Open random script files from folder using Applescript

Question

Set theFolder to (Macintosh HD:Users:jr:Desktop:Dsource)

Set rnd to (random number from 1 to 3)

Set myScript to load script file (rnd) of theFolder

Run script myScript

This is the script I am attempting to use to open random script files from a folder and execute them. I have written 3 or 4 different types of scripts to try and do this but none seem to work. Can someone point out the error or show me how to do this. Thanks

Answer 1

==> 1. make a folder on your desktop named "Dsource"

==> 2. create a script and name it "1". The script shall contain display dialog "Script 1" so when you start it it shows the script-number. Save/put it into the Dsource folder and repeat that (but change the number in the display dialog) until you have 3 scripts. Note: often the file name extension is hidden in Finder but such scripts have the extension ".scpt".

If above things are given this should work:

run script (load script file (((path to desktop) as text) & "Dsource:" & (((random number from 1 to 3) as text) & ".scpt")))

ADDITION: Longer version which does the same but does it step by step:

try

    set pathToMyFolderOnDesktop to (path to desktop as text) & "Dsource:" as alias

    set rnd to (random number from 1 to 3)

    set rndFileName to (rnd as text) & ".scpt"

    set FullPath to pathToMyFolderOnDesktop & rndFileName as text

    set myScript to load script (FullPath as alias)
    run script myScript


on error the error_message number the error_number

    display dialog "Error: " & the error_number & ". " & the error_message buttons {"OK"} default button 1
    return

end try

This also displays an error if - for example - the folder isn't there (-43).

Answer 2

Strings aren't folders in Applescript

You are trying to access files using a string. "Macintosh HD:Users:jr:Desktop:Dsource" is not a folder until you make it one. So, this line

Set myScript to load script file (rnd) of theFolder

is getting the rnd character from the string (ie M if rnd is 1) and trying to do load script on it.

To make a string into something that Applescript recognizes as a folder, you can add alias to the front so it's alias "Macintosh HD:Users:jr:Desktop:Dsource"

You need to target a file

Assuming, you could get all the files of a folder with the following line, your logic is still a little off.

Set myScript to load script file (rnd) of theFolder

This line would be targeting a file named rnd . Not the rnd file of the folder. In other words, this line evaluates to

Set myScript to load script file "Macintosh HD:Users:jr:Desktop:Dsource:1"

The easy way to do it

Applescript provides the some command, which allows you to choose a random item from a list

some item of {1, 2, 3}
--> 2
some item of {1, 2, 3}
--> 1

So, gather your existing script files in a list, and choose a random one from that list.

tell application "System Events"
    set scriptFiles to files of alias "Macintosh HD:Users:jr:Desktop:Dsource:" whose kind is "Compiled OSA Script"
end tell

if (count scriptFiles) > 0
    set myScript to load script (some item of scriptFiles)
    run myScript
else
    display dialog "No script files were found."
end if