Programming a switch of view

jmaynard · February 2, 2020, 8:39am

is it possible to create a shortcut or automation to set tab one to folder A and folder two to tab B (with A and B being the presets)?

darwin · February 2, 2020, 1:22pm

Hi Jeff, it should be possible to automate Finder with applescript. And TotalFinder should not block this functionality. TotalFinder does not add any new commands to applescript interface, but you can use keyboard shortcuts to achieve desired end results.

Please try look at this automation script:

gist.github.com

https://gist.github.com/darwin/262db85585ea563f3060edb467dd2c95

finder-paths.applescript

set paths to {"/Users/darwin/Music", "/Users/darwin/Desktop"}

-- initialize new Finder window
tell application "Finder"
	activate
	set finderWindow to make new Finder window
	set toolbar visible of finderWindow to true
end tell

-- open all paths as new tabs

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I wrote it few years back so I’m not sure if it still works. Maybe some permission will be needed for it to talk to Finder.

Please let us know if it worked for you.

jmaynard · February 3, 2020, 11:20am

Darwin
thanks for the suggestion - fails on set target of finderWindow to applePath with error: appleEvent handler failed…

darwin · February 3, 2020, 3:34pm

Yes, the script no longer works.

I looked at it and managed to get it working again on my machine:

gist.github.com

https://gist.github.com/darwin/05967eedcc377fdff843c3402e11dc69

automate-totalfinder-tabs.applescript

set paths to {"/Users/darwin/Music", "/Users/darwin/Desktop"}

-- open all paths as new tabs
repeat with path in paths
	set applePath to POSIX file path
	tell application "Finder" to activate
	tell application "System Events"
		keystroke "t" using command down
	end tell
	delay 1

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jmaynard · February 4, 2020, 12:07pm

Thanks for continuing to develop this.
I’m still getting “Finder got an error: AppleEvent handler failed.” on the line: set target of the front Finder window to applePath

darwin · February 4, 2020, 1:57pm

Assuming you are using Script Edtior.app to launch the code.

Please go under System Preferences -> Security & Privacy -> Privacy -> Automation

And make sure AEServer and ScriptEditor are in the list and have the checkbox enabled. That is the only thing I can think of causing this trouble. You might have declined some permissions in the past and it is causing this.

jmaynard · February 6, 2020, 9:30am

I had certainly forgotten to set permissions (running the code from teh editor does not provide a reminder!).
Running the App version gets closer to the desired result but the message:
Finder got an error: AppleEvent handler failed. (-10000)
is still produced…
I’m sure it is something simple (and obvious) but it continues to elude me.
Thanks agin for yoru help

RickO · February 6, 2020, 1:39pm

If you have not yet, take a look at www.keyboardmaestro.com. Very powerful automation utility, pretty easy to use, reasonable price.

jmaynard · February 6, 2020, 4:16pm

Rick
thanks - that’s a new one on me so will give it a try.
cheers

jmaynard · February 7, 2020, 10:43am

KeyboardMaestro is certainly a powerful tool and will interact with TF. But I can’t get it to do what I want (which is to navigate to specific folders in each of two open tabs). It will open the requested folder but does so in a new tab which causes TF to revert from dual pane.

Anyone any ideas on this?
thanks

darwin · February 7, 2020, 3:44pm

You have to automate it via keyboard shortcuts. E.g. create two separate tabs, set their target paths and then join them into dual view via CMD+U (or via triggering a menu item). TotalFinder does not expose own scripting API.