Programming macros to handle different situations

[ijourneaux]

I would like to create a macro script that would do the following

1. If application X is running close application X
2. If application Y is running then bring application Y to foreground
3. If application Y is not running then start application Y (and bring it to the foreground).

MY first attempt at the script only handles the easiest case. X is already running and Y is not running. Unfortunately if X is not running when I click on the macro button, the script closes (the close command closes the topmost window) the next available window (which is not good) and tries to start Y.

Any tips?

[kalia]

I am no programmer, but I think logically your Python script should look something like this:

If Find Window of X:
....Bring Window of X to Front
....Close X

If Find Window of Y:
....Bring Window of Y to Front
Else:
....Start Y
....Bring Window of Y to Front

Just putting my two cents in as I have been playing with some IF statements in Python this past week.

[ijourneaux]

I am no programmer, but I think logically your Python script should look something like this:

If Find Window of X:
....Bring Window of X to Front
....Close X

If Find Window of Y:
....Bring Window of Y to Front
Else:
....Start Y
....Bring Window of Y to Front

Just putting my two cents in as I have been playing with some IF statements in Python this past week.

I was originally looking for an approach that would use the plug ins and hadn't even thought of what you suggested. It should work. I will look at it later tonight.

[ijourneaux]

I was able to accomplish what I needed to do using the Jump command. A python solution would ahve been more elegant but not necessary at this point (atleast until I need something more complicated.

Thanks for the comment though searching for how to do this using python exposed me to the jump command.

[jinxdone]

Just as a tip for the future, if you want to make as simple of a python script for this kind of scripting logic as possible all you really need is the if..then..else statements and make them execute some eg.TriggerEvent calls.

Then you can use those new events to trigger macros as usual to run the actual actions you want for each possible outcome.

[ijourneaux]

I understand the if-then-else structure. What I had difficulty with was the test for a window/application existance. A search for python calls to accomplish this wasn't fruitful. If you could point me to a reference, I can probably take it from there.