Working with Applescript

[JoeDu]

I would like to use Applescript within a FMP script that creates a folder on my HD using a variable or calculated result from FMP for the name of the folder.

Additionally, the location of the folder to be created is not always the same.

For example, when I use FMP and generate a new record, I want the script to create a folder in a location for that client. The client's folders are all unique.

I know that variables from FMP mean nothing to an Applescript (and vice-versa). So, is this even possible?

[dreygo]

You can use a global field to draw out information. There are quite a few examples on the internet for this task. I know very little about applescript, but was able to do similar tasks in pretty short order after a minimal amount of research time.

[kjoe]

A handler for setting a field in Filemaker could be this (assuming the field is in a utility table with one record; your filemaker record is committed; the current table / layout is the utility table)

------dec
property thefolderpath:string
--more properties
------main

----- more code
----- blah blah
my UserPickFolder ()
-----more code



-------handlers

on UserPickFolder()
    tell application "Finder"
        set thefolderpath to choose folder with prompt "choose folder"
    end tell
    tell application "FileMaker Pro Advanced" to tell current table
        set cell 1 of field "folderpath" to (thefolderpath as Unicode text)
    end tell
end UserPickFolder

the other way round works as well

tell application "filemaker pro advanced" to tell current table
set thefilepath to the cellValue of cell 1 of field "ASFilepath" as Unicode text
end tell

actually when you embed applescript ("native") in a filemaker script, it's better to use

tell me to tell current table
....
end tell

that way you avoid version confusion (pro and advanced users) (thanks Alan ;-) )

[kjoe]

and to answer your question... creating a folder on a predefined location...

tell me to tell current table -- me is application "filemaker pro" or "filemaker pro advanced"
 set thefolderpath to the cellValue of cell 1 of field "folderpath" as Unicode text --this is the path to the locatioen where the folder must be created
 set thefoldername to the cellValue of cell 1 of field "foldername" as Unicode text --this is the name of the folder to be created
end tell
tell application "Finder"
    if not (exists (thefolderpath & ":" & thefoldername)) then
        try
            make new folder at thefolderpath as alias with properties {name:thefoldername}
        on error
            display dialog "failed creating folder"
            return
        end try
    end if
end tell

[JoeDu]

Thanks guys!!!

[AHunter3]

You can also use AppleScript to perform a shell script, by the way. ("Shell script" = "what you would type on the Terminal's command line").


do shell script "mkdir "& YourTable::FolderPath