AS_ChooseFile ( _resultTOGlobalCellName ; _prompt ; _defaultLocation ; _extensionVL )

MAC ONLY. Generates applescript to choose file & returns result

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ThomasSeidler - Show more from this author
The Good Book Company Ltd
http://www.thegoodbook.co.uk

Sample input:

Perform Applescript ( AS_ChooseFile ( "TO::FieldName" ; "Choose a file please..." ; "/Macintosh HD/Users/Shared/" ; "csv¶jpeg¶jpg" )

Sample output:

Brings up choose file dialog at default location specified (limits selection to list if specified)

Returns full file path for file:
"Macintosh HD:Users:Shared:tmp:fileOfMyChoice.csv"

Result is returned either to global field specified or to clipboard so a simple paste will do the job.

Function definition: (Copy & paste into FileMaker's Edit Custom Function window)

/*
VERSION: 1.1 [12.4.24]
PARAMETERS
	_resultTOGlobalCellName:  
	_prompt:  String, apple documentation says 25 or 50 chars will show, though can take up to 255 in theory
	_defaultLocation:  leave blank to choose desktop, or POSIX or Applescript folderpath, or path to documents folder etc



Can't be bothered to code for Invisibles and multiple selections - who needs it!? self explanatory how to do it if you do
*/
Let ( [
_TO = Left ( _resultTOGlobalCellName ; Position ( _resultTOGlobalCellName ; "::" ; 0 ; 1 ) - 1 ) ;
_resultCellName = Right ( _resultTOGlobalCellName ; Length ( _resultTOGlobalCellName ) - ( Position ( _resultTOGlobalCellName ; "::" ; 0 ; 1 ) + 1 ) ) ;
_defaultLocation = Case ( IsEmpty(_defaultLocation) ; "" ; Position ( _defaultLocation ; ":" ; 0 ; 1) or Position ( _defaultLocation ; "/" ; 0 ; 1); "\"" & Substitute ( ":" & _defaultLocation & ":" ; ["::"; ":"] ; [":" ; "/"] ; ["//"; "/"])  & "\"" );
_typeFilter = If ( Length (_extensionVL ) ; " of type {\"" & Substitute ( _extensionVL ; "¶" ; "\", \"" ) & "\"}" )
 ] ;

"tell application \"Finder\"¶
	set theFile to choose file" & If ( Length(_prompt ) ; " with prompt \"" & _prompt & "\"" ) & " default location (" &  If ( Length(_defaultLocation) ;  _defaultLocation ; "path to desktop folder" ) & ")" & _typeFilter & "¶
	set theFilePath to theFile as text¶
end tell¶" &

If ( IsEmpty ( _resultCellName ) ;
"	set the clipboard to theFilePath" ;
"	set the cell \"" & _resultCellName & "\" of table \"" & _TO & "\" to theFilePath"
) & 

"¶activate"

)

cousin to AS_Choosefolder

Uses Applescripts' Choose File dialog

Allows you to filter by filetype. I've not bothered implement choosing multiples/invisibles.

Comments

		Thomas Seidler, London Apr 24, 2012
I've just been using this myself, and for some reason it's not working, so had to change _defaultLocation line thus: _defaultLocation = Case ( IsEmpty(_defaultLocation) ; "" ; Position ( _defaultLocation ; ":" ; 0 ; 1) or Position ( _defaultLocation ; "/" ; 0 ; 1); "\"" & Substitute ( ":" & _defaultLocation & ":" ; ["::"; ":"] ; [":" ; "/"] ; ["//"; "/"]) & "\"" ); bit of a pain, thought i'd thoroughly tested it, but maybe i changed system since i last used it...

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AS_ChooseFile ( _resultTOGlobalCellName ; _prompt ; _defaultLocation ; _extensionVL )

Comments

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