug with the delay command).

Mounting a network share via Applescript or Automator causes errors in MS Office apps

If I connect a network share using an automated process, either using Applescript or Automator, though the share shows up on the Desktop and I can open it and view the various folders and files, MS Office apps including Powerpoint, Excel and Word are unable to open the files. Each gives a slightly different error message. In Excel, it looks like this:
In Word, it's:
In Powerpoint, it's:
BUT, if I connect to the server share manually (using Cmnd-K in Finder), all files and folders are properly accessible. I cannot see any differences between the shares connected by the two different means on the Desktop. They have the same name, are the same size, etc.; in short, everything about them seems identical. I even took screen shots of the Get Info page from one of them connected by the different methods:
"home" connected by Automator:
and connected manually:
Does anyone have any ideas as to why this is happening or how to fix it?

I had the same issue. After upgrading kernel to 3.4.5 today the cifs share mounted with original fstab settings. I believe it was caused by this bug:
kernel changelog wrote: The double delimiter check that allows a comma in the password parsing code is
unconditional. We set "tmp_end" to the end of the string and we continue to
check for double delimiter. In the case where the password doesn't contain a
comma we end up setting tmp_end to NULL and eventually setting "options" to
"end". This results in the premature termination of the options string and hence
the values of UNCip and UNC are being set to NULL. This results in mount failure
with "Connecting to DFS root not implemented yet" error.

AppleScript (or Automator?): How to search through online сhеss games?

Hello.
I would like to search for specific online сhеss games. Each game has a single adress. We are talking about millions of games. Obviously, it's far too long to index all the games. So I will set a limit and use the script at night. Conditions should be something like this:
For adress example.com/game=NumberA to example.com/game=NumberB
Search every web page containing SpecificWord
Store wanted web adresses somewhere (so I could see the games by myself during the day)
As you can see, I know nothing about Applescript and I don't know how to start, nor how the script can pick up adresses. I think it's possible and not difficult to code, just time consuming for the program to search through thousands of games.
Should I use AppleScript or Automator? Should the script open Safari (or Firefox if possible) or can it search without any browser? Is it possible to simultaneously search through multiple pages/adresses? Maybe I could write several scripts for different ranges of games? If so, how many pages can I open at once? For instance I could disable images in Firefox to load quicker. How much time does it need to search for one game? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 seconds?
Any easy tutorials, examples of similar codes, advices, hints or tips are appreciated.

Thanks for answering. Sorry that I was so unclear. My main problem was how to get urls and games id as variables. But then I thought there already should be programs doing web crawling. I have found Scrapy which use Python language.
(Maybe I should edit my question, add Scrapy and Python as tags instead of applescript and automator. Is it possible?)
I have Mac OS 10.6.8, Python 2.6.1. Scrapy needs at least Python 2.7 so I have downloaded the last version of Python (3.3). I think I can handle the programming in Scrapy thanks to their tutorial. The most difficult part should be... how to install Scrapy. Don't laugh at me.
I have entered "sudo easy_install Scrapy" in the terminal. But the terminal still uses Python 2.6.1. Python 3.3 is installed but I don't know how to clean update Python. If anyone knows, feel free...
When I write scrapy in the terminal, here is what I get:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/usr/local/bin/scrapy", line 4, in <module>
    import pkg_resources
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/Extras/lib/python/pkg _resources.py", line 2556, in <module>
    working_set.require(__requires__)
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/Extras/lib/python/pkg _resources.py", line 620, in require
    needed = self.resolve(parse_requirements(requirements))
File "/System/Library/Frameworks/Python.framework/Versions/2.6/Extras/lib/python/pkg _resources.py", line 518, in resolve
    raise DistributionNotFound(req) # XXX put more info here
pkg_resources.DistributionNotFound: lxml
It seems Scrapy also needs something called lxml. Right now I am trying to make Python 3.3 the default python version. Is there a web crawler GUI which already includes Python, Scrapy, lxml?
By default I also have Python 2.4 and 2.5. Does the system need them? I prefer not to delete system files but together all Python versions weigh 500 MB.
In regard to the real example URL: let's say instantchess.com. Here's a game URL: http://www.instantchess.com/?EXP=1&GPI=84094532
84094532 is the game id. Let's say I want to search every Reti openings (thus the page must contain the word "Reti") from id 84000000 to 85000000 and store games id in my computer. If I have understood correctly, I need to search through the source code of the pages.
Feel free to add any remarks, suggestions, ideas.

How to hide rows and columns by AppleScript or Automator for printing

Hello,
I have to hide first empty rows (I do it by: organize - Column B is not empty)
then: By context-menu in Header of Column K: Hide column
and: By context-menu in Header of Column L: Hide column
How can I make this 3 Steps automatic with AppleScript or Automator or maybe by formula?
Thanks for any help

Here is an edited version which allow you to choose the custom template on the fly.
No need to edit a property in the script.
--[SCRIPT printtable(s)_choosecustom]
Enregistrer le script en tant que Script ou Application : printtable(s)_choosecustom.xxx
déplacer le fichier ainsi créé dans le dossier
<VolumeDeDémarrage>:Users:<votreCompte>:Library:Scripts:Applications:Numbers:
Il vous faudra peut-être créer le dossier Numbers et peut-être même le dossier Applications.
Sélectionner une partie de table, une table ou même plusieurs tables.
Aller au menu Scripts , choisir Numbers puis choisir “printtable(s)_choosecustom”
Le script crée un nouveau document depuis un modèle perso sélectionné,
puis applique « Colle les valeurs » au contenu du presse-papiers.
Il envoie enfin la commande d'impression.
--=====
L'aide du Finder explique:
L'Utilitaire AppleScript permet d'activer le Menu des scripts :
Ouvrez l'Utilitaire AppleScript situé dans le dossier Applications/AppleScript.
Cochez la case "Afficher le menu des scripts dans la barre de menus".
Sous 10.6.x,
aller dans le panneau "Général" du dialogue Préférences de l'Éditeur Applescript
puis cocher la case "Afficher le menu des scripts dans la barre des menus".
--=====
Save the script as a Script or an Application : printtable(s)_choosecustom.xxx
Move the newly created file 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.
Select a subset of a table, a table or even several tables.
Go to the Scripts Menu, choose Numbers, then choose “printtable(s)_choosecustom”
The script create a new document based on the selected custom template,
then apply “Paste Values” to the clipboard's contents.
At last, it issue the print command.
--=====
The Finder's Help explains:
To make the Script menu appear:
Open the AppleScript utility located in Applications/AppleScript.
Select the "Show Script Menu in menu bar" checkbox.
Under 10.6.x,
go to the General panel of AppleScript Editor’s Preferences dialog box
and check the “Show Script menu in menu bar” option.
--=====
Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France)
2011/02/20
2011/03/16 -- replaced the Blank template by a custom one defined thru the property custom_template
2011/03/17 -- Let choose the custom template, no longer Paste but Paste Values.
--=====
property theApp : "Numbers"
--=====
on run
--my doyourduty()
run script doyourduty
end run
script doyourduty
--on doyourduty()
my activateGUIscripting()
Copy the selected items *)
my raccourci(theApp, "c", "c") (* cmd + c *)
Create a new document based upon Blank.template *)
set myNewDoc to my makeAnIworkDocFromCustom()
As it's a custom template, there is no default table to delete.
Delete the default table *)
tell application "Numbers" to tell document 1 to tell sheet 1 to delete table 1
my selectMenu("Numbers", 4, 8) (* Paste Values *)
my raccourci(theApp, "p", "c") (* cmd + p = Print *)
my raccourci(theApp, return, "") (* return = validate the Print command*)
--end doyourduty
end script
--=====
Creates a new iWork document from a custom template and returns its name.
example:
set myNewDoc to my makeAnIworkDocFromCustom()
on makeAnIworkDocFromCustom()
set nb_chiffres to 3 (*
2 = allow 99 templates
3 = allow 999 templates *)
Grab the localized names of the templates folders *)
tell application "Numbers"
set templates_loc to localized string "Templates"
-- set myTemplates_loc to localized string "My Templates"
end tell -- to application a
Define the path to the folder storing custom templates *)
--set chemindesmodeles to "" & (path to library folder from user domain) & "Application Support:iWork:Numbers:" & templates_loc & ":" & myTemplates_loc & ":"
set chemindesmodeles to "" & (path to library folder from user domain) & "Application Support:iWork:Numbers:" & templates_loc & ":"
Grab the list of every items stored in the folder *)
tell application "Finder"
set entire_contents to entire contents of folder chemindesmodeles
end tell
Build two lists. One contain the path to every custom templates.
The other contain the names of these templates and the names of subfolders *)
set indx to 1
set cheminde_mesmodeles to {}
set nomsde_mesmodeles to {}
set le_conteneur to ""
tell application "System Events"
repeat with i from 1 to count of entire_contents
set un_element to item i of entire_contents as text
try
if type identifier of disk item un_element is in {"com.apple.iwork.numbers.template", "com.apple.iwork.numbers.sfftemplate"} then
if name of container of disk item un_element is not le_conteneur then
set le_conteneur to name of container of disk item un_element
copy (text 1 thru nb_chiffres of "---") & space & le_conteneur to end of nomsde_mesmodeles
end if
copy un_element to end of cheminde_mesmodeles
copy text -nb_chiffres thru -1 of ("00" & indx) & space & name of disk item un_element to end of nomsde_mesmodeles
set indx to indx + 1
end if
end try
end repeat
end tell -- System Events
if my parleAnglais() then
set le_titre to "Numbers’s custom templates"
else
set le_titre to "Modèles personnalisés de Numbers"
end if
Choose the template to use.
If you select a subfolder name, the script beep and ask one more time *)
tell application (path to frontmost application as string)
repeat
set mon_choix to choose from list nomsde_mesmodeles with title le_titre
if mon_choix is false then error number -128
try
set mon_choix to text 1 thru nb_chiffres of (item 1 of mon_choix) as integer
exit repeat
on error
beep 1
end try
end repeat
end tell
tell application "Numbers"
set nb_doc to count of documents
open (item mon_choix of cheminde_mesmodeles)
repeat until (count of documents) > nb_doc
delay 0.1
end repeat
set doc_name to name of document 1
end tell -- the_App
return doc_name
end makeAnIworkDocFromCustom
--=====
on parleAnglais()
local z
try
tell application theApp to set z to localized string "Cancel"
on error
set z to "Cancel"
end try
return (z is not "Annuler")
end parleAnglais
--=====
on activateGUIscripting()
(* to be sure than GUI scripting will be active *)
tell application "System Events"
if not (UI elements enabled) then set (UI elements enabled) to true
end tell
end activateGUIscripting
--=====
==== Uses GUIscripting ====
This handler may be used to 'type' text, invisible characters if the third parameter is an empty string.
It may be used to 'type' keyboard raccourcis if the third parameter describe the required modifier keys.
I changed its name « shortcut » to « raccourci » to get rid of a name conflict in Smile.
on raccourci(a, t, d)
local k
tell application a to activate
tell application "System Events" to tell application process a
set frontmost to true
try
t * 1
if d is "" then
key code t
else if d is "c" then
key code t using {command down}
else if d is "a" then
key code t using {option down}
else if d is "k" then
key code t using {control down}
else if d is "s" then
key code t using {shift down}
else if d is in {"ac", "ca"} then
key code t using {command down, option down}
else if d is in {"as", "sa"} then
key code t using {shift down, option down}
else if d is in {"sc", "cs"} then
key code t using {command down, shift down}
else if d is in {"kc", "ck"} then
key code t using {command down, control down}
else if d is in {"ks", "sk"} then
key code t using {shift down, control down}
else if (d contains "c") and (d contains "s") and d contains "k" then
key code t using {command down, shift down, control down}
else if (d contains "c") and (d contains "s") and d contains "a" then
key code t using {command down, shift down, option down}
end if
on error
repeat with k in t
if d is "" then
keystroke (k as text)
else if d is "c" then
keystroke (k as text) using {command down}
else if d is "a" then
keystroke k using {option down}
else if d is "k" then
keystroke (k as text) using {control down}
else if d is "s" then
keystroke k using {shift down}
else if d is in {"ac", "ca"} then
keystroke (k as text) using {command down, option down}
else if d is in {"as", "sa"} then
keystroke (k as text) using {shift down, option down}
else if d is in {"sc", "cs"} then
keystroke (k as text) using {command down, shift down}
else if d is in {"kc", "ck"} then
keystroke (k as text) using {command down, control down}
else if d is in {"ks", "sk"} then
keystroke (k as text) using {shift down, control down}
else if (d contains "c") and (d contains "s") and d contains "k" then
keystroke (k as text) using {command down, shift down, control down}
else if (d contains "c") and (d contains "s") and d contains "a" then
keystroke (k as text) using {command down, shift down, option down}
end if
end repeat
end try
end tell
end raccourci
--=====
my selectMenu("Numbers",4, 8)
==== Uses GUIscripting ====
on selectMenu(theApp, mt, mi)
tell application theApp
activate
tell application "System Events" to tell process theApp to tell menu bar 1 to ¬
tell menu bar item mt to tell menu 1 to click menu item mi
end tell -- application theApp
end selectMenu
--=====
--[/SCRIPT]
Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) jeudi 17 mars 2011 21:29:15

Applescript in Automator File passing question

Hi All,
I work for an augmenative communication program in Monterey County. I do general tech stuff for them, like setting up new machines, upgrading RAM, and maintaining a few file shares.
Many of the staff that make communication aides have to go through many steps to get a picture into the software used to make said communication boards. I'm trying to find a way to help make their job easier by creating an applescript or automator action that can help automate the process.
The images of the kids and objects are in iPhoto (taken from digital cameras). The end result is to paste them into a program called BoardMaker. Getting the image to the clipboard would be good enough, because pasting is a simple operation.
Since Automator has the Preview command to resize, that part is very easy. (BoardMaker only accepts low res images and the digital cameras they use are always set too high so we need to bring down the res.)
After that I have a script action listed below that I was able to find online.
Here's the script code:
set myImage to open (choose file)
tell application "Safari"
activate
open myImage
delay 1
tell application "System Events"
tell process "Safari"
keystroke "c" using {command down}
end tell
end tell
end tell
This is great, but it asks to choose a file when what we need is it to simply open the image passing through the automator actions.
This isn't part of my job, I haven't been asked to do this, but I do see a need and I know it would help 20+ teachers and speech therapists to create augmenative communication boards.
Any help would be great - Thanks.
Paul
P.S. I have searched these forums extensively before posting, as well as the net in general. Please don't flame if I missed the post with this answer.

I tweaked the code as follows, which solved the issue.
tell application "Preview"
activate
delay 1
tell application "System Events"
tell process "Preview"
keystroke "c" using {command down}
keystroke "q" using {command down}
end tell
end tell
end tell

IWeb Applescript and Automator - scripts you shouldn't be without

Applescript and automator will automate mundane manual repetative task that seem to take forever. These scripts fill in iWeb's void that makes it hard to implement advance features such one click ftp publishing, code editing, swithching domain site files, etc. Don't miss out on these scripts that will save you ton of time. These are scripts you shouldn't be without.
Work smarter not harder with iWeb applescript, only from MacEzzy.
-- Also check out the free downloadable iWeb templates.
Powerbook G4 Ti Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Thank you for your feedback.
-- Article never mentions compressed or uncompressed. Traditionally tiff format is used for buttons and small images on web pages and jpeg is used for higher quality photos exemplified by iWeb.
-- Search engine spiders or crawlers start from top of the page to the bottom of html pages. They craw for topic as well as content. This is exactly what appears from iWeb html pages for meta (meta name="Generator" content="iWeb 1.0.1")
-- I am the first to admit I don't know everything but I don't make up information. I use iWeb on a daily bases and try new things to push the envelope. Things that I find helpful to me I make it available for other iWeb community users so that they don't go through tribulation.
-- I put google ads and paypal donate buttons throughout the pages to test if iWeb is up for commercial challenge. I also tested how well the search and replace script worked. I have exemplified in macezzy website it is possible to use iWeb for business purpose. The script worked extremely well, it would have taken hours to insert google and paypal codes manually. Using the script it only took 10 min. I wanted to share that with other users who might wanted to do similar things. Sorry if that offend you, I will remove them.
-- I never claimed to have created the script except the script that makes the first folder in documents folder. I did change the wording so that it is clear to users that they are switching sites(domain file). I did not create the awesome search and replace script either. I do mention that I have made the iWeb_ftpUpload automator.
I have started macezzy site when iWeb was introduced and there wasn't much information about iWeb. I have and do try many things with iWeb and report to iWeb community users of things that I find helpful. I haven't made a dollar off the site and I have invested lot of my time because I like to see other users succeed.
Powerbook G4 Ti Mac OS X (10.4.4)

AppleScript to Automator

Hi there,
I was wondering if it was possible to import an AppleScript into Automator, and if possible how do I go about doing this.
Thanks, Ricky.
http://rickyprograms.blogspot.com

Knowledge Located via other sources...

Is there an AppleScript or Automator Script that will wake a Mac from Sleep?

Is there an AppleScript or Automator Script that will wake a Mac from Sleep?

Frank and All,
The following answer to your question above is complicated, but I hope it explains why my question was formed with so much frustration in it.
I have an OpenOffice(OO) Macro that was launched with Calendar at 6pm each business night. It ran properly in all Apples operating systems until I Hit Maverick(OSX10.9). From then on, the AppleScript would run from one to 3 days, then would disappear from the Calendar entry. The Calendar alert would still run, but the "OpenFile" section of the alert would disappear. I also was running elgato EyeTV HD during the day, so I would use energy saver to put my MacBook Pro to sleep at 12 Midnight and wake it again at 9am. I picked up a used Mac Mini to do the EyeTV stuff, provide AppleTV the files in H264 format through iTunes' media share, and found it had plenty of power to do the 6pm automated stuff simultaneously as well. Because I still wanted to run the OpenOffice Macro on my MacBook Pro at 6pm, and wanted to use it for a host of other things when I was on the road, I wanted it to sleep most of the time and only wake up automatically to run the 6pm OO Macro. When I called Apple about the issue I was having with Maverick and Calendar loosing the OpenFile command as part of the Alert Message, they told me the no longer supported answering AppleScript Questions but they now would support Automator questions. I pointed out that the OpenFile would also fail after one to three days if I used a Calendar Alert to launch an Automator App. At first, I did not like Automator, but now I see why Apple is pushing us to use it. Automator adds a TIME STAMP ID to the Apps developed in Automator so the first time you launch the App after a change to it, you must reply to a dialog message saying that this is the first time you are running this version of the App. If a Scammer has replaced your app with one that can reek havoc on your computer, the replacement app will not run unless you are there to agree that you know where the modified app came from and click the OK button to continue (BRILLIANT, Enhanced Security idea on Apples part). I also noticed that after Mountain Lion, the Applescript delay timing was all screwed up as well. Well I tried to use LaunchD Task Scheduler to circumvent the Calendar Problem and that worked until I upgraded to Yosemite Last week. Then LaunchD no longer worked and I am only into a few days of using The Calendar Launched Automator App to see if it will continue to run.
But I think I solved the dilemma I was having with opening an Automator App in a Sleeping Mac. I Googled up the following question, "AppleScript to wake up computer". I went thru several complex responses until I found this on that is INCREDIBLE EASEY! What came back was a brettterpstra.com response from Feb 20th,2014. What it said, in a Quick Tip: caffeinated your Terminal Article, if you wanted to wake a Mac from sleep, use the Terminal command named "Caffeine -u -t 1". I placed it in an Automator Most Used Action called "Run Shell Script -- Caffeine -u -t 1" and it worked! Now, I can put my Mac to Sleep but at 6pm, the Automator App will launch, run the "Caffeine -u- -t 1" command and proceed to work as if I had awakened the Mac From Sleep mode by pressing a keyboard key and had run the Automator Script with a double click.
Sorry for the long, drawn-out reply, but maybe this will help others.

Is there an Applescript or Automator action that can change Preferences in

When I log on to my ISPs website to clean out my spam filter, the site redirects me to a second area that contains the filtered spam. Each time I access it I must change my "Accept Cookies from "Only sites you navigate to" to "Always". The problem is remembering to change it BACK. Is there an applescript or automator thingy that will allow me to to make these changes? I'm using Safari 3.1.2.
Thank you.

This question was answered in the Safari-for-Mac forum.

Can Applescript or Automator be used to keep Character Viewer open?

Since the upgrade to Mavericks the behaviour of the Character Viewer has changed, where it no longer 'sticks' (stays both active and on top) as a visible window when you switch applications: now it needs to be called up from within each application, and will be visible when working with that app.
Is it possible to use Applescript or Automator (which I don't yet know how to use), to make the Character Viewer always stay open and visible while switching between and using any application, in effect restoring the way it worked before Mavericks?
Thanks.
(This question relates to one I asked here. It will be some time before I can access the computer in question and try the solution suggested there specifically for Word – my interest here is in finding out if it is possible to get the old Character Viewer behaviour back using Automator or Applescript.)

Thanks for that suggestion too. Please let me know if you do try and succeed; I'm not sure I have the knowledge.
In fact, in looking on my system I can find no .plist file with CharViewer in it, and it's not obvious any of the .plist files are related. I did find in the system library:
Macintosh HD/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Keyboard.prefPane
I don't seem to have a Library folder in my Home folder anymore (since Mavericks?). It looks like it now resides at Macintosh HD/Library.
In the MacHD/System/Library there is an interesting folder: Input Methods. This is empty in MacHD/Library/Input Methods, but full of the following applications in System/Library/Input Methods (see screenshot). The first two look relevant. But I really don't know what I'm doing.

Looking for a more universal scripting language than AppleScript or Automator

I want to learn a cross-platform/web scripting language to automate tasks, write scripts and with the potential to create programs and web apps.
I am looking for something that:
- is not a program with a GUI like Automator, iKey, Quickeys, Maestro...
- is more "universal" than Applescript, cross-platform
- can be used to automate simple tasks in a simple way
- can also be used to create more complex scripts, web apps and maybe, eventually, programs (with GUI)
I've read about Javascript, Python, Ruby, PHP, Perl, C+, C++, Java and others, but I really don't know.
- Java sounds pretty cool, Python too.
- I'm not crazy about PHP or Perl, with Javascript, but some people swear by it
- I don't know anything about C+, C++
Does anyone have any suggestion(s)? Please let me know if you need any more details. Thank you.

C, C++, Objective-C are nor scripting languages and will not help you do web pages. (Don;t know what C+ is).
Forget Java it has lots of security problems and more and more users are disabling Java in their web browsers because of this. Developing in Java would be, in my opinion, a mistake.
If you are doing any web works at all you will need to know some Javascript, no way around that. But Javascript is actually not a bad language
Note Java and Javascript are two totally separate languages that have nothing in common but the first 4 letters of their names.
So you are left with PHP, Perl, Python and Ruby.
Dismissing PHP and Perl out of hand is a big mistake, They are both major players and you will run into them just about everywhere. If you are looking to do this for possible employment you will need to be familiar with them at least.
Python and Ruby are both strong languages as well. I don't have a lot of experience with either so I can;t speak to their strengths but learnign either would not be a mistake.
Knowing what your reasons are for asking this, personal use or for employment, might help refine the list some.
regards
Message was edited by: Frank Caggiano - Perl is also included in OS X by default. Not sure about PHP but I believe it also is. I agree TextWrangler would be a good editor for this type of work.

Problem with AppleScript inside automator app

Creating an Automator Application that I want to run by itself (hence application instead of workflow). The firs thing asks for a folder, then it goes to run the following applescript, followed by some more automator applications and another applescript. Everything works perfectly when i run it inside automator, but when I run it as a standalone app it fails on the first applescript. Here it is:
on run {input, parameters}
     set aFolder to input
     tell application "Finder"
          set folderName to name of folder aFolder
     end tell
     set value of variable "SeasonNumber" of front workflow to "0" & ((characters -1 thru -1 of folderName) as string)
     return input
end run
I'm thinking it has something to do with the fact that I am setting a value to an automator variable (SeasonNumber) but not sure. If so, I have attached the second applescript in case something needs to be fixed in both. Thanks in advance.
on run {input, parameters}
set whichFile to input
set epNum to 1
set sNumber to get value of variable "SeasonNumber" of front workflow
repeat with aFile in whichFile
     if epNum < 10 then
          set ifZero to "0"
     else set ifZero to ""
     end if
     set textBox to "What is episode title for S" & (sNumber as string) & "E" & epNum & "?"
     tell application "Finder"
          set filename to name of aFile
          set nameEnding to ((characters -4 thru -1 of filename) as string)
          display dialog textBox default answer ""
          set text_returned to text returned of result
          set name of aFile to "S" & (sNumber as string) & "E" & (ifZero as string) & (epNum as string) & " - " & text_returned & nameEnding
     end tell
set epNum to epNum + 1
end repeat
return input
end run

Awesome. Figured since now it is just a ask for finder items and run applescript, might as well convert the whole thing to applescript and save as application in script editor. So the first thing is ask for finder items, which I have as:
set a     set aFolder to (choose folder with prompt "Select Season Folder" default location "afp://DiskStation._afpovertcp._tcp.local/Entertainment/TV Shows") as text
But I keep getting an error saying that it can't make it into type alias. What is the correct way of changing the default location to this? It is a Folder called TV Shows that is on my NAS, connected through afp. Let me know as I have tried putting POSIX file, I have tried Network/DiskStation/Entertainment/TV Shows, among other things. DiskStation is the server and Entertainment is a partition. Thanks in advance.

How to get applescript or automator to ask system to "detect displays"

I want to know how to get automator or applescript to "detect displays" (which is found in Displays prefpane). Thanks.

Sorry I'm late, but this page was the only Google find on "script detect displays"
when I checked on June 26, 2011. The script commands worked immediately for
me and I offer V.K. belated thanks if he/she is still around for having solved this
longstanding problem for me. I had written a script earlier trying to do this, but it
didn't work reliably so I gave up on trying to use it.
If jockebq is by chance still around, I would recommend that he/she try doing as
I did and use a more simple version of the script, namely:
tell application "System Events" to tell the front menu bar of process "SystemUIServer"
tell (first menu bar item whose value of attributes contains "displays")
    click
    tell 1st menu item of front menu
      click
    end tell
end tell
end tell
I have this saved as a normal .scpt script and assigned to ctrl-opt-shift-d
in QuicKeys. It works every time.
Roy McCoy
Rotterdam, NL

Applescript? Automator? ScriptEditor?

I'm new to Macs.
I work in Excel.
I want a script to replace the following keystrokes:
File->Print->SavetoPDF
I know I can do:
Command-P
Save to PDF
But I want it all in one fell swoop.
Do I need to learn Automator? AppleScript?
Please give me a gentle nudge in the right direction
Thanks
Marion

Which Excel? See http://www.mactech.com/articles/mactech/Vol.23/23.02/2302AppleScript/index.html for starters. Additional queries WRT to AppleScript should be posted to the AppleScript forum under OS X Technologies.
Since you're a newcomer to the Mac, see these:
Switching from Windows to Mac OS X,
Basic Tutorials on using a Mac,
MacFixIt Tutorials,
MacTips, and
Switching to the Mac: The Missing Manual, Leopard Edition.
Additionally, *Texas Mac Man* recommends:
Quick Assist.
Welcome to the Switch To A Mac Guides, and
A guide for switching to a Mac.

Applescript in Automator

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