Q108622: How to Use AppleScript Scripts to Return Values to FoxPro

Article: Q108622
Product(s): Microsoft FoxPro
Version(s): MACINTOSH:2.5b,3.0b
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb3rdparty
Last Modified: 05-FEB-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b 
- Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, version 2.5b 
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SUMMARY
=======

The AppleScript language supports a RETURN statement that allows the author of a
script to send a result back to the calling procedure. The calling procedure can
be a FoxPro program, command, or procedure. Examples are provided below.

NOTE: AppleScript is manufactured by a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make
no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or
reliability.

MORE INFORMATION
================

A script, which is a series of one or more commands supported by the AppleScript
language, is analogous to a procedure written in Microsoft FoxPro or some other
high-level language. Like procedures, a script can communicate with a calling
program by returning a value to it. To run a script from within Microsoft FoxPro
for Macintosh, use the following command syntax:

  RUNSCRIPT <AppleScript> [TO <variable> | <field>]

If the script terminates with a RETURN statement, that value is returned to
FoxPro and stored in the optional parameter to the RUNSCRIPT command.

The following example is an elementary AppleScript script that simply returns a
Boolean, or logical, value:

  return TRUE

The following example illustrates how FoxPro for Macintosh can store a value to a
variable named retVal from an AppleScript script named MyScript:

  RUNSCRIPT HD:Scripts:MyScript TO retVal

Although AppleScript supports a variety of extended types, or classes, such as
lists, records, and aliases, FoxPro transforms them into simple character
expressions when storing them.

Since only a single value can be returned from an AppleScript script and FoxPro
for Macintosh does not support the passing of parameters to an AppleScript
script, a character expression delimited with commas or some other value is
recommended. Since AppleScript supports the list as a standard class, it makes
sense to take advantage of it to build a list of return values. For example, the
following AppleScript returns multiple values to the calling program by building
a list object:

     set theList to {"First"}<BR/>
     set theList to theList & "Second"<BR/>
     return theList

If you save the script, name it MyScript2, and invoke it issuing the following
command in the FoxPro Command window:

  RUNSCRIPT MyScript2 TO retVal

The list is returned to FoxPro as a character string delimited with commas. In
this case, the character expression "First, Last" is returned, and the
individual values can be returned using FoxPro's arsenal of string- manipulation
functions such as SUBSTR() and AT(). The following FoxPro code snippet extracts
the elements from retVal and stores the individual values to new variables:

     var1 = SUBSTR(retVal,1,AT(',',retVal)-1)
     var2 = SUBSTR(retVAL,AT(',',retVal)+3)

For more information about AppleScript, including a detailed explanation of the
language and its supported types, see the "AppleScript Developer's Kit" from
Apple Computer.

Additional query words: vFoxMac FoxMac

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Keywords          : kb3rdparty 
Technology        : kbHWMAC kbOSMAC kbVFPsearch kbAudDeveloper kbFoxproSearch kbFoxPro250bMac kbVFP300bMac
Version           : MACINTOSH:2.5b,3.0b

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