applescript: how to copy real file instead of alias, but recursively - macos

Question

I am using the following script to copy certain folder content from my hard-drive on a usb-Stick. Since the folder content might change, I am using aliases.
The script used to work perfectly, but since I had to make changes in my folder structure, I now have sometimes an alias of an alias (workaround of the script, won´t go into that).
Problem is that the script seems to only convert the first level of alias-folders, but if there is an alias for a file within an alias for a folder, it copies the file-alias.
I wonder if it is possible to tell the script to recursively go through every level of the folder (ie every file) and copy the original file instead.
Thanks!
Peter
ps: exemplary folder structure of source folder:
alias of folder 1
alias of folder 1-1
alias of file a, alias of file b
alias of folder 2
alias of file c
--> first a dialogue
display notification "hello, get folder ready"
delay 5 --> allow time for the notification to trigger
set theDialogText to "choose source"
display dialog theDialogText
--> Result: {button returned:"OK"}
--> now computing
set the backupSource to (choose folder) as alias
set theDialogText to "choose destination"
display dialog theDialogText
--> Result: {button returned:"OK"}
set the backupDestination to (choose folder) as alias
display notification "maybe this takes a while..."
delay 6 --> allow time for the notification to trigger
--> now copy
tell application "Finder"
activate
with timeout of 600 seconds --> equeals 10 Minutes
set everyAlias to every item of folder backupSource
repeat with thisAlias in everyAlias
set originalFile to (original item of thisAlias)
duplicate originalFile to backupDestination
end repeat
end timeout
end tell
``````````
I feel that the the line "repeat thisAlias in everyAlias" doesn´t do its job and goes only one level down, ie it converts the alias on the first level and not all other aliases within this alias-folder

Answer 1

I don't have a quick fix, but rather programming advice: it's time to add debugging. In this case, I suspect your script is not operating on the files you intend to use. So what's it doing instead?
For example, near the beginning,
set debugOn to true
or better
property debugOn : true
Then right before your duplicate command,
if debugOn then display dialog ¬
"Copying thisAlias: " & return & (thisAlias as text) & return & ¬
"of originalFile: " & return & originalFile buttons "OK" default button 1
…and so forth. You can leave these if debugOn then… checks throughout your code with dialogs or even different modes of behavior, and just change it to property debugOn : false once it's working. Having it all there is also great for the inevitable day you need to edit the script, but it's aged enough you've forgotten all its nuances.

Answer 2

Maybe this following AppleScript code will help you accomplish what you're looking for?
tell application "Finder"
set sourceFolder to choose folder with prompt "CHOOSE SOURCE"
set destinationFolder to choose folder with prompt "CHOOSE DESTINATION"
set nestedFolders to a reference to (entire contents of sourceFolder)
set aliasFiles to a reference to every alias file of nestedFolders
set aliasFiles to contents of aliasFiles
repeat with i from 1 to count of aliasFiles
set thisItem to item i of aliasFiles
if not (exists of original item of thisItem) then
delete thisItem
end if
end repeat
set aliasFiles to a reference to every alias file of nestedFolders
set originalFiles to (original item of aliasFiles) as alias list
duplicate originalFiles to destinationFolder
end tell