Applescript capabilities in PM5?

[danielmiller]

I'm hoping someone has experience in using Applescript to control Photo Mechanic 5. I'm trying to automate a part of my workflow and could use some help.

What I would like to do is automatically have PM5 ingest photos from a network volume once per day. I can make a cron job to launch an Applescript once per day but the problem is controlling PM5. I need to make sure that the settings in the Ingest dialog box are set specifically for this job and I'm not sure if and/or how to do it through Applescript. Is this even possible?

[Sven]

Hi Daniel!

You mean something like opening PM and getting the ingest dialog?

Code: [Select]

tell application "Photo Mechanic 5" to activate
tell application "System Events"
keystroke "g" using {command down}
end tell

You can reach everything that is available vie keyboard shortcuts. I do not have the knowledge of further Applescripting but this took me only a few seconds.

But I like the idea of automating things.

Sven

[danielmiller]

Hi Sven, thanks for the response.

Unfortunately, I need to do more than that. I have to have the script change some of the settings in the Ingest dialog box, such as the file renaming variables and the source. I don't know if that is scriptable and I can't find a resource or manual on PM scripting.

[Sven]

I know, that's a very dirty way, but in the ingest dialog you can reach the "rename ingested photos"-area with pressing the TAB-key twice. You can send the key strokes via script.

But maybe Kirk knows a better solution

Sven

[Kirk Baker]

Photo Mechanic is not AppleScript-able.

I know of no better solution than what Sven has offered.

-Kirk

[danielmiller]

Bummer. Thanks for the response.