Create folder in root directory using extendscript

[AD4003]

Hi All,

I am able to create the folder in desktop.

var f = new Folder("~/Desktop/new_fodler");  
f.create();

But I couldn't create the folder in /Users/ directory.

var f = new Folder("/Users/new_fodler");
f.create();

Could anyone help me on troubleshooting this. Is this required any permissions with the code?

Thanks. 

[rob day]

Hi @AD4003 , the parent of the desktop should be the user folder, so try this:

var f = new Folder(Folder.desktop.parent + "/new_folder")
f.create();

[AD4003]

Hi rob day

Thanks for your reply. But, I want to create a folder under "/Users" directory not in "/Users/<username>".

[rob day]

I can make a folder in the System/Users directory on OSX Mojave by adding a parent, but I have to give the Users folder Read/Write permissions or the folder will not be created

//create a new folder in the System/Users folder
var f = new Folder(Folder.desktop.parent.parent + "/new_folder")
f.create();

Also here is the Folder API page which includes shortcuts to common folders—you can back out of these folders using .parent, but you do need permission:

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#Folder.html

Some examples:

$.writeln("User Desktop: " + Folder.desktop)
//~/Desktop

$.writeln("System Application Support Folder: " + Folder.appData.fsName)
//System Application Folder: /Library/Application Support

$.writeln("User Application Support Folder: " + Folder.userData.fsName)
//User Application Support Folder: ~/Library/Application Support

$.writeln("Target Application Folder: " + Folder.appPackage.fsName)
//Applications/Adobe InDesign 2020/Adobe%20InDesign 2020.app

$.writeln("Documents Folder: " + Folder.myDocuments)
//Documents Folder: ~/Documents

$.writeln("Application Startup Folder: " + Folder.startup.fsName)
//Application Startup Folder: /Applications/Adobe InDesign 2020/Adobe InDesign 2020.app/Contents/MacOS

$.writeln("System Folder: " + Folder.system)
//System Folder: /System

$.writeln("Temp Folder: " + Folder.temp)
//Temp Folder: /private/var/folders/w2/s1lk7d6d3m95v4pq7m4flscw0000gn/T/TemporaryItems

$.writeln("Trash Folder: " + Folder.trash)
//Trash Folder: ~/.Trash


var dt = Folder.desktop
$.writeln("Full Destop Path: " + dt.relativeURI)
//Full Destop Path: /Users/fishercat/Desktop

var uas = Folder.userData
$.writeln("Full Destop Path: " + uas.parent)

var CC = File(Folder.desktop.parent.parent + "/Creative Cloud Files")
$.writeln("CCF Folder: " + CC);

[AD4003]

Otherwise, It would be helpful to achieve this in Windows OS directory.

var f = new Folder("C:\\new_folder");
f.create();

Please advise.

[AD4003]

Sorry, Ignore above case. It is working fine in Windows. I need this for Mac OS only.

[Test Screen Name]

Folders under /Users are created when a new user is added. At no other time. MacOS will protect against other changes. What is it you want to store, we may be able to help you find a suitable place.

[m1b]

@Test Screen Name is correct. /Users is not an appropriate place to create a folder! Are you trying to have your script create a new MacOS user account? I doubt that is possible.

Or are you looking for a place to keep files that are accessible to all users of the machine? If so, make your folder in /Users/Shared/

This worked for me:

var f = new Folder("/Users/Shared/new_folder");
f.create();

- Mark

EDIT: Here is some info on the /Users/Shared/ folder. Anything you put here should have permissions automatically set to be accessible to all users.

[Laubender]

Hi together,

currently I cannot test this on MacOS, but I remember that there was a discussion ten years ago:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/extendscript-oddity-with-file-folder-on-mac-os-x...

I'm quoting Joris_Coppieters from that discussion:

// BEGIN QUOTE:

I can successfully reference a folder object on my desktop using the hack function:

var folder = Folder(newFile("~/Desktop/Test"));

But if you still have a Users folder in your Volumes, calling:

folder.create();

Will return true but won't create the folder on the desktop.

Where was it created?

In the /Volumes/Users directory!

=> /Volumes/Users/[USERNAME]/Desktop/Test

// END QUOTE

Don't know if this is still relevant…

Well, could be.

Joris presented the following solution in 2012:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/extendscript-oddity-with-file-folder-on-mac-os-x...

Others commented as well eight years later in 2020 with different ideas to solve the issue.

O2-Creative:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/extendscript-oddity-with-file-folder-on-mac-os-x...

Dirk Becker:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/extendscript-oddity-with-file-folder-on-mac-os-x...

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Professional )