Copy folder to open window

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
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#1

I would like to automate the task of copying a folder (which contains a hierarchy of other folders) to an open window with just one click of the applescript in the window toolbar.

I have cobbled together some sort of script from other scripts but it doesn’t seem to work. I did manage to work out how to copy the folder to a specified folder but not to an open window which will determine where the folder needs to be copied to. I hope this makes sence and I’m sure it is easy to do but considering I’ve really only be looking into Applescript for a day it is not a surprise I can’t figure it out!!

Here is the Script so far:


try
	tell application "Finder" to set the source_folder to (folder of the front window) as alias
on error -- no open folder windows
	set the source_folder to path to desktop folder as alias
end try

tell application "Finder"
	copy the folder "Folder One:Folder Two" in the startup disk to (source_folder)
end tell

Many thanks in advance if you can help.

(Don’t worry I will be buying a book at the weekend, probably one of those “for Dummies” books knowing my lack of knowledge!!!)

#2

You’re so very close.

There is one major problem with the script. In the line:

The Finder’s standard command for copying files is ‘duplicate’, not ‘copy’. (‘copy’ is used system-wide for clipboard manipulation).

Change this line to:

duplicate folder "Folder One:Folder Two" in the startup disk to source_folder

and I think you’ll be all set.

#3

Excellent it worked, thanks!

There is one problem though. The folder I want to copy needs to ideally be on our server so everyone has access to the same information. I couldn’t get this to work over a network but it worked fine on my own mac. I read somewhere that you can only use AppleScript over a TCP/IP network and not over AppleTalk. I assume the script will need to change accordingly, something like:


duplicate folder "Folder1:folder2" of machine "10.0.0.00" to source_folder

We have a Snap server, weather this makes a difference I don’t know (we’ve just had plenty of problems with this server recently!)

I have figured out a way to work round this problem but it is not ideal.

Thanks again for your help.