{"id":1607,"date":"2023-10-05T10:50:05","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T15:50:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cloudlearning365.com\/?p=1607"},"modified":"2023-10-16T14:12:52","modified_gmt":"2023-10-16T19:12:52","slug":"run-a-script-in-mac-from-the-dock","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cloudlearning365.com\/?p=1607","title":{"rendered":"Run a script in MAC from the dock"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I have recently moved from Windows 11 to MacOS 14.0. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Windows 11, I had several scripts written in PowerShell or Python. For each script, a shortcut was created, an icon assigned, then the shortcut was pinned to the start menu for quick access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It took me a while to figure out similar ways in Mac.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

In Mac OS, Finder is similar to Windows Explorer. Launchpad is similar to the Windows Start menu. Finder -> Favorites -> Applications or Launchpad will show all applications installed on Mac. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A script, by default, isn’t an application. So my initial thought was how to make a script an application, which leads following methods:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shortcuts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Search shortcuts under Launchpad<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Create new shortcut<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Select Run Shell Script and enter the command to run shell script<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once the shortcut is created, right-click on it and choose Add to dock. Note you can also change the icon as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The problem is that you won’t be able to see the output of the shortcut, so you don’t know the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Script Editor<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Launchpad, search for Script Editor<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Wrap the command to launch your script within do shell script “”<\/strong> block. Note you are creating an AppleScript<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When you run it in the Script Editor. the output will be shown in the Result section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can export the script as an application<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In Launchpad, find the application, and run it<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

However, the problem is the same as shortcuts, there is no output if running as an application.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Automator<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Launchpad, find Automator<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Choose application<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Add following blocks sequentially:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Run Shell Script<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. View Results<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Set Value of Variable -> New Variable -> enter ‘output’<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Ask for confirmation -> In the Message field start typing out, and it will list all variables match out*, and hit enter before completing typing the whole word. This will make sure the message field uses the ‘output’ variable instead of the literal word ‘output’<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    After you run your script, you will notice View Results will have the output from our script. As well as a popup window (from Ask for confirmation) displays the result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Now you can save the file in Application folder, and you should be able to find the application under Launchpad<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    You may notice a little gear icon show up on your top menu bar, indicating the script is running<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    After the script is completed, the Ask for Confirmation task will have this popup screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    This is very close to what I wanted, but still have problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Automator seems to be very heavy on resources and runs quite a lot slower than the actual script.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. You won’t be able to see the result on the fly, only till end of the execution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. If you have pages and pages of output, the message screen doesn’t provide a scroll bar.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      .command file extension<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Finally figured out what’s the most elegant way to complete this simple task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In Mac OS, when you create a file as a .command extension, this file is similar to a Windows batch file.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Create your .command<\/strong> file and use chmod +x<\/strong> to make sure it’s executable<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Populate your .command file<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Test run in terminal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      In Finder, find the .command file and drag and drop it to the right of the separator close to the trash bin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      Now you can click on the icon from the dock, it will launch the terminal and execute the shell commands. Perfect<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      You may also want to change the icon of the .command file to something better suit your script:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      https:\/\/support.apple.com\/en-ca\/guide\/mac-help\/mchlp2313\/mac<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      I have recently moved from Windows 11 to MacOS 14.0. In Windows 11, I had several scripts written in PowerShell or Python. For each script, a shortcut was created, an icon assigned, then the shortcut was pinned to the start … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1607","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mac"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t