I'm trying to create an Automation Shortcut that toggles the fn keys in the Touch Bar.
This is my approach so far:
tell application "System Preferences"
activate
set the current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
//TO-DO: script that opens drop down menu in settings and changes it to display fn buttons
end tell
This is the code that i use for Catalina OS:
tell application "System Preferences"
activate
set the current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
reveal anchor "keyboardTab" of pane id "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
end tell
tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences"
delay 0.3
set thePopUp to pop up button 2 of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
set current to value of thePopUp
click thePopUp
if current is equal to "F1, F2, etc. Keys" then
click menu item 1 of menu 1 of thePopUp
else
click menu item 3 of menu 1 of thePopUp
end if
end tell
quit application "System Preferences"
For anyone else trying to make this work - I've finally gotten my solution to work. Tested with: MacOS Big Sur, 11.4, June 2021
The code is based here:
https://github.com/MrSimonC/Toggle-Mac-Function-Keys
but for brevity, here is the contents of the apple script file:
-- Apple Script (i.e. Use in Apple's Script Editor Application) to Toggle Function Keys / Media keys on/off
-- Tested on MacOS Big Sur (11.4) June 2021
-- Project Path: https://github.com/MrSimonC/Toggle-Mac-Function-Keys
tell application "System Preferences"
set current pane to pane "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
end tell
tell application "System Events"
if UI elements enabled then
tell application process "System Preferences"
repeat until exists tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
delay 0.5
end repeat
click radio button "Keyboard" of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
click checkbox "Use F1, F2, etc. keys as standard function keys" of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
end tell
tell application "System Preferences" to quit
else
-- GUI scripting not enabled. Display an alert
tell application "System Preferences"
activate
set current pane to pane "com.apple.preference.security"
display dialog "UI element scripting is not enabled. Please activate this app under Privacy -> Accessibility so it can access the settings it needs."
end tell
end if
end tell
Hope someone finds it useful!
Simon.
Related
System
M1 MacBook Pro
MacOS Big Sur
Problem
I like the default Mac touchbar layout for everyday use, but I prefer the F1-F12 keys at my fingertips when programming. I also don't like holding down the fn key. That's why I wrote two AppleScripts to switch the layouts (included below).
The scripts work, but they are buggy. This is because they rely on opening the System Preferences app and navigating through the menus. I made a couple "apps" with Automator
that simply run the scripts and then assigned them to keyboard shortcuts.
This is an ok solution, but I'd like to do something more elegant. Ideally, my script should run behind the scenes and instantly change the touchbar layout instead of opening System Preferences, selecting items from drop-down-lists, and then finally closing System Preferences.
I messed around with the shell for quite awhile with no success before resorting to using Automator. Any suggestions from those who are more savvy with sort of thing?
Code
This one makes the F1-F12 keys the default touchbar layout:
tell application "System Preferences"
set the current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
delay 0.25
reveal anchor "keyboardTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click pop up button 2 of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
end tell
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click menu item "F1, F2, etc. Keys" of menu 1 of pop up button 2 of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
end tell
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click pop up button 4 of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
end tell
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click menu item "Show App Controls" of menu 1 of pop up button 4 of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
end tell
end tell
quit application "System Preferences"
And this one does the reverse (makes app controls the default touchbar layout):
tell application "System Preferences"
set the current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
delay 0.25
reveal anchor "keyboardTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click pop up button 2 of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
end tell
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click menu item "App Controls" of menu 1 of pop up button 2 of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
end tell
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click pop up button 4 of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
end tell
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click menu item "Show F1, F2, etc. Keys" of menu 1 of pop up button 4 of tab group 1 of window "Keyboard"
end tell
end tell
quit application "System Preferences"
On macOS Catalina when toggling the target setting it changes the value of the PresentationModeGlobal key in ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.touchbar.agent.plist from appWithControlStrip to functionKeys or vise versa for those two choices. However, toggling it programmatically using the defaults command while it changes it in the UI it does not change it on the Touch Bar without also restarting the ControlStrip process.
The following example shell script code is what I use with a single keyboard shortcut to toggle between between Show App Controls and F1, F2, etc. Keys as that is what they are set to respectively in System Preferences > Keyboard > Keyboard on my system.
Example shell script code:
#!/bin/zsh
pmg="$(defaults read com.apple.touchbar.agent 'PresentationModeGlobal')"
if [[ $pmg == "appWithControlStrip" ]]; then
defaults write com.apple.touchbar.agent 'PresentationModeGlobal' 'functionKeys'
killall "ControlStrip"
else
defaults write com.apple.touchbar.agent 'PresentationModeGlobal' 'appWithControlStrip'
killall 'ControlStrip'
fi
Notes:
Other versions of macOS may require additional settings to be changed and or additional processes to be restarted, e.g., pkill 'Touch Bar agent' if applicable.
In Terminal you can use the read verb of the defaults command to examine changes to com.apple.touchbar.agent.plist as you make them in the UI to see if the value for additional keys needs to be changed too.
Side Note
As to your AppleScript code, here is how I'd do it based on your code as a single script to toggle between the two choices.
You didn't say what version of macOS are you running and since I do not have a pop up button 4 I cannot test the example AppleScript code shown below, however, this should eliminate having two separate scripts and it just toggles between the two with a single keyboard shortcut.
Example AppleScript code:
tell application "System Preferences"
set the current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
delay 0.25
reveal anchor "keyboardTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.keyboard"
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell tab group 1 of window 1 of process "System Preferences"
if value of pop up button 2 is "Show App Controls" then
click pop up button 2
click menu item "F1, F2, etc. Keys" of menu 1 of pop up button 2
click pop up button 4
click menu item "Show App Controls" of menu 1 of pop up button 4
else
click pop up button 2
click menu item "Show App Controls" of menu 1 of pop up button 2
click pop up button 4
click menu item "F1, F2, etc. Keys" of menu 1 of pop up button 4
end if
end tell
end tell
quit application "System Preferences"
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.
I want to issue a keyboard command to toggle the checkbox "Change picture every 30 minutes" in OS X for Desktop 1 (my main monitor desktop). I have multiple monitors so it may be necessary to identify which particular preference pane to manipulate.
I have set up the start of an AppleScript, but I'm at a loss how to formulate how to identify this particular check box:
tell application "System Preferences"
activate
end tell
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
click menu item "Desktop & Screen Saver" of menu "View" of menu bar 1
delay 2
tell window "Desktop & Screen Saver"
click checkbox 1 of …
It's in tab group 1. You can recognize this with the help of the Xcode tool Accessibility Inspector (Xcode > Open Developer Tool > Accessibility Inspector in the menu bar or Dock).
tell application "System Preferences"
activate
set the current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.desktopscreeneffect"
end tell
delay 2
tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences"
click checkbox "Change picture:" of tab group 1 of window "Desktop & Screen Saver"
end tell
I'm trying to make an AppleScript to change an option in System Preferences. The checkbox is revealed by clicking "Mouse Options..." in the "Mouse and Trackpad" menu of the "Accessibility" pane. The script I have written so far is able to navigate through System Preferences so that the desired checkbox is visible to be clicked. However, I can't find a way to click the checkbox, seemingly because the checkbox is within a sort of 'drop down tab' on the window. None of the tutorials I have found online deal with this specific issue.
My code so far-
tell application "System Preferences"
activate
set the current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.universalaccess"
get the name of every anchor of pane id "com.apple.preference.universalaccess"
reveal anchor "Mouse" of pane id "com.apple.preference.universalaccess"
tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences"
click button 5 of window "Accessibility"
end tell
end tell
The desired checkbox is "Scrolling". I expected that the following code would work, but it does not- it clicks checkboxes in the background, not the one in the tab.
tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences"
click checkbox 1 of window "Accessibility"
end tell
This is my first time using AppleScript, I should mention. Any help would be much appreciated.
The 'drop down tab' is called a sheet:
tell application "System Preferences"
activate
set the current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.universalaccess"
reveal anchor "Mouse" of pane id "com.apple.preference.universalaccess"
tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences"
click button 5 of window 1
click checkbox 1 of sheet 1 of window 1
end tell
end tell
I'm facing an issue with one of my applescript.
I'm trying to create an applescript that check/uncheck the checkbox that call the password after the mac wake up or the screensaver stop in the mac security pannel.
I'm using this with proximity.app, with the idea that when i'm back home and my phone is in range, proximity.app remove the password, but when i'm out of range, it put the password back.
Well... I'm forced to do it using UI scripting, because of the new security policy in Mountain Lion.
So there is the code when out of range :
tell application "System Preferences"
set current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.security"
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
tell first window
tell first tab group
click radio button 1
if not 1 then click checkbox 1
click menu item 6 of menu of pop up button 1
end tell
end tell
end tell
end tell
quit
end tell
and when in range :
tell application "System Preferences"
set current pane to pane id "com.apple.preference.security"
tell application "System Events"
tell process "System Preferences"
tell first window
tell first tab group
click radio button 1
click checkbox 1
end tell
end tell
end tell
end tell
quit
end tell
What i want to improve, is a way to first verify if the box is check or uncheck before checking or unchecking it.
Thanks for your help.
Just check the value of the checkbox.
0 = Uncheck, 1 = check
tell application "System Preferences" to ¬
reveal anchor "Advanced" of pane id "com.apple.preference.security"
tell application "System Events"
tell first tab group of first window of process "System Preferences"
tell checkbox 1 to if value is 0 then click -- checkbox was not checked.
end tell
end tell
quit application "System Preferences"
tell application "System Events"
tell application "System Preferences"
activate
set current pane to pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
set theWindows to windows
set win2 to item 2 of theWindows
tell win2
set index to 1
set visible to false
set visible to true
end tell
set value of combo box 1 to "90°"
end tell
end tell
I'm trying to change the Rotation of the External Screen via Applescript, but I do
not find out how to access this dropdown menu. Google seems to give me a lot about combo box and pop menu, but under Lion at least all this stuff doesn't work.
This worked for me on 10.8.
tell application "System Preferences"
reveal anchor "displaysDisplayTab" of pane "com.apple.preference.displays"
end tell
tell application "System Events" to tell process "System Preferences"
tell pop up button 1 of tab group 1 of window 1
click
click menu item 3 of menu 1
end tell
end tell