How to Run Another Application from FoxPro for Macintosh

• Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh, version 2.5b
• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Macintosh, version 3.0b

SUMMARY

Although the RUN command can be used to launch other programs from FoxPro on the MS-DOS and Windows platforms, in FoxPro for Macintosh, the "Feature Not Available" error message is generated when the RUN command is used.

To launch another application from FoxPro for Macintosh, use the RUNSCRIPT command to execute an AppleScript that contains a scripting command to launch the desired application.

MORE INFORMATION

AppleScript is an extension available for Macintosh system software release 7.0x that adds functionality to the Macintosh operating system by providing a standard protocol for communication between applications. It is part of Apple's Open Scripting Architecture.

Because FoxPro for Macintosh is AppleScript aware, it can run prewritten scripts using the RUNSCRIPT command. The syntax of the RUNSCRIPT command can be found in the FoxPro for Macintosh "Language Reference" and in the online help file.

To launch an application using AppleScript, the application must be Apple- event-aware and support the open application ("oapp") Apple Event. An Apple event is a high-level message that is passed from one application to another, including the operating system. Most applications, especially those written or updated since System 7 was released, support the basic high-level events; the open application event is one of these.

The sample scripts below show two methods, one interactive and one noninteractive, that can be used to launch another Macintosh application. To use these scripts, type them into the AppleScript Editor, save them, and then run them from Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh using the RUNSCRIPT command.

NOTE: Double hyphens represent comments to the AppleScript interpreter. Due to the limitations of the character set used to print this article, the command-continuation character produced by pressing OPTION+RETURN on the Apple keyboard has been replaced by a semicolon (;). Scripting commands are broken into multiple lines for readability only.

Interactive Sample Script

The following script is interactive, allowing the user to choose the application to run from a standard Macintosh Open dialog box. Only "APPL" (application) type files are displayed. The chosen application is stored to the variable "appToRun." An error handler surrounds the code. If the user clicks Cancel in the "choose file" Open dialog box, the error number -128 is returned. Otherwise, the null string is returned. The FoxPro program that invokes the script should handle the return value appropriately.

NOTE: This script sample uses "choose file", a scripting addition provided with the AppleScript extension and stored in the Scripting Additions folder in the System Folder:Extensions folder. If "choose file" is not available, this script will produce an error.

  -- script to run another Macintosh application
  try
     set appToRun to ;
        ((choose file of type {"APPL"}) as string)
     tell application appToRun to run
     return ""
  on error errText number errNum
     return errNum
  end try

  RUNSCRIPT "Macintosh HD:Scripts:RunApp" TO retVal

Noninteractive Script Sample

If you don't need an interactive script, you can use the following script to launch an application by hard-coding its name into the script; in the following sample, the application is Microsoft Excel:

  tell application "Macintosh HD:Apps:Excel 4.0:Microsoft Excel" to run

REFERENCES

For more information about Apple events and AppleScript, contact the Apple Programmer's and Developer's Association (APDA). The following references are also available:

  "Inside Macintosh: Interapplication Communication," Apple Computer,
  Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1993

  "AppleScript Developer Toolkit," Apple Computer, 1993

  Microsoft FoxPro for Macintosh "Language Reference"