Scripting a Print

[geod]

Can you AppleScript a print, like click a button in FileMaker and the print dialog pops up with the From and To range already set, such as From: 100 To: 200

I tried recording, but mothing is happening. Pretty novice with AppleScript.

Thanks

[paulage77]

It depends on what you are printing from, and if that application is applescriptable.

[jfmcel]

FileMaker is scriptable, but it is not recordable. For sample syntax, look at the FileMaker and Apple Events folder in the FileMaker application folder. (Although, I think what you want to do could be done more easily using scriptmaker.)

[geod]

Hi, thanks for the replys. The situation is that I am printing labels from FM on a Mac. I am using a PC dot matrix printer so I have to use a Power Print cable and their drivers. I only found out after the fact that you can only print 128 pages at a time with this system and I will be printing at least 500 pages at a time or more. I wanted to automate it so someone would not have to sit at the computer and enter the correct From and To amounts in the print dialog box. I though maybe applescript could do this but if anyone has any suggestion I would be grateful.

[EddyB]

You could work out how many labels are on a page lets say 6.

Now if you can print 128 pages, you can print 768 records at a time.

You could write a script as suggested by jfmcel which would find the first 768 records out of the current found set, then print Records Being Browsed.

This would print your first 128 pages, then script to do the next lot and so on...

Ed.

[paulage77]

Or you could upgrade your printer.

[geod]

Thanks again, I will go the scripted route.

To Paul, first to have high volume, unattended label printing your need a reasonably fast dot-matrix printer, now try shopping for one to work with a Mac, they do not exixt, unless you want to pay $2,000 or more... and them you might as well buy a pricey laser printer that will print labels reliably, I spent under $300 for the solution I chose and this is the last step to get it to work.

[paulage77]

Cheers to that. Good luck.