How to create a repeating event in Automator

applescriptautomatorcalendarical

I would like to programmatically create a repeating event. I'm using Automator and it seems that Automator can't do this, plus I want to pass variables provided by the user into the event creation process so I'm guessing I need to do it in AppleScript instead. Trouble is I haven't been able to find information on how to do that.

How can I create a recurring event in Automator using AppleScript (or really any other way would be worthy of note as well)?

Best Answer

I was unable to get all the way to my ultimate goal of creating repeating calendar events with open file alerts. But, i did at least solve this question of how to create a repeating calendar event in AppleScript, so here it is.

The main issue is that you can't actually create a repeating event. You have to create a static event, then modify that event to repeat. Here's the code that is working for me:

#Event name & description
set title to "event title"
set taskDescription to "The Description"

# which dates to use?
set startDate to date ("07/21/2020")
set endDate to date ("07/21/2020") -- last date to include

# which calendars contain the events?
set thisCalendar to "Automator"

# how many days in between repeats?
set interval to 2

tell application "Calendar"
    tell calendar thisCalendar
        make new event at end with properties {description:taskDescription, summary:title, start date:startDate + 540 * minutes, end date:startDate + 540 * minutes} # creates event at 9am, modify to suit.
        set theEvents to (every event where its start date is equal to startDate + 540 * minutes)
        set recurrence of item 1 of theEvents to "FREQ=DAILY;INTERVAL=" & interval
    end tell
end tell

If you don't have a local calendar called "Automator", then this might give you problems, I'm not sure. Feel free to change the calendar name if needed.

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The solution for your problem is the Filter Finder Items action.

Just add it to your workflow before your AppleScript Action.

How to make Automator insert “AW” into a Stickies Note

The Stickies app is not scriptable, meaning it does not directly support AppleScript via a Stickies AppleScript Dictionary, so most coding is going to use System Events and what's generally referred to as UI Scripting to manipulate the Stickies app.

The example code below, will do the following:

Open Stickies.app and, or if already open, bring it to the front.
Create a new Stickies note.
Move the new note to the top left corner of the screen and set its size to the default size.
Type "AW" and "return", with "return" simulating the Enter key being pressed.

tell application "Stickies"
    activate
    delay 1
end tell
tell application "System Events"
    keystroke "n" using command down
    set properties of window 1 of application process "Stickies" to {position:{0, 23}, size:{300, 200}}
    keystroke "AW" & return
end tell

This AppleScript code can be placed in a Run AppleScript action in an Automator Service workflow.

Note: One of the drawbacks of UI Scripting, is at times the needed use of the delay command to ensure the targeted UI Element is available to be acted upon. You may/will need to either adjust the value of any delay command and or add/remove additional delay commands as needed/wanted through any given UI Scripting scenario. The example code above, as is, worked on my system. If need be, make use of the delay command and adjust its value as/where needed/wanted.

Also the above example code does not employ any form of absolute error handling and is meant only to show how the individual events can be coded to achieve the objective. The onus is always upon the User to add/use appropriate error handling as needed/wanted.

Best Answer

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