Question

I just edited the file new item alert.scpt in the /Macintosh HD/Library/Scripts/Folder Actions…/ folder. I managed to save it after editing some permissions, but when I click Run or Compile nothing happens.

Is this a common error, or do I have a problem in my applescript if someone wouldn’t mind taking a look.

property Docs : "Macintosh HD:Users:Max:Downloads:Docs"
property Music : "Macintosh HD:Users:Max:Downloads:Music"
property Videos : "Macintosh HD:Users:Max:Downloads:Videos"
property Images : "Macintosh HD:Users:Max:Downloads:Images"
property Profiles : "Macintosh HD:Users:Max:Downloads:iPhone:Profiles"
property Zips : "Macintosh HD:Users:Max:Downloads:Zips"
property PSDs : "Macintosh HD:Users:Max:Downloads:PSDs"

on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving added_items
    try
        tell application "Finder"
            --get the name of the folder
            set the folder_name to the name of this_folder
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".png") then
                move eachitem to folder Images
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".JPEG") then
                move eachitem to folder Images
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".gif") then
                move eachitem to folder Images
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".jpg") then
                move eachitem to folder Images
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".jpeg") then
                move eachitem to folder Images
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".PNG") then
                move eachitem to folder Images
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".mov") then
                move eachitem to folder Videos
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".avi") then
                move eachitem to folder Videos
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".wma") then
                move eachitem to folder Videos
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".m4v") then
                move eachitem to folder Videos
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".mp4") then
                move eachitem to folder Music
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".mp3") then
                move eachitem to folder Music
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".wav") then
                move eachitem to folder Music
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".wma") then
                move eachitem to folder Music
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".pdf") then
                move eachitem to folder Docs
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".doc") then
                move eachitem to folder Docs
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".docx") then
                move eachitem to folder Docs
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".pages") then
                move eachitem to folder Docs
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".ppt") then
                move eachitem to folder Docs
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".pptx") then
                move eachitem to folder Docs
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".mobileprovision") then
                move eachitem to folder Profiles
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".zip") then
                move eachitem to folder Zips
            end if
            if (name of eachitem ends with ".psd") then
                move eachitem to folder PSDs
            end if


        end tell

        -- find out how many new items have been placed in the folder
        set the item_count to the number of items in the added_items
        --create the alert string
        set alert_message to ("Folder Actions Alert:" & return & return) as Unicode text
        if the item_count is greater than 1 then
            set alert_message to alert_message & (the item_count as text) & " new items have "
        else
            set alert_message to alert_message & "One new item has "
        end if
        set alert_message to alert_message & "been placed in folder " & «data utxt201C» & the folder_name & «data utxt201D» & "."
        set the alert_message to (the alert_message & return & return & "Would you like to view the added items?")

        display dialog the alert_message buttons {"Yes", "No"} default button 2 with icon 1 giving up after dialog_timeout
        set the user_choice to the button returned of the result

        if user_choice is "Yes" then
            tell application "Finder"
                --go to the desktop 
                activate
                --open the folder
                open this_folder
                --select the items
                reveal the added_items
            end tell
        end if
    end try
end adding folder items to

Answer 1

Folder action scripts are not supposed to be run directly. It’s associated to any number of folders via the context menu of those folders.

Then, whenever that folder’s content change, the script is triggered, and the on adding folder items to handler is run.

So, you should just right-click the folder you want to attach the script, and choose Set folder action menu item.

Also, you’re not supposed to overwrite the system-provided file… you can save your customized version in your own home directory and you can attach it to any folder.