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What type is the finder selection?
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What type is the finder selection?


  • Subject: What type is the finder selection?
  • From: Doug McNutt <email@hidden>
  • Date: Mon, 12 Aug 2002 14:21:57 -0600

"selection" returns a list of the items currently selected in the finder. How can I tell if they are disks, folders, or files?

*****
** This is where I am:
tell application "Finder"
set theSelection to selection
end tell
repeat with theThing in theSelection
set theType to word 1 of theThing
end repeat

** This is what comes out:
tell application "Finder"
get selection
--> {disk "Hubble", file "Air Traffic.pdf", trash}
get word 1 of disk "Hubble"
--> Finder got an error: Can't get word 1 of disk "Hubble".

Why is finder trying to get word1? I'm outside of the tell block. I expect theThing to be the text 'disk "Hubble"' but it seems to be just "Hubble".

*****
In an on entry block I have some luck with this but it won't behave when any of the selections is a disk.

tell application "Finder"
set theType to file type of theTarget
end tell
if theType is "fold" then -- ignore anything that's not a folder
doInit()
doStuff(theTarget, thePlace)
end if
*****
The word "kind" in the finder dictionary applies only to icons and buttons but just for fun I tried this:

repeat with theThing in theSelection
set theType to the kind of theThing
end repeat

** with the result:
tell application "Finder"
get selection
--> {disk "Hubble", file "Air Traffic.pdf", trash}
get kind of disk "Hubble"
--> "disk"
get kind of file "Air Traffic.pdf"
--> "Acrobat 5.0.5 document"
get kind of trash
--> "folder"
end tell

It almost works except that the "kind" of a file appears to be the name of the creator rather than "file" or something I can reliably test for.

Can anyone point me to a document that contains TRUTH rather than guesses? Should I try asking for the description of theThing? Naah - I get error: Invalid key form.
--

Applescript syntax is like English spelling:
Roughly, but not thoroughly, thought through.
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  • Follow-Ups:
    • Re: What type is the finder selection?
      • From: Christopher Nebel <email@hidden>
    • Re: What type is the finder selection?
      • From: Michelle Steiner <email@hidden>
References: 
 >Re: Display dialog Return - Bug or Feature? (From: Michelle Steiner <email@hidden>)

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