How do I "copy' a file in Applescript?

[jspitzel]

I've do a very little AppleScripting and have an script which copies a file to a burn folder. This worked fine under 10.4 with a Jon's command, but fails under 10.5.
So the question is (and it seems simple) how do I copy a file from one folder to another?

[appleman_design]

apple-c and apple-v

[chabig]

Slow down appleman. He wants to script it!

Check out the Finder's dictionary jspitzel. In Script Editor, File -> Open Dictionary. That lists the commands for scriptable apps. In the Finder's dictionary, you'll find:

duplicate v : Duplicate one or more object(s)
duplicate specifier : the object(s) to duplicate
[to location specifier] : the new location for the object(s)
[replacing boolean] : Specifies whether or not to replace items in the destination that have the same name as items being duplicated
[routing suppressed boolean] : Specifies whether or not to autoroute items (default is false). Only applies when copying to the system folder.
→ specifier : to the duplicated object(s)

Chris

[raymondlewisjone]

I, personally, use shell scripts to do it. It is much quicker to use shell scripts than the Finder.

Post your sample script and I will insert and give it back

[Mikey-San]

Quote: Originally Posted by appleman_design apple-c and apple-v

How did you think this was useful? Do you just rush to be the first reply in threads, regardless of what the person needs or wants?

[Mikey-San]

Quote: Originally Posted by jspitzel I've do a very little AppleScripting and have an script which copies a file to a burn folder. This worked fine under 10.4 with a Jon's command, but fails under 10.5. So the question is (and it seems simple) how do I copy a file from one folder to another?

Without seeing your code, it's going to be hard for anyone to tell you why it's not working.

[jspitzel]

Yes - I think I'll shell script too. In fact the applescript runs a Shell Script already so I can just continue that action and bring the Applescript in to do the final burning of the CD (its a backup script).
All help appreciated.
I'll probably be back shortly......

[jspitzel]

OK I'm back!
The shell script seemed like such a good idea. As is often the case this turns out to be (or appears to be), a might harder.
OK the problem is I want to copy a file to 'Untitled CD.fpbf' a standard burn folder (empty disk)
The problem is doing a 'do script' with a space in the filename.
I've looked up the Apple blurb and came up with this: (not really sure what it says!)

Quote: Q: POSIX path doesn’t work right if the file has certain characters in its name — spaces, parentheses, $, *, etc. A: This is a special case of quoting: you must quote the path to make the shell interpret all the punctuation literally. To do this, use the quoted form of the path. For example, this will work with any file, no matter what its name is: choose file do shell script "ls -l " & quoted form of the POSIX path of the result -- result: "-rw-r--r-- 1 me unknown 1 Oct 25 17:48 Look! a file!"

My do shell script has to look something like this:

do shell script "cp -p "&"/Users/JS/Documents/thefile.gz"&" "&"/Users/JS/Desktop/Untitled CD.fpbf/thefile.gz"

which doesn't work 'cos the 'Untitled CD' needs to be in quotes because of the space.
So how do I put quotes in the do shell script?

help appreciated

[Mikey-San]

Your specific question is answered near the middle/end of this document, but it's worth reading it top to bottom before going further:

http://devworld.apple.com/technotes/tn2002/tn2065.html

[jspitzel]

Call me stupid by all means - but I just don't see it.
In the example I gave (which you will note is from the Tech note quoted by you), the POSIX path is exactly what?

I tried to set a variable to the POSIX path of the file for the source and destination.
That seems to make sense, but then how do I do a shell script using variables?
I tried:

set S1 to POSIX path of file "Macintosh HD:Users:JS:Folder:File.gz"
set D1 to POSIX path of file "Macintosh HD:Users:JS:Desktop:Untitled CD.fpbf"
do shell script "cp -p " & S1 & D1

on running this it says Untitled is not a file! or if I put a colon after the .fpbf in the setting of the variable it says Directory CD.fpbf does not exist.
This doesn't seem to make sense - it deals with the space in 'Macintosh HD' but not 'Untitled CD.fpbf'

So I read the TN again and tried the 'quoted path' as in :

set S1 to quoted form of the POSIX path of file "Macintosh HD:Users:JS:Folder:File.gz"

The result is a dialog saying:
Can't get the file "Macintosh HD:Users:JS:Folder:File.gz"
Interstingly, if I don't bother with the variable and do:

do shell script "cp -p " & quoted form of the POSIX path of "Macintosh HD:Users:JS:Folder:File.gz" & quoted form of the POSIX path of "Macintosh HD:Users:JS:Desktop:Untitled CD.fpbf"

I get an error 'Can't make quoted form of POSIX path of "Macintosh HD:Users:JS:Folder:File.gz" of <<script>> into type Unicode text.

That seems contradictory to the TN?
duh - that is the correct path!
I'm going round in circles.
Can you give any more specific help or pointers?

[jspitzel]

I've been working at this for hours - but finally it works!!

solution (with help from http://bbs.macscripter.net/viewtopic.php?pid=85208 )

It's quite easy but only if you know the archane syntax rules
Use this to copy a file with a space in the filename using applescript

set Sourcefile to POSIX path of "Macintosh HD:Users:JS:Folder:opera.gz"
set Destination to POSIX path of "Macintosh HD:Users:JS:Desktop:Untitled CD.fpbf:"
do shell script "cp -p " & quoted form of Sourcefile & " " & quoted form of Destination

what a bloody palaver
Thanks to all

[raymondlewisjone]

use single quotes or escape double qoutes

do shell script "cp -p "&"/Users/JS/Documents/thefile.gz"&" "&"/Users/JS/Desktop/'Untitled CD.fpbf'/thefile.gz"

or

do shell script "cp -p "&"/Users/JS/Documents/thefile.gz"&" "&"/Users/JS/Desktop/\"Untitled CD.fpbf\"/thefile.gz"