I want to create an executable file that when run will send a popup. I have the code for the popup
osascript -e 'tell app "Finder" to display dialog "message"'
but don't know how to create an executable file.
Write your AppleScript in Script Editor.
Choose File → Save and select Application as File Format.
This gives you an .app which will run your AppleScript when opened.
Write your shell script in a text file, including the shebang.
If you're just using AppleScript, you can use osascript as the shebang:
#!/usr/bin/osascript tell app "Finder" to display dialog "message"Set the executable bit on the file.
chmod +x /path/to/file
This gives you a file which will run your shell script when opened.
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Why a bash shell script when you can make the shebang
#!/usr/bin/osascriptand then the content of the file can be a multi-line applescript (tell app "Finder" to display dialog "message") ... but your answer of saving as an application using Script Editor is a far better solution – Josh May 16 '19 at 13:24 -
@Josh This is already mentioned in my answer; I gave the shell solution first given that’s how the code is presented in the question, but I also mention osascript shebang which would be preferable – grg♦ May 16 '19 at 13:45
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apologies @grg I didn't see the
osascriptin the question until after commenting and after that point it was too late to retract my downvote. If you make an edit to the answer then the site will let me change my vote! – Josh May 16 '19 at 14:15 -
Since
#is a comment character in AppleScript, it should be possible to combine grg's answer and this one to create a polyglot file that is both an app and a script. – Jörg W Mittag May 16 '19 at 19:14 -
@JörgWMittag, have you tested that? Since
.appfiles are actually directories, I would not expect that to work. – Wildcard May 16 '19 at 19:58
You can save it as a script by putting this in a plaintext file and save it as something like dialog.sh:
#!/bin/bash
osascript -e 'tell app "Finder" to display dialog "message"'
Then making the file executable in the terminal by running chmod +x /path/to/dialog.sh.
Execute in terminal by running /path/to/dialog.sh
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This is creating a bash shell script which executes
osascript... seems to me you should just make the shebang#!/usr/bin/osascriptand then the content of the file can be a multi-line applescript (tell app "Finder" to display dialog "message") ... but still seems like a workaround for the "proper" way of making an AppleScript executable from the finder: saving as an application – Josh May 16 '19 at 13:23 -
apologies I didn't see the
osascriptin the question until after commenting and after that point it was too late to retract my downvote. If you make an edit to the answer then the site will let me change my vote! – Josh May 16 '19 at 14:15
display dialog "message"– Alexander O'Mara May 16 '19 at 19:50