Applescript question - request cmd

[Jim Ault]

Thanks, Jan,
I already have several utility scripts for doing the Applescript cmd
building.  I found the request command in the Rev reference and thought I
would check it out for simple cases.  Now that I know, I stick with my lib
of wrappers.

BTW, I did find the following link on the Apple site:
http://developer.apple.com/documentation/AppleScript/Conceptual/AppleScriptL
angGuide/index.html

then look down near the bottom of the left hand scroll 'menu' for
Error Numbers and Error Messages, then click.

-1708 is <reference> doesn't understand the <commandName> message.
which must mean that Excel does not understand the 'eval' message, like you
said, Jan.

Jim Ault


On 8/30/06 12:26 PM, "Jan Schenkel" <janschenkel at yahoo.com> wrote:

> --- Jim Ault <JimAultWins at yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Got error -1708 when sending Apple event
>> 
>> in the dictionary
>> 
>> request "the hilite of button 3" from program
>> "HyperCard"
>> Use the request command to obtain data from another
>> application via the eval
>> Apple event.
>> 
>> on testAS
>>   request "address of active cell" from program
>> "Microsoft Excel"
>>   request "value of active cell" from program
>> "Microsoft Excel"
>>   request "get value of active cell" from program
>> "Microsoft Excel"
>> 
>> any of the above run from a script container gives:
>>>> Got error -1708 when sending Apple event
>> 
>>   --  put "tell application "&q&"Microsoft
>> Excel"&q&return into cmd
>>   --  put "get address of active cell"&return after
>> cmd
>>   --  put "get value of active cell"&return after
>> cmd
>>   --  put "end tell"&return after cmd
>>   --  do cmd as applescript
>>>> correct result
>>   put it & cr & the result
>> end testAS
>> 
>> 
>> Question 1 - what am I missing to get the 'request'
>> cmd to work
>> 
>> Question 2 - Where can I find the error codes so I
>> know what is wrong?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> 
>> Jim Ault
>> 
> 
> Hi Jim,
> 
> The 'request' command requires that the other
> application implements the 'eval' apple event.
> HyperCard was one of the few to implement it (along
> with FoxPro, IIRC), but it looks like Excel doesn't
> implement that particular apple event.
> 
> And that's why your more convoluted second approach
> (building an AppleScript) works, as it sends the
> proper apple events to Excel.
> You could rework that into a generic 'getFromExcel'
> function that builds the AppleScript, executes said
> AppleScript, and returns the value of 'it'.
> 
> The advantage of such a wrapper is that you can then
> add a platform check, and build and execute a VBScript
> instead of an AppleScript if your application is
> running on Windows.
> 
> Jan Schenkel.
> 
> Quartam Reports for Revolution
> <http://www.quartam.com>
> 
> =====
> "As we grow older, we grow both wiser and more foolish at the same time."  (La
> Rochefoucauld)
> 
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