Shell path

[One208]

Hi
wondering why

-- these do not work

do shell script "defaults export com.manytricks.Moom '~/Dropbox (Personal)/Automation Syncs/Moom/'moom.plist"
or 
do shell script "defaults export com.manytricks.Moom '~/Dropbox (Personal)/Automation Syncs/Moom/moom.plist'"

where as

-- This works
do shell script "defaults export com.manytricks.Moom ~/'Dropbox (Personal)'/'Automation Syncs'/Moom/Moom.plist"

The script

--============================================—
# dCre: 2021-Oct-02 @ 16:10
# URL : https://manytricks.com/osticket/kb/faq.php?id=53 
# dMod: 
# Appl: Backup or restore setting
# Libs: None
# Tags: @Moom @shell @BackUp @Restore
----------------------------------------------------------------
-- Set Up BackUp Folder
set BackUpFolder to "~/Dropbox (Personal)/Automation Syncs/Moom/Moom.plist"

-- Set up ProcedureList
set ProcedureList to {"BackUp", "ReStore"}
set chosenOption to choose from list of ProcedureList with prompt "what you want to do, please select:"
if chosenOption is false then
	error number -128 (* user cancelled *)
else
	set chosenOption to chosenOption's item 1 (* extract choice from list *)
end if
if chosenOption is "BackUp" then -- Has export command
	do shell script "defaults export com.manytricks.Moom" & quoted form of BackUpFolder
else if chosenOption is "ReStore" then -- has import command
	do shell script "defaults import com.manytricks.Moom" & quoted form of BackUpFolder
end if
--============================================—

[Mockman]

I have only a murky awareness of shell expansion but I think that your issue is that the ‘~’ shouldn’t be inside the quotes, as they prevent the shell from interpreting it and thus, from expanding to your actual path.

If you move the left-most quote one character to the right, i.e. to between the tilde and the slash, then it should work. At least, it does so for me.

[StefanK]

The reason is quite simple: do shell script does not expand the tilde in the path when wrapped in quotes.

a safe independent way is a relative path

set BackUpFolder to POSIX path of (path to home folder) & "Dropbox (Personal)/Automation Syncs/Moom/Moom.plist"

[One208]

Thank you it works
lesson for me
for Shell in applescript

1. Needs Posix path to file
2. Quoted path if space in name/ path
3. Does not expand ~