macOS Using applescript to open a file with a specific program

lynkynpark86 · Mar 23, 2010

I am making a program in applescript that opens a file. I know how to just open it:

Code:

set filepath to POSIX path of "Users:student:Desktop:Picture 3.png"
try
	set command to "open " & quoted form of filepath
	do shell script command
end try

but I want to open it with a specific program. IE:

Code:

tell application "system events"
   open "Users:admin:Desktop:orderform.pdf" using application "Some PDF Reader"
end tell

but the above example doesn't work. PLEASE HELP!!! :apple:

Caleb531 · Mar 23, 2010

Try this:

tell application "Finder"
open file ((path to desktop folder as text) & "text.rtf") using ((path to applications folder as text) & "TextEdit.app")
end tell

mysterytramp · Mar 23, 2010

This should work, too:

Code:

tell application "Some PDF Reader"
   open "Users:admin:Desktop:orderform.pdf"
end tell

or even as a one liner:

tell application "Some PDF Reader" to open "Users:admin

esktop

rderform.pdf"

If it doesn't work, see if the app has an AppleScript dictionary. (Open Dictionary command in Script Editor.) No dictionary, then AS can't control it.

mt

lynkynpark86 · Mar 24, 2010

Thanks!

Thank you very much, those examples both work very well! :apple:

rbrugos · Jun 30, 2021

mysterytramp said:
This should work, too:

Code:

tell application "Some PDF Reader" open "Users:admin:Desktop:orderform.pdf" end tell

or even as a one liner:

tell application "Some PDF Reader" to open "Users:adminesktoprderform.pdf"

If it doesn't work, see if the app has an AppleScript dictionary. (Open Dictionary command in Script Editor.) No dictionary, then AS can't control it.

mt

Works perfect and very simple!

ArmchairDeity · Apr 3, 2024

lynkynpark86 said:
I am making a program in applescript that opens a file. I know how to just open it:
...
but the above example doesn't work. PLEASE HELP!!!

One other thing you might try:

AppleScript:

set filepath to POSIX path of "Users:student:Desktop:Picture 3.png"
try
    do shell script "open " & quoted form of filepath & " -a MyImageViewer.app"
end try

That will rely entirely on the `open` command to kick off the app. If you leave "-a AppName.app" off the command, it will open the file in the configured default app for the file type. But if you specify -a and an app name from the Applications folder, MacOS does all the heavy lifting and just opens the file in the app you specified.

Just one other approach to consider.

I use this approach in a function I have set up when I am in Bash, looks like this:

Bash:

# Runs at the start of each new Bash session
# creates an alias command so I can just type editbp and my
# .bash_profile comes up in VS Code.

editbp() {
    open ~/.bash_profile -a "Visual Studio Code.app"
}

# Whereas this one expects to receive a file name as an argument which is then
# opened in VS Code. I use this regularly to use my IDE tooling to look at documents 
# that I am working with in VS Code's integrated terminal

edit() {
    open $1 -a "Visual Studio Code.app"
}

# Granted this isn't AppleScript, but it's a valid example of how the open CLI util works

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macOS Using applescript to open a file with a specific program

lynkynpark86

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Caleb531

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mysterytramp

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lynkynpark86

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rbrugos

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ArmchairDeity

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