Launching apps with Applescript

Question

I'm like a drunk driver wheb it comes to Applescript.
I use Final Cut Pro to edit video and have a time tracker program to keep track of the time I spend editing. Is there an Applescript that will launch the time program when I launch Final Cut Pro?
thanks for the help.

Answer 1

I am a bit crippled at the moment when writing scripts as my mac is currently in for repairs, so am using my parents windows pc.
I believe there are a number of ways of attacking this problem. Either have a small program always open checking for final cut launch or have a small application that launches both your time tracking program and final cut.
i prefer the second method as it free up systems resources (not much but i always prefer having as little open as possible in regards to background processes). SO i would use something like this:
tell application "Time Tracker"
activate
tell application "Final Cut Pro"
activate
end
end.
I would save it as an application named so it where final cut pro is, and then always use this applciation to launch final cut pro.
However if you launch final cut another way, for example open up a document file that launches final cut pro then this method will not work and the first method described would be a better way of achieveing this. However i am at best a confident novice in regards to applescript and being hindered by not having my mac to try it out on, i can only give pointers.
I believe this will check every 5 seconds for an instance of final cut pro. You can make the time intveral shorter or longer if you wish. I think the option you want to save it as is called "always open" and then in system preferences - accounts - login items select the script.
if process "Final Cut Pro" exsists then
activate application "Time Tracker"
delay 5
end
As i said before this may not work correctly and can only check when my iMac comes back from being repaired (new screen, logic board and psu, so basically replaced but inside the same case). I am sure someone else will step in and offer help in the mean time if i have got something wrong.