Using applescript to create spaces and launch apps

applescriptautomationautomatorspaces

So the end goal of what I am looking to do is this:

When I am at work I use an external monitor with my MBP. I have a consistent set of spaces and apps that I setup everyday. What I would like to do is create an applescript or combination of applescript & automator application that once launched will create the needed number of spaces on each monitor and open then the appropriate apps into each space.

I don't know if this is best accomplished completely in applescript or as I said using a combination of applescript to create the spaces and automator to open the bulk of the applications and browser windows that I use.

Best Answer

To add one Desktop Space to each monitor/display:

do shell script "/Applications/Mission\\ Control.app/Contents/MacOS/Mission\\ Control"
delay 0.5
tell application "System Events" to click (every button whose value of attribute "AXDescription" is "add desktop") of group 1 of process "Dock"
delay 0.5
do shell script "/Applications/Mission\\ Control.app/Contents/MacOS/Mission\\ Control 1"

One can modify the code to add more desktops.

To switch to a particular desktop / fullscreen app in a dual display setting, e.g. Desktop 3:

do shell script "/Applications/Mission\\ Control.app/Contents/MacOS/Mission\\ Control"
delay 0.5
try
    tell application "System Events" to click (first button whose value of attribute "AXDescription" is "exit to Desktop 3") of list 1 of group 1 of process "Dock"
on error
    tell application "System Events" to click (first button whose value of attribute "AXDescription" is "exit to Desktop 3") of list 2 of group 1 of process "Dock"

end try

There are discussions out there about turning an app to fullscreen mode with script.

Related Solutions

AppleScript or Automator Workflow for Bulk-Converting Powerpoint Presentations to Keynote

I couldn't figure out how to get Automator to do it, but I was able to beat AppleScript into submission. Just save the following as an Application in the AppleScript Editor, then drag the files you want to convert onto the icon. It will prompt you to choose a folder where the converted files will be placed.

on open droppedFiles
    set theDestinationFolder to (choose folder with prompt "Choose destination folder") as Unicode text
    repeat with theFile in droppedFiles
        tell application "Keynote"
            open theFile
            set theSlideshow to slideshow 1
            set theDestinationPath to theDestinationFolder & (name of theSlideshow)
            save theSlideshow in theDestinationPath
            close theSlideshow
        end tell
    end repeat
end open

(I don't really know what I'm doing with AppleScript. If there are improvements that can be made here, I'd like to know about them.)

Can Spaces be configured by project, rather than by application

What I've done to achieve this is to simply not assign any applications to any special space at all. That way, when opening an application, it opens on the space I'm curently on, letting me organize my work into different projects as I want.

On Lion, the organization is kept through reboots, at least for some applications.

There is also the utility Moom, which lets you save configurations of different application windows to easily recreate spaces you use often.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

AppleScript or Automator Workflow for Bulk-Converting Powerpoint Presentations to Keynote

Can Spaces be configured by project, rather than by application

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