AppleScript to copy selected text to the clipboard and passes it as an argument

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
#1

I am trying to make a word counter shortcut in the shortcuts app where the text can just be selected/highlighted instead of copied to the clipboard manually.

I have the word counting part figured out but need a script that copies the selected text to the clipboard and passes it to the next action.

Thanks in advance!

#2

You know Word has a built-in word count feature

#3

I do. The word counter I’m trying to put together is to be used in other apps, wherever text selection is possible.

#5

Not every application supports selections in AppleScript, e.g. TextEdit.

When I want to get the selection there, I script command-c, like so:

tell application "System Events" to key code 8 using command down -- copy

Save a script containing only that line in the user scripts menu and it should be available with whatever the frontmost app is. Or, you could include its function in your other script.