Macro Always Activated Except When an Open/Save Box is Open

Questions & Suggestions
1

I have a simple macro that opens a folder with a keyboard shortcut. I want the macro to always be activated except when the Mac's Open/Save box is opened. Any way of achieving this?

I don't want the macro to work when the Open/Save box is open because I want Default Folder X to take over opening the same folder.

2

Hey Ross,

You really can't do that.

But – you can script Default Folder with AppleScript – so you can detect whether a dialog is open and have the macro tell Default Folder what to do.

Here’s an example.

  • Open TextEdit, and type Cmd-O to open the Open-Dialog.
  • Select a folder in the Finder.
  • Run the script and see it work.
--------------------------------------------------------
# Auth: Christopher Stone
# dCre: 2018/11/30 21:14
# dMod: 2018/11/30 21:14 
# Appl: Default Folder X, Finder, Safari
# Task: Working Default Folder Get-File Example
# Libs: None
# Osax: None
# Tags: @Applescript, @Script, @Default_Folder_X, @Finder, @Safari, @Working, @Default_Folder, @Get-File, @Example
--------------------------------------------------------

tell application "Finder" to set finderSelectionList to selection as alias list
if length of finderSelectionList = 0 then error "No files were selected in the Finder!"
set theItem to item 1 of finderSelectionList

tell application "TextEdit"
   activate
end tell

delay 1

if defaultFolder_DialogIsOpen() = true then
   defaultFolder_SwitchToFolder(theItem)
end if

--------------------------------------------------------
on defaultFolder_SwitchToFolder(folderAlias)
   tell application "Default Folder X"
      SwitchToFolder folderAlias
   end tell
end defaultFolder_SwitchToFolder
--------------------------------------------------------
on defaultFolder_DialogIsOpen()
   tell application "Default Folder X"
      if (IsDialogOpen) = true then
         return true
      else
         return false
      end if
   end tell
end defaultFolder_DialogIsOpen
--------------------------------------------------------

The two handlers give you most of what you need to complete your task, but you can holler at me if you need additional help.

-Chris

3

This will behave as described for when there is or isn't an Open/Save dialog present. But as it's been nearly 20 years since I've used Default Folder I don't know if this will be helpful for then initiating it.

image

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