1 Correct answer
cool, maybe we find a simple as possible solution.
you don't need the alert, you must set at begin:
#targetengine ????? (I heard "not main" but this seems to be not true, it can be main?)
don't ask me why
...#target illustrator
#targetengine another
var btnPnlResource ="panel { orientation:'row', \
text: 'Push Button to Test', \
testBtn: Button { text:'Test' }, \
}";
var dlg = new Window("palette", "Select PATH");
dlg.btnPnl = dlg.add(btnPnlResource);
dlg.show();
dlg.btnPnl.testBtn.onClick = traceDoc;
//alert("M
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All is not lost. 
Here's a really weird workaround...
var btnPnlResource ="Panel { orientation:'row', \
text: 'Push Button to Test', \
testBtn: Button { text:'Test' }, \
}";
var dlg = new Window("palette", "Execute Test");
dlg.btnPnl = dlg.add(btnPnlResource);
dlg.show();
dlg.btnPnl.testBtn.onClick = traceDoc;
alert("Move me, don't close me.");
function traceDoc(){
dlg.close(1);
//alert(app.documents[0]);
alert("works!");
var nf = new File("~/Desktop/test2.jsx");
nf.execute();
}
This works for me, but it's wonky as hell. basically, I create an alert window which keeps the palette from closing, then, if I move the alert out of the way, boom, I have a fully functional palette, it fires an execute script, and the script has document control... I have achieved my goal, but, I'd love to find a way to keep the palette open without having to instantiate the popup window... I'll keep plugging at it. Let me know if you find anything cool.
-J
OK, I can run this from extendscript Toolkit without any issues. If I run from illustrator then I need the above "alert hack".
Essentially I took your idea from above Chris, and blended it with your .execute() post, and got this. No need for a temp file.. Because I write the second script on the fly, from within the first one.
The code is wonky, but it does what I want, and the end user shouldn't have to worry about it. I THINK this is the winning formula... Thanks for the help, and the inspiration!
cheers,
-J
var btnPnlResource ="Panel { orientation:'row', \
text: 'Push Button to Test', \
testBtn: Button { text:'Test' }, \
}";
var dlg = new Window("palette", "Execute Test");
dlg.btnPnl = dlg.add(btnPnlResource);
dlg.show();
dlg.btnPnl.testBtn.onClick = traceDoc;
//alert("Move me, don't close me.");
function traceDoc(){
dlg.close(1);
var myFile = new File("~/Desktop/test2.jsx");
var content="alert('Written from script1: current document name:'+app.activeDocument.name)";
myFile.open("e");
myFile.writeln(content);
myFile.close();
myFile.execute();
}
Thanks for the Credits
Nice script John.
Bah, Irish or whatever, i don't care 
The (my) crude "shell" Hack from above grips me.
I'm really interested to know what happens if you run the following under Macintosh.
Under windows, a selected script will be executed, a selected Document will be opened.
a shellscript should be created.
Would one be so good and try it?
thanks
Chris
function callShell(){
var sys = File.fs ;
switch(sys){
case "Windows":
break;
case "Macintosh":
var appPath = app.path + "/Configuration/Contents/MacOS/Adobe%20Illustrator" ;
// var shellSkript = new File( "~/AIjs/" + shellName + ".command") ;
var shellSkript = new File( "~/AIjs/test.command") ;
alert(shellSkript.fsName)
shellSkript.open("w");
var tx = "#!/bin/sh\nps | grep -i -e illustrator.exe 1>/dev/null 2>&1 || exit\n"+
"\"" + File(appPath).fsName + "\" \"" + skriptPfad.fsName + "\"" ;
shellSkript.write( tx ) ;
shellSkript.close() ; shellSkript = null ;
alert("Shellscript is in your Home Directory, use Quicksilver to create a hotkey for it")
break;
case "Unix":
alert( "Unix" )
break;
default:
alert( "default\n"+sys )
}
}
var skriptPfad = File.openDialog("Select Script ") ;
if (skriptPfad){
var shellFolder = new Folder( "~/AIjs" ) ;
if( shellFolder.exists == false ) shellFolder.create() ;
var skriptName = skriptPfad.displayName.split(".")[0] ;
var shellName = "AI_skript_" + skriptName ;
callShell() ;
}
Message was edited by: chris gebab Code updateted
Hi Chris,
var appPath = app.path + "/Configuration/Contents/MacOS/Adobe%20Illustrator" ;
/configuration/ isn't here...
real path is:
/Contents/MacOS
where appPath is :
/Applications/Adobe\ Illustrator\ CS4/Adobe\ Illustrator.app/
var shellSkript = new File( "~/AIjs/test.command") ;
it write a file at : User / AIjs/test.command
content:
#!/bin/sh
ps | grep -i -e illustrator.exe 1>/dev/null 2>&1 || exit
"/Applications/Adobe Illustrator CS4/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Illustrator" "/Users/MyUserName/Desktop/AIjs/test.jsx"
*******
ps | grep -i -e illustrator.exe 1>/dev/null 2>&1 || exit
.exe doesn't exist on mac, extension is .app (not exactly, in fact .app it's a package/folder but it appears as an application in browse, you can see inside only if you ask for "extract")
Correct run is:
/Applications/Adobe\ Illustrator\ CS4/Adobe\ Illustrator.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe\ Illustrator
i've tried with:
ps | grep -i -e illustrator.app 1>/dev/null 2>&1 || exit
still in shell/terminal, it return:
logout
[Operation termined]
shell/terminal is broken/termined
ps | grep -i -e Adobe\ Illustrator 1>/dev/null 2>&1 || exit
or
ps | grep -i -e Adobe\ Illustrator 1>/dev/null 2>&1 || exit
or again
ps | grep -i -e /Applications/Adobe\ Illustrator\ CS4/Adobe\ Illustrator.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe\ Illustrator 1>/dev/null 2>&1 || exit
same result...
below an exemple of illustrator task (command: ps -A):
1072 ?? 0:12.62 /Applications/Adobe Illustrator CS4/Adobe Illustrator.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe Illustrator -psn_0_299081
1072 is PID (process ID)
0:12.62 <- how many time is running
-psn_0_299081 (i don't know.. but it change at each launch)
Unfortunately i don't know what mean
| grep -i -e application.exe 1>/dev/null 2>&1 || exit
I guess just you test if illustrator task is running or not, if yes shellscript continue and execute illustrator which is run script(jsx), else it close..
So i've tried still directly in shell/terminal:
/Applications/Adobe\ Illustrator\ CS4/Adobe\ Illustrator.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe\ Illustrator "/Users/MyUserName/Desktop/AIjs/test.jsx"
where test.jsx is simple alert("ok");
Illustrator is running, but no script it was executed 
in fact , it seems me that when you ask for execute script, illustrator open (but hide) extentscript tool kit.. but may be i'm wrong..
I hope that this report could help you
if you have any suggest / questions please feel free to ask me.
art.chrome
N.B.: when i launch test.command directly in shell/terminal the result is permission denied
also:
/Applications/Utilities/Adobe\ Utilities.localized/ExtendScript\ Toolkit\ CS4/ExtendScript\ Toolkit.app/Contents/MacOS/ExtendScript\ Toolkit /Users/MyUserName/Desktop/AIjs/test.jsx
this open ExSTK, and open test.jsx for edit, but not run...
Message was edited by: artchrome (added N.B.:)
Wow, at first, thank you very much for the detailed explanation.
the right paths helps much
yes, you guess right, hm, ...grep -i -e illustrator..., should also work here.
where test.jsx is simple alert("ok");
Illustrator is running, but no script it was executed
also with test.js instead of .jsx?
I don't know if the double quotes in the command-line are necessary?
if param is a doc instead of script?
Is the script executed if you drag it on the illustrator Window? (like on windows xp)
......the result is permission denied
maybe this is a problem of a not set (and not automaticly setable?) executable bit. then it breaks the whole approach
other options:
-Applescript
-estk
but i think both will not work fast enough?
....this open ExSTK, and open test.jsx for edit, but not run...
#target Illustrator is set?
Art, thank you again
Chris
chris gebab wrote:
Wow, at first, thank you very much for the detailed explanation.
the right paths helps much
yes, you guess right, hm, ...grep -i -e illustrator..., should also work here.
it quit alway.. (that illustrator running or not). But i don't know which info grep should be return.
i'v tried
ps | grep -i -e Illustrator
and it returns:
3543 ttys000 0:00.01 grep -i -e Illustrator
isn't curious ?
...
also with test.js instead of .jsx?
same effect.
I don't know if the double quotes in the command-line are necessary?
You right, but with or without it's same result
if param is a doc instead of script?
It seems that Illustrator don't accept any parameter, (curious).. I'm not fully familiarized with MAC OS / Unix but in all case, whatever i sent to illustrator , it returned nothing except launch illustrator (no result, no error, like as if it don't check for parameter)
Is the script executed if you drag it on the illustrator Window? (like on windows xp)
No way.., we can't execute js or jsx with drag/drop on illustrator,
drag /drop on ESTK, ESTK generate an alert something like that "Do you really want execute this script in illustrator CS4?"..
So if yes it run the script or if not, put ESTK is in edit mode on test.jsx/.js
maybe this is a problem of a not set (and not automaticly setable?) executable bit. then it breaks the whole approach
contrary to win XP, on mac os, you are running in something like that "limited users" but it minor limited than XP, we can install some appz, but some command / action require root authorisation (like as admin on XP).
Other options:
-Applescript
-estk
but i think both will not work fast enough?
I haven't enough knowledge (i know only the name 
, may be Muppet Mark could send his ideas) on Applescript..
#target Illustrator is set?
#target Illustrator is set Yes
See you, art.chrome
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