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--- AppleScript [2016/02/11 03:38]
AlainLifchitz [Create Keyboard Maestro variable using AppleScript.]
+++ AppleScript [2019/03/28 14:41] (current)
JMichaelTX ADD tell block to first example.
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-====== AppleScript Tips and Tricks for Keyboard Maestro ======
+====== Using AppleScript to Get and Set Keyboard Maestro Variables ======
-\\
-==== Create Keyboard Maestro variable using AppleScript. ====
+Keyboard Maestro Version 7.1 introduced a streamlined way to Get and Set Keyboard Maestro Variables from AppleScript.
-<code>
+In AppleScript, you can tell the application "Keyboard Maestro Engine" to:
-# Keyboard Maestro — Create variable "<variable name>"
+```applescript
 tell application "Keyboard Maestro Engine"
-  make new variable with properties {name:"MyVariableName", value:MyVariableValue}
+    getvariable <KM Variable Name>
+    setvariable <KM Variable Name> to <New Value>
 end tell
-</code>
+```
-Note – the variable name MUST be a string, although you can hold that string in a variable:
+where both the `<KM Variable Name>` and `<New Value>` are text values.
-<code>
+**For more details, see:**
-set someVariable to "MyVariableName"
+  - [[manual:Scripting|Scripting article in the Manual Section]].
-make new variable with properties {name:someVariable, value:MyVariableValue}
+  - [[action:Execute_an_AppleScript|Execute AppleScript Action]].
-</code>
-==== Set Keyboard Maestro variable using AppleScript. ====
+===== Global Variables =====
-<code>
+Global Variables (available in //all// macros) may be got and set like this:
-# Keyboard Maestro — Set value of variable "<variable name>"
-# Requires KM7.0.2 or higher.
+```applescript
-set myText to "whatever"
+### Requires Keyboard Maestro 7.1+ ###
+--- Set AppleScript Variables to KM Variable Name and Value ---
+set myKMVar to "My KM Var Name"
+set myASVar to "TBD" -- default value of KM variable, will be updated
 tell application "Keyboard Maestro Engine"
-  if variable "myKMVariableName" exists then
-    set value of variable "myKMVariableName" to myText
+  ### GET ###
-  else
+  -- IF KM Variable does NOT exist, the AS Variable will be set to empty string --
-    make new variable with properties {name:"myKMVariableName", value:myText}
-  end if
+  -- Use Explicit Quoted Text --
+  set myASVar to getvariable "My KM Var Name"
+  -- OR, Use Previously Defined AppleScript Variables --
+  set myASVar to getvariable myKMVar
+  ### SET ###
+  -- IF KM Variable does NOT exist, it will be created --
+  -- Use Explicit Quoted Text --
+  setvariable "My KM Var Name" to "A new value"
+  -- OR, Use Previously Defined AppleScript Variables --
+  setvariable myKMVar to myASVar
 end tell
-</code>
+```
-==== Get Keyboard Maestro variable using AppleScript. ====
+**Real-World Example**
+Normally, you would not have both a GET and a SET variable within the same AppleScript tell block.\\
+Here's a real-world example, but with the error checking removed to simplify.
+```applescript
+### Requires Keyboard Maestro 7.1+ ###
+--- GET REQUIRED KM VARIABLES ---
-<code>
-# Keyboard Maestro — Get value of variable "<variable name>"
-# Requires KM7.0.2 or higher.
 tell application "Keyboard Maestro Engine"
-  if variable "myKMVariableName" exists then
+  set mainStr to getvariable "SCPT__MainString"
-    set myAppleScriptVariableName to value of variable "myKMVariableName"
+  set subStr to getvariable "SCPT__StringToFind"
-  end if
 end tell
-</code>
+--- PROCESS THESE KM VARIABLES ---
+--- Get Start of StringToFind ---
+set posSubStr to offset of subStr in mainStr
+--- SET OUTPUT KM VARIABLE ---
+tell application "Keyboard Maestro Engine" to setvariable "SCPT__PosSubStr" to posSubStr
+```
+===== Local & Instance Variables =====
+To get or set [[manual:Variables#Instance_Variables_v8|Local or Instance Variables]], you must pass the macro execution instance to the `getvariable` or `setvariable` command.  The instance is passed in to your script via the KMINSTANCE environment variable (v8.0.3+).
+  * //Local Variables// are denoted by a Variable with the prefix of "Local".
+  * //Instance Variables// are denoted by a Variable with the prefix of "Instance".
+```applescript
+### Requires Keyboard Maestro 8.0.3+ ###
+set kmInst to system attribute "KMINSTANCE"
+tell application "Keyboard Maestro Engine"
+	set kmLocalVar1 to getvariable "Local__SomeLocalVariable" instance kmInst
+	setvariable "Local__FromAS" instance kmInst to "Variable set in AppleScript."
+end tell
+log kmLocalVar1
+```
+===== Dictionary Values =====
+You can read and write [[manual:Dictionaries|Dictionary]] values from AppleScript.
+```applescript
+### Requires Keyboard Maestro 8.0+ ###
+tell application "Keyboard Maestro Engine"
+	set kmDictList to name of dictionaries
+	set dictKeyList to dictionary keys of dictionary "First Names"
+	set value of dictionary key "P" of dictionary "First Names" to "Fred"
+end tell
+```
+===== Prior to Ver 7.1 =====
+  * All of the below scripts were designed for use with Keyboard Maestro prior to version 7.1, but they will still work with the latest version.
+  * They present an alternate method.
+==== Set Variable ====
+(will be created if necessary)
+```applescript
+my setKMVar("MY_KM_Variable", "some new value")
+on setKMVar(pKMVarNameStr, pValueStr)
+  --- Compatible with Keyboard Maestro 6+ ---
+  --     • Creates the KM Variable if does not exist (just like KM 7 setvariable)
+  --     • Returns true if new Variable was created
+  set varCreatedBool to false
+  tell application "Keyboard Maestro Engine"
+    try
+      set value of variable pKMVarNameStr to pValueStr
+    on error errMsg number errNum
+      if (errNum = -10006) then --- KM Variable Does NOT Exist ---
+        --- Create & Set KM Variable ---
+        make new variable with properties {name:pKMVarNameStr, value:pValueStr}
+        set varCreatedBool to true
+      else
+        error ("Error " & errNum & ":  " & errMsg)
+      end if
+      -- END on error
+    end try
+  end tell
+  return varCreatedBool
+end setKMVar
+```
+==== Get Variable ====
+(returns empty string "" if Variable does //not// exist)
+```applescript
+set myKMVar to my getKMVar("MY_KM_Variable")
+on getKMVar(pKMVarNameStr)
+  --- Compatible with Keyboard Maestro 6+ ---
+  --     • Returns "" if variable is not found (just like KM 7 getvariable)
+  tell application "Keyboard Maestro Engine"
+    try
+      set kmVar to value of variable pKMVarNameStr
+    on error errMsg number errNum
+      if (errNum = -1728) then
+        --- KM Variable NOT Found ---
+        set kmVar to ""
+      else
+        error errMsg
+      end if
+      -- END on error
+    end try
+  end tell
+  return kmVar
+end getKMVar
+```

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