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3R1C · Jul 24, 2002, 11:32 PM

Im thinking of writing an app which lives in the finder tollbar and basically mimics the 'new folder' toolbar item, but rather than create a folder, it makes a new blank document in the selected directory named 'untitled file' and selects the name ready for editing. How do i ask the finder what file/folder is currently selected in obj c/cocoa? Do I even want to do this with cocoa? Do I need to learn applescript?

Chuckit · Jul 25, 2002, 02:29 AM

If you ask me, this is definitely a job for AppleScript. You'd have to use osascript (a command-line AppleScript runner) to talk to the Finder in straight Cocoa anyway.

[ 07-25-2002, 03:43 AM: Message edited by: Chuckit ]

Mactoid · Jul 25, 2002, 04:12 AM

Make sure you have it update the modified date of selected files too. It can't be called touch if it doesn't do that.

Rickster · Jul 25, 2002, 03:07 PM

Sounds lke something better off written as an AppleScript applet in Script Editor.

Angus_D · Jul 25, 2002, 05:44 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Chuckit:
If you ask me, this is definitely a job for AppleScript. You'd have to use osascript (a command-line AppleScript runner) to talk to the Finder in straight Cocoa anyway.<hr /></blockquote>Well no, that's what some people would do, but it would be better to use the OSA APIs to execute your script. Or use AppleEvents directly. Or use the free Obj-C wrappers for AppleScript.

3R1C · Jul 25, 2002, 06:51 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> Or use AppleEvents directly. <hr /></blockquote>That sounds like the way to go to me.
I'll look into this.

Chuckit · Jul 26, 2002, 12:34 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Angus_D:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Chuckit:
If you ask me, this is definitely a job for AppleScript. You'd have to use osascript (a command-line AppleScript runner) to talk to the Finder in straight Cocoa anyway.<hr /></blockquote>Well no, that's what some people would do, but it would be better to use the OSA APIs to execute your script. Or use AppleEvents directly. Or use the free Obj-C wrappers for AppleScript.<hr /></blockquote>I haven't heard of any way to send AppleEvents directly from Cocoa. The information I'd gotten on the subject indicates that Cocoa apps are cut off from using that functionality directly. Am I misinformed?

Rickster · Jul 26, 2002, 02:38 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr /> I haven't heard of any way to send AppleEvents directly from Cocoa. The information I'd gotten on the subject indicates that Cocoa apps are cut off from using that functionality directly. Am I misinformed? <hr /></blockquote>Cocoa.framework links ApplicationServices.framework, which includes AE.framework where all the AppleEvent stuff lives. The headers are already imported if you've imported <AppKit/AppKit.h>, so you can use any AppleEvent-related functions there. (Also, you can use any of the stuff in OpenScripting.framework for higher-level scripting functions.)

Just because something doesn't have ObjC APIs in AppKit or Foundation doesn't mean you can't use it from Cocoa.

Chuckit · Jul 26, 2002, 04:18 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Rickster:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr /> I haven't heard of any way to send AppleEvents directly from Cocoa. The information I'd gotten on the subject indicates that Cocoa apps are cut off from using that functionality directly. Am I misinformed? <hr /></blockquote>Cocoa.framework links ApplicationServices.framework, which includes AE.framework where all the AppleEvent stuff lives. The headers are already imported if you've imported <AppKit/AppKit.h>, so you can use any AppleEvent-related functions there. (Also, you can use any of the stuff in OpenScripting.framework for higher-level scripting functions.)

Just because something doesn't have ObjC APIs in AppKit or Foundation doesn't mean you can't use it from Cocoa.<hr /></blockquote><img border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" title="" src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" /> Nah, I realize that. I've made a few Cocoa apps that relied heavily on ApplicationServices.framework myself.

It's just that I've been told a couple of times that the AppleEvents parts wouldn't work right with Cocoa. Probably should've looked into it more, but I suppose I'm just too trusting sometimes.

Anyway, my bad. Thanks for the correction.