solved [SOLVED] How to load an Application's Icon with Applescript

[alfredclough]

I have a workflow where I want to provide a list of applications so that an application can be selected and the workflow continue. I want a list of the current running applications so I'm using a Script Filter. My question is how can I load the icon of the app to show it in the list rather than the icon of the workflow? I can't seem to find out how to programmatically load it. 

 

Here is the AppleScript I'm using with the Script Filter:

 

on run argv
	tell application "System Events"
		set runningProcesses to (name of every process whose background only is false)
	end tell
	set alfredJSON to "{\"items\": ["
	repeat with appName in runningProcesses
		--set appName to name of runningProcess
		set alfredJSON to alfredJSON & "{\"uid\": \"" & appName & "\",
		\"type\": \"default\", \"title\": \"" & appName & "\",\"subtitle\": \"\", \"arg\": \"" & appName & "\",\"autocomplete\": \"insert passage\"},"
	
	end repeat
	set alfredJSON to alfredJSON & "]}"
	return alfredJSON
end run

 

Edited March 7, 2018 by vitor
Marked as solved

[vitor]

Instead of trying to get the icon with AppleScript, leverage what Alfred already gives you for free. In the JSON, set icon: { "type": "fileicon", "path": "{{path_to_app}" }.

 

But in the future, when asking help with a Workflow please upload it somewhere. See the Reporting Problems with Workflows topic, as it gives a nice overview on how to build an effective report.

[alfredclough]

18 minutes ago, vitor said:

Instead of trying to get the icon with AppleScript, leverage what Alfred already gives you for free. In the JSON, set icon: { "type": "fileicon", "path": "{{path_to_app}" }.

 

I tried that and I can build the JSON when I run the AppleScript in Apple's script editor, but when I tried to run it using Alfred, I get the message: execution error: System Events got an error: Can’t get path of file of application process "Safari"

 

Here's the AppleScript I'm running:

on run argv

tell application "System Events"
	set runningProcesses to (every process whose background only is false)
end tell
set alfredJSON to "{\"items\": ["
repeat with runningProcess in runningProcesses
	set appName to name of runningProcess
	set appPath to path of file of runningProcess
	set alfredJSON to alfredJSON & "{\"uid\": \"" & appName & "\",
		\"type\": \"default\", \"title\": \"" & appName & "\",\"subtitle\": \"\", \"arg\": \"" & appName & "\",\"autocomplete\": \"insert passage\", \"icon\": { \"type\": \"fileicon\", \"path\":\"" & appPath & "\" }},"
end repeat

set alfredJSON to alfredJSON & "]}"
return alfredJSON

end run

Here's a link to the workflow. I'm using Alfred 3.6 and Mac OS 10.13.3

[vitor]

You don’t need the on run. You’ll also need to make sure you’re using POSIX paths. Try this:

tell application "System Events"
	set runningProcesses to (every process whose background only is false)
end tell
set alfredJSON to "{\"items\": ["
repeat with runningProcess in runningProcesses
	set appName to name of runningProcess
	set appPath to POSIX path of (file of runningProcess as alias)
	set alfredJSON to alfredJSON & "{\"uid\": \"" & appName & "\",
		\"type\": \"default\", \"title\": \"" & appName & "\",\"subtitle\": \"\", \"arg\": \"" & appName & "\",\"autocomplete\": \"insert passage\", \"icon\": { \"type\": \"fileicon\", \"path\":\"" & appPath & "\" }},"
end repeat

set alfredJSON to alfredJSON & "]}"
return alfredJSON

 

[alfredclough]

Perfect--that worked. Thank you.