... Also be aware that there are two 'desktop' folders on your disk. "Macintosh HD:Desktop" is the common desktop for all users, but each user will have their own desktop folder in "Macintosh HD:Users:<username>:Desktop" ...

Huh? I've always known about ...

~/Desktop/

... but I've never heard of a common Desktop for all users. Are you sure?
I tried creating a new Desktop folder thusly:

/Desktop/

... but when I put a file in it, it didn't appear on my Desktop.
.

After having been an avid Mac fan for years, I finally decided to venture into the world of AppleScript.  I am attempting to write a simple script that will launch DVD Player, open a specific VIDEO_TS movie off of my HD and play it full screen.  I've been searching the forums and this thread was the most helpful thus far.  However, I'm still running into a bit of a snag.

Here is the entire script:

tell application "DVD Player"
    activate
    open VIDEO_TS file "G4:Users:biblejam:Movies:VIDEO_TS"
    play dvd
    set viewer full screen to true
end tell

Here's the problem... running this script in Script Editor while DVD player isn't launched opens the program and starts playing the movie full screen (exactly as I hoped it would), but script editor gives me an error message indicating:

AppleScript Error
DVD Player got an error: Can't get the file "G4:Users:biblejam:Movies:VIDEO_TS".

And if I run the script while DVD player is aleady open, it gives me the same error message but it doesn't even play the movie.  Saving the script as an application and launching it (with DVD player open or closed) produces the same result, error message and no playback.

Any ideas?
~aaron

p.s. I have tons of experience with my Mac but absolutely zero experience with scripting.  I've been able to figure out bits and pieces by searching on the internet and reading the help files.  I used to write programs in AppleSoft BASIC years ago, so I'm not a complete stump.  However, I would appreciate layman translation for any scripting jargon until I get my feet a bit wetter than they are.  Thanks 10^6!

Model: MDD G4
AppleScript: 1.10
Browser: Safari 412
Operating System: Mac OS X (10.4)

Last edited by biblejam (2005-07-02 10:43:36 am)

Hi, all.  My problem's not quite the same, but very similar.  I want to be able to pass variables into the "open VIDEO_TS" command, i.e.,

set halt to false
set prefix to "Drive 1:My Stuff:My Movies:"
set suffix to ":VIDEO_TS:"
set choice to ""
tell application "Finder"
    set movies to the name of every item of alias prefix
    set choice to (choose from list movies with prompt "Pick a movie to watch")
    set themovie to (prefix & choice & suffix) as string
    if choice is false then set halt to true
end tell
if halt is false then
    tell application "DVD Player"
        activate
        open VIDEO_TS alias themovie
        set viewer full screen to true
        play dvd
    end tell
end if

All goes well until I get to the "open VIDEO_TS" line.  I then get this error:  DVD Player got an error: Can't get alias "Drive 1:My Stuff:My Movies:Shrek 2:VIDEO_TS:".

Does AppleScript not allow variables to be passed in?  I've tried forcing the type of themovie (i.e., themovie as alias, etc.), I've tried changing "alias" to "file", "file reference", and "folder", all with no luck.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
GT

hi all...i am interested in a script that will do the following:

on dvd movie insert
      launch dvd player
      set volume to 0
      set screen to full size
      play the feature movie
      and loop until told to to stop


basically this is kiosk mode and i know with the new idvd you can create 1 step dvd's for this. However, i work at a place that has a bunch of old media that we display all at once and i would like to create a set and forget solution. Thanks...here's what I have so far:

   

Applescript:

Tell application "DVD Player"
activate
set viewer full screen to true
set audio volume to 0
play dvd
End Tell