Differences

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--- action:Write_to_a_File [2016/03/13 13:35] – add internal links AlainLifchitz
+++ action:Write_to_a_File [2023/05/15 04:22] (current) – [Warnings] peternlewis
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The Write to a File and [[action:Append Text to a File|Append Text to a File]] actions allow you to write a variety of things to a file on disk.
+====== Write To File Action ======
+The Write to a File and [[action:Append Text to a File|Append Text to a File]] actions allow you to write data from a variety of sources to a file on disk.
 Write or append the current system clipboard, a named clipboard, a variable, some text or some styled text (you can write but cannot append styled text).
+===== Warnings =====
+** 1. Will Overwrite Existing File**
+While the [[action:Copy_a_File|Copy a File]] action will NOT overwrite an existing file, and will cause the Macro to abort/cancel IF the "Failure Aborts Macro" option is checked, this //Write to a File// action //will// overwrite  an existing file without warning or failure.  The "Failure Aborts Macro" option has no effect on this.
+**2. Inadvertent Destruction of Folder (pre v8.1)**
+Ensure you specify a file path, not a path to a directory - this action uses an Apple API that can overwrite directories, destroying them completely (pre-v8.1).**  As of v8.1+, this action will trash (if possible) (in to the trash folder) any existing file or directory you are about to overwrite.
+===== How To Use =====
 Select the file to write to by specifying its path. Click the File Chooser button on the right to select an existing file on disk. Option-click on the File Chooser button to show the currently selected file in the Finder (assuming it exists already).
@@ Line 12: / Line 29: @@
 Note the difference between the Write and Append actions:  Write changes the entire contents of the file on disk while Append adds the new content at the end of the file.
+For text, the action allows you to control what text processing happens in the gear menu (7.2+) :
+* Process Text Normally (process text tokens and backslash characters)
+* Process Text Tokens Only (process text tokens but not backslash characters)
+* Process Nothing (process neither text tokens nor backslash characters)
+Most other [Text Fields](https://wiki.keyboardmaestro.com/Text_Fields) in Keyboard Maestro process both text tokens and (except for regular expression fields) backslash characters.
 ===== See Also =====
@@ Line 21: / Line 46: @@
 * [[action:Delete a File|Delete a File]]
 * [[action:Read a File|Read a File]]
+* [[action:Set Variable to Text|Set Variable to Text]]
 * [[:Actions|See all Actions]]
+==== Topics ====
+* [[:Clipboards|Clipboards]]
+* [[:Frequently Asked Questions|FAQ]]
 ----
@@ Line 27: / Line 58: @@
 ==== Forum ====
-- [[https://www.google.fr/search?q=site:forum.keyboardmaestro.com+Write+to+File|Keyboard Maestro Forum topics about Write to a File action]]
+- [[https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/can-i-trigger-a-macro-if-an-image-made-by-screenshot-utility-was-added-to-clipboard/3612/2|Can I trigger a macro if an image made by screenshot utility was added to clipboard?]]
+- [[https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/search?q=Write%20File|Keyboard Maestro Forum topics about Write to a File action]]