Adding a time picker & doing math on the result

AppleScript
#1

I’m trying to adapt a script to schedule tasks from chosed start time. I’m struggling with time formatting.

When the script passes the date/time into the calendar section of the script, I keep getting the error: Can’t make {“8:30am”} into type number.

Does anyone know how to script a time picker which can then have math done on the result?

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#2

I’d suggest reading up on the basic AppleScript types.

That said, dates are not very intuitive. AppleScript dates are mutable. Something like this will allow you to set a time with the current date:

set list_choice to choose from list {"8:00", "8:30", "9:00", "9:30"} with prompt "Choose start time:" with title (my name as string)
if list_choice is false then error "User canceled." number -128
set list_choice to item 1 of list_choice

set time_separator_offset to offset of ":" in list_choice
set choice_hours to text 1 thru (time_separator_offset - 1) of list_choice
set choice_minutes to text (time_separator_offset + 1) thru (time_separator_offset + 2) of list_choice

set start_time to current date
set hours of start_time to choice_hours as integer
set minutes of start_time to choice_minutes as integer
set seconds of start_time to 0

return start_time

In future, you will have more success on the forum if you post the code with proper code formatting, and not a screenshot.

#3

Thanks - that’s really helpful. Can I check where you learned about the basic Applescript Types? I’ve read parts of Sal’s book, but there’s very little on time which was applicable.

Thanks

#4

The official AppleScript Reference Guide is useful, but somewhat terse.

I find the most useful reference to be Matt Neuberg’s AppleScript: The Definitive Guide (2e). It’s very old at this point, but it almost all applies to present-day AppleScript.

1 Like
#5

You can also use the Variable Viewer in ScriptDebugger and the Dictionary Explorer.