[magloire]

I've had a problem recently with a couple of apps (Start OpenOffice.org and ffmpegX) where I get errors like the following:

Finder got an error: "sysv" doesn't understand the <<event fndrgstl>> message. (-1708)
<<script>> doesn't understand the <<event earsffdr>> (-1708)

Both of them prevent the applications from running entirely, and these are both new installations -- I don't have any prior experience with these apps to compare this to. But this is the first time I've ever had this error.

I've searched high and low on the 'net for possible reasons for this, but the best I idea I found was that my AppleScript installation was missing or incomplete. So I used Pacifist to verify that all the AppleScript-related files were in the right places, which they are.

Does anyone know what is wrong? The developer of Start OpenOffice.org told me that he has never seen that error. Not even the Apple Knowledge Base has an answer for this.

[Basilisk]

Both of those are Applescript Studio applications, and they both appear to be checking your system version. Literally translated they have asked for the system version ("sysv") from the "system attributes" information (Finder "fndr" gestalt "gstl").

Having no experience with either of those apps myself, I have no idea if its a coding error in the app or a problem with your system. Given the basic nature of the functionality, though, I'd guess the problem is on your end.

As a simple test open the Script Editor.app and paste in this line:

set version to system attribute "sysv"

Then run the script. The bottom pane of the script editor should show a number (4149 is correct for MacOS X 10.3.5). If you get an error then things are definitely wrong on your end.

You don't mention what AppleScript files you checked or restored so I'd assume the problem is that your StandardAdditions.osax is corrupt. This file is located at "/System/Library/ScriptingAdditions/StandardAdditions.osax". You can use Pacifist to extract a clean copy from your OS X installation disks and replace it. You will need to logout and relogin after the replacement to have the new version load.

If you don't get an error with the test script then nothing is apparently wrong, but you might consider replacing the StandardAdditions.osax anyway just to be sure.

Alex

[magloire]

I used Pacifist to check everything that had "AppleScript" or "script" in the name. Naturally, it missed the file you mentioned. I ran Pacifist and reinstalled that, too, but it doesn't fix the problem with the apps. I tried entering that text into the script editor, and the first time it quit unexpectedly, and the second time it is getting hung up on "system attribute" and says, "Syntax Error: A identifier can't go after this identifier." Now, Apple should be sent back to first grade for saying "a identifier."

I have tried both entering the line exactly as you wrote it here, and copying and pasting it into the window.

I'm using 10.2.8, but I don't think that is the issue, because the OpenOffice build that included the Start OpenOffice app was intended for 10.2.

I guess I'll have to wait for Tiger and do a clean install... *sighs* My computer has always treated me well, until recently. D*mn open source.