rename file in OSX

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
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#1

Hello,
I am trying to rename a file. In OS9, something like this would work to rename a file “data disk:aaaa” to “data disk:bbbb”


tell application "Finder"
	set oldfname to "aaaa"
	set newfname to "bbbb"
	set fulloldname to "data disk:"&oldfname
	set fullnewname to "data disk:"& newfname
	set name of file fulloldname to fullnewname
end tell

When I try this in OSX, I get the error, “Can’t set name…”. If I just say to select the old file, that does work.
Any ideas what’s going on here?

Ken

#2

I don’t think the name of a file is permitted to contain a colon. The script above is trying to change the name to “data disk:bbbb”.

#3

Oh, I see. It now only works if you specify the path using something like

set name of file “aaaa” of disk “data disk” to “bbbb”

Thanks.

Ken

#4

No, it’s not that. You can refer to files using the path, but the “name” of the file cannot contain a colon. Maybe this is what you need:

tell application "Finder"
	set oldfname to "aaaa"
	set newfname to "bbbb"
	set fulloldname to "data disk:" & oldfname
	--set fullnewname to "data disk:" & newfname
	set name of file fulloldname to newname
end tell
#5

Thanks Rob,
That is what I was after.

Ken