simple sort in Appleworks

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
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#1

I am a true novice to Applescript, and am trying to write a simple script to sort a range in a spreadsheet, but can’t seem to get past some real basics. I’m not sure I’m understanding the examples in the Appleworks library… Here’s what I’ve written… what do I need to change to get the script to run?

tell application “AppleWorks 6”
sort [a6 - m22]
vertical
{“a1”, ascending}
end tell

I’m sure there are some obvious errors here… I’m not sure of the syntax for the range… how to indicate a vertical sort, etc.
Thanks for any help for this neophyte!!

Model: eMac
AppleScript: 2.1.1
Browser: Safari 419.3
Operating System: Mac OS X (10.4)

#2

john:

Try this script:

tell application "AppleWorks 6"
	tell spreadsheet layer of front document
		sort with data {"c1", ascending}
	end tell
end tell

Essentially, this sorts on column C, while preserving all the row integrity with A&B.

This next script will sort the same way, but if any two items in C column are the same, B will be examined next:

tell application "AppleWorks 6"
	tell spreadsheet layer of front document
		sort with data {{"c1", descending}, {"b1", descending}}
	end tell
end tell

You can mix up the ascending versus descending in these combined sorts, depending on how you want your data arranged.

Good luck,

#3

thanks so much for your reply!! I tried your solution, however I experienced a problem… I want to start the sort with the cell A3 rather than A1. When I ran your suggestion, I changed “a1” to “a3”, but it still starts the sort with cell A1 rather than cell A3. Suggestions?? Thank you so much!

#4

Try this out:

tell application "AppleWorks 6"
	tell spreadsheet of front document
		set aa to object specifier of (cells "c3" thru "c10")
		sort aa with data {"c3", ascending}
	end tell
end tell

I admit that I do not fully understand the code, but it seems that in order to sort just a part of the column (or row, I suppose), you must first identify that section using the poorly explained object specifier property. Anyway, once that is set to a variable, you can use the general sort function using the specified data alone. Understand that this will NOT preserve relationships with columns A & B unless you select that data as well when you set the variable:

tell application "AppleWorks 6"
	tell spreadsheet of front document
		set aa to object specifier of (cells "a3" thru "c10")--This selects a bigger chunk of the sheet
		sort aa with data {"c3", ascending}--And still sorts by the C column
	end tell
end tell

I hope this is closer to what you are lookin for.

#5

Thank you so much!! It’s working just the way i wanted!!:smiley: