cheatsheet:applescript [Tuxtrooper Wiki]

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====== AppleScript ======
===== Cheatsheet =====
  * Get actual path of finder window if opened
<code>
#!/usr/bin/env bash

if ! osascript -s o <<EndOfScript
    tell application "Finder"
        try
            set c to (count of Finder windows)
        on error message number -1743
            error "Privacy settings prevent access to Finder"
        end try

        if c is 0 then
            return POSIX path of (desktop as alias)
        else
            return POSIX path of ((target of Finder window 1) as alias)
        end if
    end tell
EndOfScript
then
    echo "osascript failed"
fi
</code>

  * Display an hello world window
<code>
osascript -e 'tell application "Finder"
    activate
    display dialog "Hello, World!"
end tell'
</code>

  * Display an hello world window but without sending events to another process
<code>
osascript <<EndOfScript
    display dialog "Hello, World!"
EndOfScript
</code>

The useful commands in the Standard Additions extension include:
  * user interaction: choose file/folder/from list, display dialog/alert/notification
  * file commands: mount volume
  * clipboard commands: get the clipboard, set the clipboard to
  * sound control: set volume, get volume settings
  * system info
When your script uses only these commands, make sure they are not contained in tell blocks. This will avoid unnecessary prompts for access approval.

===== Exempt AppleScript commands =====
Some AppleScript commands are treated differently and will not trigger privacy approval:
  * activate: launch application and/or bring to front
  * open: open a file
  * open location: open a URL
  * quit: quit the application

<code>
osascript <<EndOfScript
    tell application "Firefox"
        open location "https://scriptingosx.com"
    end
EndOfScript
</code>