Folder Actions on Mac OSX Leopard?

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  • squishywaffle@gmail.com
    #1

    Folder Actions on Mac OSX Leopard?

    Greetings,

    I've been trying to figure out if it's possible to attach a Python
    script to an action via Mac OSX Leopard's File Actions system. I'm
    wanting to call a Python script every time a file is added to the
    monitored folder. Just adding a .py file doesn't seem to do anything
    at all, and I can't find any log output anywhere to see what's going
    on.

    I'm more just looking to see if this is or is not possible. I'm not
    interested in other solutions, as I already have them lined up in case
    this is a no-go, but I'd really love to be able to do it this way if
    anyone has any experience. Googling around revealed pretty much
    nothing.

    Any help is much appreciated,
    Greg
    Tags: None
    • Diez B. Roggisch
      #2
      Re: Folder Actions on Mac OSX Leopard?

      squishywaffle@g mail.com schrieb:
      Greetings,
      >
      I've been trying to figure out if it's possible to attach a Python
      script to an action via Mac OSX Leopard's File Actions system. I'm
      wanting to call a Python script every time a file is added to the
      monitored folder. Just adding a .py file doesn't seem to do anything
      at all, and I can't find any log output anywhere to see what's going
      on.
      >
      I'm more just looking to see if this is or is not possible. I'm not
      interested in other solutions, as I already have them lined up in case
      this is a no-go, but I'd really love to be able to do it this way if
      anyone has any experience. Googling around revealed pretty much
      nothing.
      You mean this?

      Apple Developer Documentation
      http://developer.apple.com/documentation/Darwin/Conceptual/FSEvents_ProgGuide/Introduction/chapter_2_section_1.html


      *I* would use ctypes to access Carbon Core. But then that's just me -
      I'm sure you find a better way...

      Diez

        Comment

        • Sean DiZazzo
          #3
          Re: Folder Actions on Mac OSX Leopard?

          On Sep 24, 12:31 pm, "squishywaf...@ gmail.com"
          <squishywaf...@ gmail.comwrote:
          Greetings,
          >
          I've been trying to figure out if it's possible to attach a Python
          script to an action via Mac OSX Leopard's File Actions system. I'm
          wanting to call a Python script every time a file is added to the
          monitored folder. Just adding a .py file doesn't seem to do anything
          at all, and I can't find any log output anywhere to see what's going
          on.
          >
          I'm more just looking to see if this is or is not possible. I'm not
          interested in other solutions, as I already have them lined up in case
          this is a no-go, but I'd really love to be able to do it this way if
          anyone has any experience. Googling around revealed pretty much
          nothing.
          >
          Any help is much appreciated,
          Greg
          I always wondered about Folder Actions... I just tested. You can
          have applescript call python scripts via `do shell script`. But it
          seemed a bit flakey.

          I would either go with applescript all the way, or look in to your
          other options.

          ~Sean

            Comment

            • has
              #4
              Re: Folder Actions on Mac OSX Leopard?

              On 25 Sep, 00:30, Sean DiZazzo <half.ital...@g mail.comwrote:
              I always wondered about Folder Actions...  I just tested.  You can
              have applescript call python scripts via `do shell script`.  But it
              seemed a bit flakey.
              Should work in theory. For which values of flakey? e.g. Is it a
              technical problem with Folder Actions, AppleScript, 'do shell script,
              and/or Python, or just your AppleScript code that needs some work
              (e.g. there are some common gotchas with using 'do shell script' that
              often trip up AppleScript newcomers).

              FWIW, I would second the suggestion to look into FSEvents as a
              possible alternative to Folder Actions. There's also kqueue which is
              lower level but may have/have had Python bindings already written for
              it.

              Alternatively, if the OP really wants to use FAs, there are a couple
              of other options for that:

              1. I've got a simple py2app-based application shell and an AppleScript
              that automatically forwards FA events to that application - just
              insert your Python code into the application shell and build it,
              attach the AppleScript to some folders, and you're good to go. Email
              me directly if you want a copy.

              2. If you're brave, you could try using the PyOSA component on the
              appscript website, which allows you to write OSA scripts in Python.
              FAs will work with any kind of OSA script (.scpt files), not just
              AppleScript ones. PyOSA is officially discontinued due to some
              intractable limitations in its/CPython's design (specifically the
              inability of an in-process Python interpreter to sandbox unrelated
              scripts so that they can't interfere with each others' modules, file
              handles, etc). However, it's reasonably functional and should be
              usable for FAs with a little care.


              HTH

              has
              --
              Control AppleScriptable applications from Python, Ruby and ObjC:
              appscript
              http://appscript.sourceforge.net


                Comment

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