e.g.
…
tell application “Finder”
set theSelection to selection – get and check the selected files in the frontmost finder window
repeat with aFile in theSelection – loop through the selected files
if class of aFile is alias file then – choose and procede with all aliases
get original item of aFile – the linked file name AND path (Applescript formatted)
…
but -
how may i change the path ?
(“set original item to …” and several other code variations did not seem to work)
i hope there is a solution out there -
any help or hint is highly appreciated
set theAlias to (path to desktop as text) & "test2.txt alias"
set newAliasPath to (path to desktop as text) & "test.txt"
tell application "Finder"
set original item of file theAlias to file newAliasPath
end tell
do you need a POSIX path (“/Volumes/VolumeA/dummy.png”) or a HFS path (“VolumeA:dummy.png”)?
To process files in AppleScript you need HFS, with the shell POSIX.
This sample code shows how to get both
tell application "Finder"
set theSelection to selection -- get and check the selected files in the frontmost finder window
repeat with aFile in theSelection -- loop through the selected files
if class of aFile is alias file then -- choose and procede with all aliases
set HFSfilePath to original item of aFile as text
set POSIXfilePath to POSIX path of (original item of aFile as text) -- the linked file name AND path (Applescript formatted)
end if
end repeat
end tell
thanks a million times for your immediate replies & your suggestions!
great to have a POSIX solution.
i assume that it might be more easy to use applescript
in combination with automator to check/change my 5000+ aliases
that “only” need a change for the first bits of the links
replacing e.g. the “/Users/my_mac/Documents/Sources/” with “/Volumes/” - chunks.
will post a solution based on your help* as soon as i succeeded
thanks a lot again
will try them first thing tomorrow morning
need a break today… due to a massive applescript overdose - am a applescript-beginner
– (at least) 1 ALIAS FILE … on Desktop:folderA:folderB:folderC
– Alias’ and folders’ names do not matter - works with any name
– file(s) need(s) to be within third folder though - won’t work otherwise
– 1 TARGET FILE … “testx.txt” on Desktop
– (target file’s name and location on desktop does matter - won’t work otherwise)
–
– ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 0 — … select Alias file(s) in finder’s frontmost window
tell application “Finder”
–
set theSelection to selection – get and check the selected files in the frontmost finder window
repeat with aFile in theSelection – loop through the selected files
if class of aFile is alias file then – choose and proceed with all alias files
–
–
– ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ step 1 — … address existing selected source file/folder alias
– create variable existing source path of alias
–
set theAlias to aFile as text – the file/folder’s applescript formatted path
–
– check via … get theAlias
→ e.g. “Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:fix aliases:sample:Btest.txt alias”
–
–
– ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ step 2 — … address existing target file/folder’s path (without target name)
– create variable existing target path of alias
–
– --------------------------------------------------------------
– stepping up the file’s / folders’ hierachy
– --------------------------------------------------------------
–
– ---------------------- up three steps within parent directory
–
set theAliasPreA to container of aFile – path of 1. hierachie level
–( … whether “container” or “folder” … )
→ can be e.g. “Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:fix aliases:sample:”
–
set theAliasPreB to container of theAliasPreA – path of 2. hierachie level
→ can be e.g. “Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:fix aliases:”
–
set theAliasTrgt to container of theAliasPreB as text – path of 3. hierachie level
→ can be e.g.“Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:”
–
–
– ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ step 3 — … assemble existing target file/folder’s path (incl. target name)
–
set newAliasPath to theAliasTrgt & “testx.txt”
–
– check via … get newAliasPath
→ must be “Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:testx.txt”
–
–
– ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ step 4 — … change/apply variable target path (change current alias’ target)
–
set original item of file theAlias to file newAliasPath
–
end if
end repeat
end tell
this is a (little more refined) version which solves my problem.
… changes/re-links an existing alias to an existing file
… replaces a text-chunk of an alias’ “original item” property
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHANGING AN ALIAS's TARGET (B)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
-- ... changes/re-links an existing alias to an existing file
-- ... replaces text-chunk of an alias' "original item" property
--
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PREFS
--
-- (at least) 2 existing files ... :
--
--
-- (at least) 1 ALIAS FILE:
-- ... Alias' and folders' names do not matter - works with any name in any location
-- ... Alias needs to target a file located in ... "fix aliases:sample:testx.txt" directory - this example won't work otherwise
--
-- e.g. ... Desktop:fix aliases:sample:"testx.txt alias"
--
--
-- 1 TARGET FILE
-- ... target file's name and location on desktop do matter - this example won't work otherwise
--
-- ... Desktop:fix aliases:sample:folderA:"testx.txt"
--
--
--
-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 0a --- SET VALUES TO CHANGE
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------- texts for replacements
--
-- ------------------------------- will change target file's location within alias' "original item" property
--
-- from ... fix aliases:sample:testx.txt ... to... fix aliases:sample:folderA:testx.txt
--
set WrdChckPre to "fix aliases:sample:testx.txt" -- if target path of alias contains this path element then ...
-- ... can be any part of the existing/current target path
-- ... does not need to contain target file's current name
--> for ... if OldTrgt contains ... (see code below )
--
--
set WrdLookUpPre to "fix aliases:sample:testx.txt" -- ... this target path chunk will be replaced with ...
-- ... does not need to contain target file's current name
--> for ... set WrdLookUp to ... (see code below )
--
--
set WrdChngPre to "fix aliases:sample:folderA:testx.txt" -- ... this chunk
-- ... does not need to contain target file's name
--> for ... set WrdChng to ... (see code below )
--
--
-- ......... ! IF YOU INTEND TO CHANGE THE ALIAS' TARGET ONLY:
-- ......... NO NEED TO CHANGE PARAMETERS BELOW THIS LINE !
--
--
-- ... or, alternatively, e.g. ...
--
-- ------------------------------- change target file's location
--
-- from ... fix aliases:sample:folderA: ...to... fix aliases:sample:
--
-- set WrdChckPre to "Desktop:fix aliases:sample:folderA:" -- if target path of alias contains this path element then ...
--> for ... if OldTrgt contains "Desktop:fix aliases:" then
--
-- set WrdLookUpPre to "fix aliases:sample:folderA:" -- ... this target path chunk will be replaced with ...
--> for ... set WrdLookUp to "fix aliases:"
--
-- set WrdChngPre to "fix aliases:sample:" -- ... this chunk
--> for ... set WrdChng to "***"
--
--
--
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 0b --- ... select Alias in finder's frontmost window
--
tell application "Finder"
--
set theSelection to selection -- get and check the selected files in the frontmost finder window
--
-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 0c --- ... start loop
--
repeat with aFile in theSelection -- loop through the selected files
if class of aFile is alias file then -- choose and proceed with all aliases
--
--
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 1 --- ... address existing selected source file/folder alias
-- create variable existing source path of alias
--
set theAlias to aFile as text -- the file/folder's applescript formatted path
--
-- check via ... get theAlias
--> e.g. "Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:fix aliases:sample:Btest.txt alias"
--
--
set OldTrgt to original item of file theAlias as text -- the alias' current target
--
--
-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 2 --- ... check/change existing target file/folder's path (without target name)
-- check/change variable existing target path of alias
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- ---------------------------------------------------- FIND & REPLACE TEXT IN A TEXTSTRING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 2a default/startup values
--
--
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------- default values (/reset from previous)
--
--
set WrdLookUp to "" -- reset the word to search for
--
set WrdChng to "" -- reset the replacement for the word
--
set TxtSrch to OldTrgt -- the text to check = string for aliases' current target path
--> e.g. "Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:fix aliases:"
--> e.g. "Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:"
--
set newAliasPath to OldTrgt ---- sets string for aliases' target path to current target path
--> e.g. "Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop"
--
--
set theAliasTrgt to OldTrgt -- default path of target file = current target file from selected alias
-- OldTrgt is ... original item of file theAlias as text -- the alias' current target
--
-- ... or ..
-- the following will change the result with every runthrough of this script
-- set theAliasTrgt to "Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:fix aliases:sample:testx.txt" -- predefined path of target file
--> always resets target of alias to predefined target path
-- ...
--
--
set RunChng to "stop" -- index that initiates or jumps functions for exchange of paths
-- "stop" ... jumps functions for exchange of paths
-- "go" ... calls functions for / initiates change of pathnames
--
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 2b check text for items to replace
--
--
-- --------------------------------------------------------------------- check if alias' path contains specific text chunk
--
if OldTrgt contains WrdChckPre then -- if current target of alias contains specific path element
--> e.g. ... if OldTrgt contains "fix aliases:sample:testx.txt" then
--
set WrdLookUp to WrdLookUpPre -- the text to search for
--> e.g. ... set WrdLookUp to "fix aliases:sample:testx.txt"
--
set WrdChng to WrdChngPre -- the word's replacement
--> e.g. ... set WrdChng to "fix aliases:sample:folderA:testx.txt"
--
--
set RunChng to "go" -- index that initiates change of pathnames by calling "if" clause below
--
end if
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 2c execute replacement .... exchange parameters ... call replaceText handler
--
--
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 2c.1 check if change was called/is neccessary
--
if RunChng contains "go" then -- index that initiates exchange of paths
-- ... "go" indicates do proceed/change path
-- ... "stop" indicates do NOT proceed/change path and jumps this script
--
-- ... tests ...
-- return WrdChng -- "fix aliases:sample:folderA:testx.txt"
-- return WrdLookUp -- "fix aliases:sample:testx.txt"
--
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 2c.2 save item delimiters for later use
--
set prevTIDs to text item delimiters of AppleScript -- save/variablise applescript itemdelimiters
--
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 2c.3 separate text at word-to-check
--
set text item delimiters of AppleScript to WrdLookUp -- separate text whereever the word to check appears
-- set text item delimiters of AppleScript to find -- separate text whereever the word to check appears
--> e.g. ... set WrdLookUp to "fix aliases:sample:testx.txt"
--
--
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 2c.4 remove word-to-check from the text-to-check
--
set subject to text items of TxtSrch -- re-connect separate textelements
-- variablises variable TxtSrch's text items
-- ... TxtSrch is OldTrgt -- the text to check = string for aliases' current target path
--> e.g. ... fix aliases:sample:testx.txt
--
-- ...or (for the sample's alternative as mentioned above)
--> e.g. ... fix aliases:sample:folderA:testx.txt
--
--
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 2c.5 add replacement for the word-to-check
--
set text item delimiters of AppleScript to WrdChng -- set itemdelimiter to content of variable "replace"
-- set text item delimiters of AppleScript to replace -- set itemdelimiter to content of variable "replace"
--
set subject to "" & subject -- sets back previous content of index subject and updates it
--
--
set text item delimiters of AppleScript to prevTIDs -- resets applescript itemdelimiters
--
-- --------------------------------------------
--
set theAliasTrgt to subject ---- sets string for aliases' new target path for selected alias
--
-- ... tests ...
-- return theAliasTrgt --"Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:fix aliases:sample:folderA:testx.txt"
--
end if
--
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- ---------------------------------------------------- END FIND & REPLACE TEXT IN A TEXTSTRING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
--
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 3 --- ... set existing target file/folder's path (incl. target name)
--
set newAliasPath to theAliasTrgt -- sets new or existing default target path for selected alias
--
-- check via ... get newAliasPath
--> e.g. Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:fix aliases:sample:testx.txt
--> e.g. Ohne Titel:Users:my_mac:Desktop:fix aliases:sample:folderA:testx.txt
--
-- ... tests ...
-- return newAliasPath
--
-- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- step 4 --- ... change/apply variable target path (change current alias' target)
--
set original item of file theAlias to file newAliasPath
--
-- ... tests ...
-- return original item of file theAlias -- won't update without this "return" command
--
--
end if
--
--
end repeat
--
--
end tell
Applescript will not allow to replace the “original item” property of an alias
if the referenced file/folder doesn’t reside on the computer’s harddrive.
To access a broken alias’ “original item” prop.
you may find a solution at:
To exchange an existing alias with a new one
at exactly the same position with the same colour label and name
but new, customised “original item” property
you may find a solution testing the script as shown below;
it …
DELETES AN EXISTING ALIAS
+
REPLACES IT WITH A NEW ALIAS USING CUSTOM PARAMETERS
…
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DELETE EXISTING ALIAS + REPLACE IT WITH NEW ALIAS USING CUSTOM PARAMETERS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ WHAT THIS SCRIPT DOES
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
--
--
-- COPIES an existing alias' position-within-a-folder property (variable "OrgPos" - s.a. step 1.c.1)
-- COPIES an existing alias' label (colour) property (variable "OrgCol" - s.a. step 1.c.2)
-- COPIES an existing alias' name property (variable "aliasNm" - s.a. step 1.c.3)
--
-- CREATES a new Alias (variable "aliasFile" - s.a. step 2.a)
-- ASSIGNS the existing alias' position and label property ( s.a. step 2.a.1 and step 2.a.2)
-- and a target path ("original item" property) for an existing file or folder ( s.a. step 2.a)
--
-- DELETES the existing alias, sets the new alias to the name of the deleted alias ( s.a. step 2.b, step 2.c)
--
--
--
--- this script needs ...
--
-- ... an existing alias file: (variable "OrigFile" - s.a. step 1.a)
-- e.g. "Macintosh HD:Users:my_mac:Desktop:New Test Alias File alias"
--
-- ... an existing target file or folder for the alias: (variable "theFile" - s.a. step 1.b)
-- e.g. "Macintosh HD:Users:my_mac:Desktop:New Test Alias File alias"
--
--
--
--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE SCRIPT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
--
tell application "Finder"
--
--
-- step 1 --- PREFS - SET VALUES
--
-- 1.a --- set value of path for existing alias
--
set OrigFile to file ("/Users/my_mac/Desktop/New Test Alias File alias" as POSIX file)
--
-- 1.b --- set value of path for target file of the new alias
set theFile to "/Users/my_mac/Desktop/alias - create alias/scripts/" -- the link to the referenced file
set theFile to theFile as POSIX file -- path as applescript formatted chunk
--
-- e.g. ... file "Macintosh HD:Users:my_mac:Desktop:alias - create alias:scripts"
-- 1.c --- get specs from existing alias --- the existing alias' properties
--
-- 1.c.1 --- position of alias
--
set OrgPos to position of file (OrigFile as text) -- stores position of original alias--- displays when closing and opening again
--
-- e.g. ... set position of file (aFile as text) to {86, 220}
--
-- 1.c.2 --- label (colour) of alias
--
set OrgCol to label index of file (OrigFile as text) -- stores label (colour) of original alias
--
-- e.g. ... set OrgCol to 6
--
-- 1.c.3 --- set name for new alias
set aliasNm to name of OrigFile -- creates name of alias
--
-- e.g. ... set aliasNm to "New Test Alias File alias"
--
-- 1.d --- get path of new folder for new alias --- the existing alias' folder's path
--
set alias_folder to container of OrigFile
--
-- ... e.g. ... set alias_folder to item 1 of {folder "Desktop" of folder "my_mac" of folder "Users" of startup disk of application "Finder"}
--
--
-- step 2 ... execute scripts
-- * ... optional ... --> try -- keeps script from stopping/displaing message
--
-- step 2.a -- create new alias
--
--
set aliasFile to make alias to theFile at alias_folder
--
-- e.g. ... set aliasFile to make alias to theFile at (alias_folder as POSIX file)
--
-- ... or use e.g. ... set aliasFile to make new alias file at desktop to theFile -- creates alias on desktop
--
-- 2.a.1 --- assign position (within window) to new alias
--
set position of file (aliasFile as text) to OrgPos
-- evaluates position of original alias
--- displays correct positioning when closing window and opening again
-- ... might not display position right after running the script ...
-- e.g. ... get position of file (aFile as text) -- gets position
--> {86, 220}
-- 2.a.2 --- assign label (-colour) to new alias
--
set label index of file (aliasFile as text) to OrgCol
-- evaluates label (colour) of original alias
-- e.g. ... get label index of file (aFile as text) -- gets label (colour)
--> 6
--
-- step 2.b -- delete existing alias
--
set AliPth to (alias_folder as text) & aliasNm -- applescript formatted
--
-- e.g. ... "Macintosh HD:Users:my_mac:Desktop:New Test Alias File alias"
--
--
delete AliPth -- deletes existing alias if it has the same name as the new alias
--
-- e.g. ...delete "Macintosh HD:Users:my_mac:Desktop:New Test Alias File alias"
--
--
-- step 2.c -- assign name to new alias
set the name of aliasFile to aliasNm -- creates name of alias
--
-- e.g. ...set the name of aliasFile to "New Alias File"
--
--
-- * ... optional ... --> end try -- end prevent script from stopping/displaing message
--
end tell
--
