How to keep terminal window open in AppleScript after end tell

applescriptiterm

I have this osascript with a command

tell application "iTerm2"
  create window with default profile command "uwm"
end tell

Now the iTerm window closes at end tell but I want to keep iTerm window open to see my command result and work further. Any hints?

Best Answer

If you want the iTerm2 window to stay open and active for further use, you cannot use command with create window with default profile.

You need to use the write command in proper context, e.g.:

tell application "iTerm2"
    create window with default profile
    tell current session of window 1 to write text "echo hello"
end tell

The above example AppleScript code used with osascript:

osascript -e 'tell application "iTerm2"' -e 'create window with default profile' -e 'tell current session of window 1 to write text "echo hello"' -e 'end tell'

Replace "echo hello" in the example AppleScript code with your command, e.g.: "uwm"

Note: osascript can execute the example AppleScript code from a file using, e.g.:

osascript /path/to/filename.applescript

From the iTerm2 AppleScript Dictionary:

write v : Send text as though it was typed.

     write specifier : The session to send to
           [contents of file file] : Filename to send the contents of
           [text text] : Text to send
           [newline boolean] : If newline should be added to end of text (default: yes)

Note: The example AppleScript code is just that and does not employ any error handling and is meant only to show one of many ways accomplish a task. The onus is always upon the User to add/use appropriate error handling as needed/wanted.

Option 1:

tell application "iTerm2" to activate
tell application "System Events" to tell process "iTerm2" to keystroke "h" using command down

Note: Keystroke may be replaced with m if you want iTerm2 to be minimized to the dock with the Genie effect.

Option 2:

tell application "Finder"
set visible of process "iTerm2" to false
end tell

Option 3:

tell application "System Events" to tell process "iTerm2" to set visible to false

Note: The process name may just be iTerm instead of iTerm2. I opened iTerm on my Mac and then Activity Monitor, and the Process Name that it shows is iTerm. Please change accordingly if it does not work for you.

Links and Resources

Here is a great WikiBooks link that describes exactly what you need.

Please let me know which option works for you so I can edit the question and only include the option that works.

Edit:

If you make the iTerm window the frontmost application (Be careful you don't want to make the AppleScript window the frontmost application), try this script:

tell application "System Events"
    set frontProcess to first process whose frontmost is true
    set visible of frontProcess to false
end tell

Best Answer

Related Solutions

MacOS – AppleScript: Open a new window in current space without switching to active window in another space

The Applescript command to show or hide iTerm2 window

Option 1:

Option 2:

Option 3:

Links and Resources

Edit:

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