MacOS: how to run AppleScript script from a Qt app?

[tk.fs]

Hi Volker, I've tried your solution on Mac OS X 10.9.1 using a simple AppleScript to retrieve a mail subject from Apple Mail. The script needs around 1 sec to execute with the AppleScript Editor application, but around 20-30 secs when using QProcess/osascript. Running osascript from a shell window also needs around 1 sec for the script.

Is this a known problem with QProcess or do you have any idea where this massive delay is coming from?

Thanks,

Thomas

[janfaroe]

I have no problems running OSAScript via QProcess. It's just as snappy as the command line for me. Perhaps you should review your QProcess code? Try a simple shell command as a comparison?

[gaojinhsu]

The following code cannot succeed to open the proxy settings. but the apple script works fine in AppleScript Editor. Any advice? using Qt 5.2 and OSX10.9
@QString aScript = "tell application "System Preferences"\nactivate\nset current pane to pane "com.apple.preference.network"\n activate\n end tell\n"
"tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences" to tell window 1 \n click button 8 \n"
"click radio button 6 of tab group 1 of sheet 1 \n end tell";

QString osascript = "/usr/bin/osascript";
QStringList processArguments;
processArguments << "-l" << "AppleScript";
QProcess p;
p.start(osascript, processArguments);
p.write(aScript.toUtf8());
p.closeWriteChannel();
p.waitForFinished();@

[quote author="Volker" date="1291398206"]This may give you a start:

@
#include <QApplication>
#include <QProcess>

int main(int argc, char **argv)
{
QApplication a(argc, argv);

QString aScript =
        "tell application \"System Events\"\n"
        "    activate\n"
        "    display dialog \"Hello world\"\n"
        "end tell\n";

QString osascript = "/usr/bin/osascript";
QStringList processArguments;
processArguments << "-l" << "AppleScript";

QProcess p;
p.start(osascript, processArguments);
p.write(aScript.toUtf8());
p.closeWriteChannel();
p.waitForFinished();

}
@[/quote]

[janfaroe]

What does QProcess::exitStatus() give you after start()? And QProcess::errorString()?

[gaojinhsu]

QProcess::exitStatus(), 0;
QProcess::errorString() , Unkonwn error;

my code works imperfect ( which is system preferences->Network; but I want it to be system preferences->Network->advanced...->Proxies)

And I find chrome does it in a different way, not applescript maybe.(you could check it out by clicking settings->show advanced settings->change proxy settings)
because I cannot find chrome.app at System Preferences->Security&Privacy->Privacy->Accessibility(Allow the apps below to control youe computer).

[janfaroe]

I suggest you try debugging in the terminal, where you'd get warnings/errors right away, and work your way from there.

As for Chrome and other browsers: I strongly believe they take their default settings from the system ones, ie. those presented in the System Preferences.

[SGaist]

Hi,

From a look at osascript's documentation, I would say that you are not feeding it correctly. I think you should be using several -e to build your multiline script.

Hope it helps

[janfaroe]

Multiline is not a problem, at least not in my case. I'm NL'ing with \n as well. I think QProcess is taking care of that part as long as it's in the argument list.

[SGaist]

Since you have an example working, can you compare what parameters you give to oascript ? There may be something like a missing "-" to tell oascript to read from stdin

[janfaroe]

Sure, although it seems very identical to me. I think the problem is in the script itself.

@QStringList args;
QProcess p;
scriptText =
"tell application "iTunes"\n"
"if not (exists user playlist "%1") then\n"
" make new user playlist with properties {name:"%1"}\n"
"end if\n"
"set newFile to (POSIX file "%2")\n"
"set newTrack to (add newFile to playlist "%1")\n"
"set comment of newTrack to "%3""
"\n"
"end tell";
fileName = fileName.replace(""", "\"");
args << "-l" << "AppleScript";
scriptLauncherBinary = "/usr/bin/osascript";
p.start(scriptLauncherBinary, args);
p.write(scriptText.arg(plName).arg(fileName).arg(getComment()).toUtf8());
p.closeWriteChannel();@

[gaojinhsu]

I mean the way how chrome opens the network setting dialog, not how it sets proxies...have a look "here":http://dougscripts.com/itunes/2013/10/os-x-10-9-applescripts-and-accessibility-control/ so if chrome uses applescript to open the proxies settings dialog, it should be in the list of "Allow the apps below to control your computer". I am very curious how chrome could skip it.
[quote author="janfaroe" date="1390211636"]
As for Chrome and other browsers: I strongly believe they take their default settings from the system ones, ie. those presented in the System Preferences. [/quote]

[janfaroe]

Yes, but why would you be interested in opening Chromes network settings, if the system settings can override it?

Edit: Ah, because of the "allow the apps below..." setting. Sorry, not an Applescript expert.

[gaojinhsu]

because I think it is a good user experience, I wanna add a button like that in my app.

[gaojinhsu]

Thanks anyway, that's very kind of you for giving me the advice.

[quote author="janfaroe" date="1390294144"]Yes, but why would you be interested in opening Chromes network settings, if the system settings can override it?

Edit: Ah, because of the "allow the apps below..." setting. Sorry, not an Applescript expert.[/quote]

[janfaroe]

You're welcome :-)

Well, it depends on the scope of your application. If it's necessary, then it's necessary.

[zyfihx]

About running such a script as a QProcess : I am trying to make it work in a sandbox environment (App Store), but I'm not sure wether the main app's entitlements apply to the osascript QProcess launched ? I'm getting access violation errors but I'm not sure if it's because my app is not signed correctly with entitlements, or if maybe it is because I must figure out a way to get the entitlements to apply also to the subprocess...