problem saving filename, called from read folder loop, using TextEdit

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
#1

Hi folks,

this is my first post, so i’d like to say thanks to all those who have come before me - this site has been really useful in the last few days
I’ve almost finished my first applescript project and am really enjoying it.

as part of a larger program I need to call an Excel file {filename} from a folder, perform and action on them, copy the output to a TextEdit file, saving the text file as {filename}&“.txt”

everything is working fine except the last step, saving the file, where i get an error message as follows…

Error Message: The document “Untitled” could not be exported as “Chip_fur_mix_50kW.xls.txt”. The file does not exist.

now, I can see in the event log (below) that TextEdit is trying to save a file called

{“Macintosh HD:Sima_data:processing_tests:Macintosh HD:Sima_Data:raw_data copy:Chip_fur_mix_50kW.xls.txt”}

this is clearly not going to work but I am not sure how to get around it.,

( I should add that manually entering a value i.e. {set filename to “test_name_999.xls”} returns the desired result so I am guessing it has something to do with the way {filename} is stored as a reference to both the filename and source folders rather than as just the filename}

I hope someone else has experience with this kind of problem and could offer some advice,

cheers & thanks

Nic

  

set datafolder to choose folder
tell application "Finder"
	set fileList to every file of datafolder -- entire contents of folder
	repeat with filename in the fileList
		--set filename to "test_name_999.xls"
		open filename
		
		
		
		tell application "TextEdit"
			activate
			
			
			tell application "System Events"
				
				tell process "TextEdit"
					--activate
					
					keystroke "v" using {command down, shift down, option down} -- this ensure the format in excel is kept, allowing for data to be easily read later on (i.e., normal excel tab format)
					keystroke return -- this is essential to bring the next flow onto a new line. so simple but took a couple of hours to figure out
					keystroke return -- repeated to separate {info_range} and data
					
					
					
				end tell
			end tell
		end tell
		
		
		tell application "Microsoft Excel"
			close every workbook saving no -- closes and but doesn't save all open workbooks.
		end tell
		
	end repeat
end tell

tell application "TextEdit"
	activate
	
	save document "Untitled" in file {"Macintosh HD:Sima_data:processing_tests:" & filename & ".txt"}
end tell

Event Log (for last section)

tell application “Finder”
get document file “Chip_fur_mix_50kW.xls” of folder “raw_data copy” of folder “Sima_Data” of startup disk
“Macintosh HD:Sima_Data:raw_data copy:Chip_fur_mix_50kW.xls”
end tell
tell application “TextEdit”
save document “Untitled” in file {“Macintosh HD:Sima_data:processing_tests:Macintosh HD:Sima_Data:raw_data copy:Chip_fur_mix_50kW.xls.txt”}
“TextEdit got an error: AppleEvent handler failed.”

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Operating System: Mac OS X (10.5)

#2

ok,

I found a solution. I’m sure there is a more efficient way to do this but i have not figured it out

tell application “Finder” to set the clipboard to name of (info for (filename as alias))

	tell application "TextEdit"
		activate
		
		save document "Untitled" in file {"Macintosh HD:Sima_data:processing_tests:" & (the clipboard) & ".txt"}
	end tell

cheers

Nic

#3

Hi,

braces {} define a list, don’t use it instead of parentheses
This is sufficient


.
save front document in "Macintosh HD:Sima_data:processing_tests:" & filename & ".txt"
.
#4

thanks Stefan!

(and for the pointer on using {} in the correct manner)