How to 'open a file' with an Applescript Application?

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
#1

Hi!

I’m new to Applescript, and I’m having a bit of trouble.

I’m writing a script that I want to be the default application to open a certain filetype.
To clarify, say I’ve got some xml files, but they’re all called something.myextension. I want to write a simple Applescript application, that I can set as the default application that opens .myextension files.
That’s fine, I know how to set the default handler for files.

The problem is, how do I retrieve that file in an applescript? In plain text, I want to do this:

get the file that’s just tried to be run with this applescript
do some stuff with it
end of script.

Could anyone enlighten me as to how I get that file?

Thanks,

James Frost

#2

Hi,

Use an open handler. Something like this:

on open {file_reference}
set the_text to read file_reference
– do something with the text, for instance
set the_text to the_text & return & “bye”
write the_text to file_reference
return
end open

If you’re doing more complicated stuff with the text like doing several writes, then you might want to use the ‘open for access’ which returns a reference number which helps in speading things up.

gl,

#3

Oops. You need to use the ‘open for access’ command, otherwise the file remains open unless you restart. See ScriptingAddition.PDF if you don’t know how to use the read/write commands.

gl,