Custom 'Open with...' file action

[sirdavidoff]

I'd like to make my own version of the 'Open with...' file action (that opens the last-modified file in a directory with an application of the user's choice).

 

The built-in 'Open with...' file action has a second screen where you choose the application that you want to use.

 

How can I use such functionality in my own workflow?

 

Thanks!

[deanishe]

52 minutes ago, sirdavidoff said:

How can I use such functionality in my own workflow?

 

Which functionality?

 

Do you want to pass your own file to Alfred’s application list or do you want to show you own list when someone actions a File Action?

 

[sirdavidoff]

Thanks for your reply, deanishe.

 

I would be happy to use Alfred's application list and just pass a file to it.

[deanishe]

Pass the path to Alfred's action command via AppleScript, e.g.: tell application "Alfred 3" to action "~/Downloads"

 

That's the closest you can get to calling Open With… directly.

 

After that, you need to start simulating keystrokes, which may or may not work:

tell application "Alfred 3" to action "~/Downloads"

delay 0.2 -- Give Alfred time to react

tell application "System Events"
	keystroke "Open W"
	delay 0.2
	key code 36 -- Enter
end tell

 

Edited October 16, 2017 by deanishe

[sirdavidoff]

Thanks, deanishe. Is there any way to get this to work in Alfred 2?

[deanishe]

Yeah, probably. Alfred 2 only supports the search command (tell application "Alfred 2" to search "~/Downloads"), which will browse the path in Alfred instead of opening the File Actions.

 

As a result, you'll also have to simulate the keypress for your Actions key. If you're using → (right arrow), add key code 124 before the other simulated keypresses.