Running Applescript from a Cocoa application

Question

I want to run a simple applescript in a cocoa application. I read the apple documentation on the matter but it was too confusing for me (a beginner) to understand.

tell application "iTunes" to play

nope. I could not get anything out of apples documentation

user377419
– user377419

2010-07-09 15:36:36 +00:00
Commented Jul 9, 2010 at 15:36 — user377419
– user377419, Commented Jul 9, 2010 at 15:36

Joshua Nozzi · Accepted Answer · 2010-07-09 15:13:21Z

1

Per the documentation, you use the NSAppleScript class.

The very short API reference has a section called "Initializing a Script," one method of which is -initWithSource:, which takes an NSString. You'll create your object this way.

Once you have your script object, you can then either -compileAndReturnError: then -executeAndReturnError: as separate steps, or just -executeAndReturnError:, which - according to the documentation for that method - tries to compile the source first if it's not been already, then executes.

So, in theory, you could probably do all this in one line. (alloc, init..., autorelease, executeAndReturnError:) if you ignore errors like a naughty developer.

Note the warning that NSAppleScript can only be executed from the main thread (ie, not from an NSOperation/Queue or other threads).

answered Jul 9, 2010 at 15:13

Joshua Nozzi

61.3k14 gold badges143 silver badges136 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

6 Comments

user377419 Over a year ago

so heres my script object/code. NSAppleScript *ascript = [[NSAppleScript alloc]init]; [ascript executeAndReturnError:] how do i tell it what my script is

user377419 Over a year ago

i dont see what im doing wrong. i dont know how to fill the argument after executeAndReturnError: this is literally my third day of objective c.

Joshua Nozzi Over a year ago

Hint: "-init" vs. "-initWithSource:". As for "filling in the argument," see: developer.apple.com/mac/library/referencelibrary/GettingStarted/… and developer.apple.com/mac/library/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/…

user377419 Over a year ago

OK i've came up with this. But it doesn't seem to run the script because it doesnt play or pause my itunes. -(IBAction)playpause:(id)sender{ NSAppleScript *playScript; playScript = [[NSAppleScript alloc] initWithSource:@"iTunesPlayPause.scpt"]; [playScript executeAndReturnError:nil]; }

user377419 Over a year ago

WHOOOOOOOOO!! i got it!!!!! initWithSource:@"" i should have put the applescript raw code. man i feel so accomplished.

|

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Running Applescript from a Cocoa application

1 Answer 1

6 Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

6 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related