VER: 1.0 Last Update: Thu, Feb 11, 2016
Author: @JMichaelTX based on example by @ccstone
PURPOSE: Demo How to Select, Read, and Process each line in a file
I was inspired by the post by Chris (@ccstone) below to write this macro, based in large part on his post.
Since there is no built-in KM Action to choose a file (or folder), I thought it would be helpful to share a simple AppleScript to perform that function.
This macro is a complete macro, from selecting the file to processing each line of that file. You need only add the Actions you want to be applied to each line of the file.
If you find any bugs or issues, or have suggestions for improvement, please feel free to post below.
Thank you for pointing out the error. I corrected it, and it still does not work.
I think the error message is;
2017-05-07 15:52:29 Execute macro ‘[FILE] Process Lines in Text File copy copy’ from trigger The Hot Key ⌃⌥⇧⌘T is pressed
2017-05-07 15:52:29 Set Variable to Text failed to set variable “VarIndex+1” (from “Var%Variable%Index%”)
2017-05-07 15:52:29 Set Variable to Text failed to set variable “VarIndex+1” (from “Var%Variable%Index%”) Macro ‘[FILE] Process Lines in Text File copy copy’ cancelled (while executing Set Variable ‘Var%Variable%Index%’ to Text ‘Var%Variable%Index%’).
Attached is the macro and the text file as suggested by CCStone.
@VWKM, sometimes it can be a challenge to get things just right.
I have fixed your Macro, but for educational purposes, let me first explain the problems and changes. Note: All of your original Actions are shown as dark grey (disabled), and my replacement Actions are shown in teal.
First, there was an error in @peternlewis' post:[quote="peternlewis, post:3, topic:2936"]
Set variable Index to 1
[/quote]
should have been: Set variable Index to 0
Actually, a new index variable was NOT needed, since in my original macro I already had:
In any case, I made this correction:
Next, this Action has two problems:
It occurs before the index is updated.
The "to:" field is wrong
The correct "to" field is shown below.
Next, you used "Set Variable to Text" for the "Index" variable.
It should be "Set Variable to Calculation"
Now you are ready to create the new "Var" variable, and assign the current line from the file to it:
I added this Action to log the results:
So, now, when I run your macro with my corrections, the result is:
<img src="/uploads/default/original/2X/d/d571be1c8454660bf96606ba1a2229dbe6b4f7c9.png" width="510" height="265">
Here's the corrected Macro:
###MACRO: [FILE] Process Lines in Text File -- @VWKM version with @JMichaelTX Corr
~~~ VER: 1.0 2017-05-07 ~~~
####DOWNLOAD:
<a class="attachment" href="/uploads/default/original/2X/b/b132d17273f88af1facb72ae9cf86a4dfbaacac3.kmmacros">[FILE] Process Lines in Text File -- @VWKM version with @JMichaelTX Corr.kmmacros</a> (13 KB)
---
###ReleaseNotes
REVISED 2017-05-07 3:34 PM CT BY @JMIchaelTX
to correct problems in version by @VWKM
---
<img src="/uploads/default/original/2X/5/5b138254f972424c1d20bbca4de192b247986e1d.png" width="389" height="2000">
@troy and @VWKM: I'm curious. May I ask you guys a question please?
Why do you want the lines from the file into separate KM Variables?
IME, this makes it harder to deal with the data, unless you always know that each line represents the same entity, like Name = Line 1, Phone = Line 2, email = Line 3
Then I get it.
But you end up with Variables named "Var1, Var2, Var3". Not so useful. Even so, this approach is very unforgiving. Sometimes using RegEx can be a better solution.
If you don't mind sharing your purpose/intent of using KM Variables, we might be able to suggest alternate methods.
I was correctly opening a text file. That was not my problem.
I found the "cause".
I was using the Try button in Editing mode to launch the Macro. That a resulted in the error. When I launched the Macro in the conventional way (not in Editing Mode but using the Status Menu), it worked fine.
I appreciate your very prompt response. Sorry for not having figured this out. I did not realize that the Try button could cause trouble in this way.
When launching using the Try button, the value of myFilePath is seen below, in case you are interested,
objc[9358]: Class FIFinderSyncExtensionHost is implemented in both /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/FinderKit.framework/Versions/A/FinderKit (0x7fff92deeb68) and /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/FileProvider.framework/OverrideBundles/FinderSyncCollaborationFileProviderOverride.bundle/Contents/MacOS/FinderSyncCollaborationFileProviderOverride (0x113b33cd8). One of the two will be used. Which one is undefined.
/Users/owl/Desktop/SomeTest.txt
The reason it failed when using the Try button was because the Try button only executes the current action, not the whole macro, so the previous actions that the selected action expected to have been run before it was executed had not yet been run (don't worry, you're far from the first one to assume that that button is for the whole macro rather than just the action). In KM8, the button to execute the entire macro is this one, at the top of the editor window:
First of all, I appreciate learning about the Entire Macro Run button and how it differs from the Try button. But if NO action is selected, the Try button seems to run the entire Macro.
So if you leave the Edit mode (click to deactivate the Edit button) and then click it again (activate the Edit button) there is no single Action that is selected. If you hit the Try button at this point, it seems to run the entire Macro. Since I did not understand/appreciate the Entire Macro Run button that you pointed out to me, I would go through this little dance often.
Currently, I still will get the error even if I use the Entire Macro Run button.
The sad thing is that I thought the issue was being in Edit mode. I had had success with invoking the Macro using the Status Menu. But when I retry the whole thing now, I get the error also when I use the Status Menu. I do not know what has "changed". Rarely, it will work. Confounding.
When I run the Macro: [KM]Display Macro Error that JMichaelTX provided to help with debugging, it also throws an error.
So somehow something weird is going on with the state of my Mac in terms of this Macro. Most commonly it fails totally after I select the text file. Sometimes it will work and several windows will open up showing the various lines. Sometimes only the first window will open up showing the first line and then I will get the error. It is all bizarre.
I also get this same error when i run [KM]Display Macro Error
I run it immediately after an error, so i have no clue why. Or at least: it can’t match with the regex…
High sierra 10.3.3
KM 8.1.1
EDIT: Don’t want to go off topic. Just affirming rlivingston isn’t the only one
I assume you are referring to the macro at the top of this topic:
MACRO: [FILE] Process Lines in Text File
Just to be clear, that button is called "Run Selected Macro"
Please be sure you are selecting a TEXT file with multiple lines in it, like this:
qqqq
wwww
weee
errrr
rttttt
yyyyy
uuuu
If you get an error, please make a screenshot of it and post here.
OK, I can help with that, but not in this thread. That is a completely different issue. Please post your comments/issues about the Display Macro Error macro in its topic: MACRO: [KM] Display Macro Error
But for now, to debug your issue with " [FILE] Process Lines in Text File", don't bother with the "Display Macro Error" macro.
