Mac OSX - Allow user input to shell script via GUI or prompt
first post, so please let me know how I could improve ..
I created a wrapper script that requires a person to enter their name and then generate a report. The script runs as needed, chmod'd into the script executable and run from the terminal. But I would like to expand it and do it with a double click, instead of instructing people to run it from the terminal.
I tried wrapping the script in Platypus, which makes it easier to run, but it doesn't allow user input, which is critical.
I just found cocoaDialog but my main problem is that it will provide the functionality I need, and if it does, if everyone else doesn't install it ...
Has anyone ever been in this situation or could suggest and pointers.
Thank.
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For the record, I tested (on OS X Yosemite) the following script ( namescript
), which uses a command read
to accept user input. After chmod +x namescript
double clicking on Finder, the script ran correctly and accepted user input.
#! /bin/bash
echo "Please enter your name"
read name
echo "Your name is $name"
It is important to choose a name for the script without an extension (as in namescript
) or extension .command
( namescript.command
). By default, using .sh
( namescript.sh
) triggers a double click to open the script in a text editor, as the OP pointed out.
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OS X has (mostly) all the batteries included, just use it. :)
For this you can use Automator.app
. With Automator, you can create an executable application (for example your.app
) that will contain your shell script and also request user inputs.
For example, ask for two inputs: "name" and "year", you should do the following:
- Launching Automator
- Select "Application"
- Click the Library button on the toolbar if the library is hidden.
- Drag the following actions from the Library into the workflow
- "Request text"
- Enter the question: "First and last name:"
- click "Require response"
- "Set variable value"
- Create a new variable "name"
- "Request text"
- "Enter the second question, for example" Enter the year: "
- Add the default, eg. 2015 (if you like)
- check the box "Require response"
- check the box "Ignore input actions" in "Options"
- "Get the value of a variable
- Select "name"
- "Run shell script"
- select "Pass input" → "as arguments"
- copy and paste your shell script into the window, for example:
- "Request text"
year="$1"
name="$2"
echo "Report for name: $name year: $year"
- Alternatively, you can add a final copy to clipboard action, for example. the output from the shell script will go into the clipboard.
Save the script (you will get a standard OS X app .app
name.app
), just add it to .dmg
or build .zip
it and you can deploy it.
Everything is much faster to do as I read this answer.;)
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From what I understand, I would recommend that you turn to Applescript as it will allow you to have a GUI interface as well as execute "SHELL" commands.
First of all, I would open the Script Editor program, which is pre-installed on the Mac
This is an example script that asks for a username, then says so by executing the "say name" shell command
display dialog "What is you name? " default answer "" buttons {"Say It"} default button 1
text returned of the result
do shell script "say " & result
You can also add with administrator privileges
to the do command which will make it run with admin privileges (ask for admin username and password)
Example:
display dialog "What is you name? " default answer "" buttons {"Say It"} default button 1
text returned of the result
do shell script "say " & result with administrator privileges
Hope it helped.
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