How to to select specific checkboxes in System Preferences? - applescript

Question

I am trying to select the third checkbox of the Keyboard menu item and tab to change the basic fn key function with one run of the script. The rest of the code appears to work fine, but I just recently started trying to code at all so I have no idea.
Here is my current code:
tell application "System Preferences"
activate
set current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
delay 1
tell application "System Events"
tell (click checkbox 3 of tab group 1)
delay 2
end tell
end tell
end tell
tell application "System Preferences" to quit
And here is the error message:
error "System Events got an error: Can’t get tab group 1." number -1728 from tab group 1
It looks like I'm just not defining it correctly, but I can't find out how to. Any help is appreciated!
Also, this is not needed but would it be possible to run the script without visibly opening the System Preferences application?

Answer 1

The following example AppleScript code was tested under macOS Catalina and clicks the Turn keyboard backlight off after checkbox at: System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard
As coded, it does the following:
Checks to see if System Preferences is running and if it is, it closes it so as to not have to see the UI flashing thru the different panes.
If System Preferences is not running it opens to the target anchor/pane without showing the UI.
Clicks the target checkbox.
Closes System Preferences
Example AppleScript code:
if running of application "System Preferences" then
try
tell application "System Preferences" to quit
on error
do shell script "killall 'System Preferences'"
end try
delay 0.1
end if
repeat while running of application "System Preferences" is true
delay 0.1
end repeat
tell application "System Preferences" to ¬
reveal anchor "keyboardTab" of pane id ¬
"com.apple.preference.keyboard"
tell application "System Events"
tell front window of application process "System Preferences"
repeat until (exists checkbox 3 of tab group 1)
delay 0.01
end repeat
click checkbox 3 of tab group 1
delay 0.1
end tell
end tell
tell application "System Preferences" to quit
Note: The example AppleScript code is just that and sans any included error handling, does not contain any additional error handling as may be appropriate. The onus is upon the user to add any error handling as may be appropriate, needed or wanted. Have a look at the try statement and error statement in the AppleScript Language Guide. See also, Working with Errors. Additionally, the use of the delay command may be necessary between events where appropriate, e.g. delay 0.5, with the value of the delay set appropriately.