macOS Need some help with AppleScript

[davidlt]

-- kintamieji
set theStatusCheck to false
set theSMSCount to 0
set theSMSTotalCount to 0
set theFailCount to 0

-- parametrai
set theFailLimit to 20
set theTimeOutTime to 40
set theLogFile to (path to desktop as Unicode text) & "log.txt"
set theRecipient to "863711111"
set theSMSText to " "

-- kodas

-- į Log failą įrašo duomenis
on insertToLog(log_item)
	global theLogFile
	set fRef to (open for access file theLogFile with write permission)
	try
		write log_item as string to fRef starting at eof
	end try
	close access fRef
end insertToLog



insertToLog("

--- Skriptas pradeda darbą. (Laikas: " & ((current date) as string) & ", Parametrai: {FailLimit: " & theFailLimit & ", TimeOutTime: " & theTimeOutTime & ", Recipient: " & theRecipient & ", SMSText: " & theSMSText & "})")

tell application "BluePhoneElite 2"
	repeat while theStatusCheck = false
		with timeout of theTimeOutTime seconds
			try
				set theSMSCount to theSMSCount + 1
				send message theSMSText to theRecipient ¬
					using the first device whose available is true
				set theFailCount to 0
			on error errStr number errorNumber
				set theSMSCount to theSMSCount - 1
				insertToLog("
-- Klaida (Laikas: " & (time string of (current date)) & "). " & errStr & " (" & (errorNumber as number) & "). Duomenys: {SMSCount: " & theSMSCount & ", SMSTotalCount: " & theSMSTotalCount & ", FailCount: " & theFailCount & "}")
				set theFailCount to theFailCount + 1
				if theFailCount > theFailLimit then
					set theStatusCheck to true
					set theSMSTotalCount to theSMSTotalCount + theSMSCount - 1
					insertToLog("
-- Skriptas baigė darbą." & ((current date) as string) & " Išsiųsta žinučių: " & theSMSTotalCount & ". Duomenys: {SMSCount: " & theSMSCount & ", FailCount: " & theFailCount & "}")
					display dialog "Klaida! Daugiau negaliu siųti SMS. Išsiunčiau: " & theSMSTotalCount
				end if
				set theSMSTotalCount to theSMSTotalCount + theSMSCount
				set theSMSCount to 0
			end try
		end timeout
	end repeat
end tell

This is my small script which is using BluePhoneElite 2 to send SMS, massive amount of SMS. I am new to AppleScript and I have three questions.

1. set theLogFile to (path to desktop as Unicode text) & "log.txt" <- this line holds the path to the log file, which is in desktop, but I would like that that log file to be in the same folder as my script. I tested many ways, but script can't find it. How should I write it correctly?

2. Inside tell block I can't access my insertToLog let's call it "function". Why? Is there any way which would allow be to do this. Or I should make some kind of object and do like this: tell Logger to insertNewItem "blabal.. "

3. Sometimes I get AppleScript errors and always it is the same error about timeout. This way I am using with timeout of ... seconds, but can I catch those errors and handle them too? I don't want my script to break on this kind of errors.

And the last question would be about the documentation. I found a few websites with articles about AppleScript and official Apple documentation, but it looks a bit poor for me. There is a lot missing, like how to work with files, write/read data and etc. Is there more detailed manual/tutorial or even a book that I could read?

Thanks for the help. It's pretty amazing how easy is to read those scripts...

 

[tjwett]

1. if you are dealing with file/folders you need to first reference them from the Finder:

tell app "Finder"
set theLogFile to "path:to:file.txt"

i'm in a hurry at the moment but if you post this to the forums at macscripter.net you'll have your answer in minutes.