I have a script for renaming pdf files, (see below), which involves opening a pdf file then displaying a dialog box to enter the new name of the pdf file based on the content of the pdf file in the background. Sometimes the dialog box obscures the part of the pdf file which contains the reference number.
How can I change the dialog display box to a floating window, so that it can be moved around the screen enabling me to view the section of the pdf file in the background that I need?
Is this possible via a scripting addition?
PDF batch renaming script.
global pdfname
global origname
global timedelay
on open fileList
–tell application “Finder”
–display dialog “How many seconds do you require to note the file code?” default answer “5”
–set timedelay to text returned of result
–close every window
– end tell
repeat with aFile in fileList
tell application “Finder”
activate
set origname to name of aFile
–display dialog origname
open aFile
– delay 5
end tell
tell application "Finder"
activate
close every window
display dialog "Please enter pdf file code" default answer ""
set pdfname to text returned of result
end tell
tell application "Acrobat 5.0"
activate
close document origname
end tell
tell application "Finder"
activate
select aFile
set name of aFile to pdfname & ".pdf"
end tell
end repeat
Yes, it can be done via scripting additions. I’d recommend that you check out some of the stuff available on this osaxen.com page. Dialog Director and 24U Appearance Osax are both excellent.
As long as you’re using OS 9, I’d highly recommend using the Dialog Director Scripting Addition. While the most challenging to learn, it has the best tools that will allow you to do just about anything you will ever need.
I might also add that one of our Principals, David Lloyd, wrote a very nifty application that helps you design dialogs, called Dialog Studio. Be sure to check out the demo. While the dialog size of the demo is limited somewhat, you can still do a lot of things with it as is. You can then make an honest assessment to buy it or not.
Dialog Directer Osax can be had on our website - look for Scripting additions in the menu.
Of course, there are other Scripting Additions that would allow you to do the same, but not near as powerful as Dialog Director is. By far, it is the most used, and has the best following.