Apple's text to speech does not work with AppleScript nor with VBA

[rdijkgraaf]

I need to have a column of words read out to me with adjustable pauses in between. Infovox used to do that perfectly, but with newer MacOS's there is no proper app anymore.

If I use Apple's speech command (ctr-s), the selected text is spoken, but it is impossible to add pauses.

I tried to write an a script that selects words from Excel, Word or Numbers and use 'delay ' commands, but AppleScript is unable to select words or ranges from these apps. (?)

I also wrote a VBA macro, but after selecting (a range of) words, the speech command is not recognized, it gives error messages.

What do I overlook?

 

[Slartibart]

Applescript provides a slnc command:

say "How much wood, [[slnc 400]] would a woodchuck chuck, [[slnc 400]] if, [[slnc 400]] a woodchuck could chuck wood."

To be clear: you want to select a column in Numbers and have it read to you with a defined pause between the content of each selected cell? You could copy data to the clipboard, then convert that clipboard list to string while adding [[slnc xxx]] and then use say to read that string (?).
I am away from a Mac, so I can’t check for the moment e.g. what delimiter is used if you copy column data from numbers to the clipboard (or if you copy a discontinues selection of cells to the clipboard), but I guess you could use it to place a pause/delay.

 

[rdijkgraaf]

You are great! Solved my problem in a few minutes, thank you very much!

The pause code [[slnc 400]] is the same as Infovox used, so it seems to be pretty universal. (Is it?) Strange that Apple's 'Speak Selection' does not recognise it if ctr-s is used directly within a spreadsheet, but AppleScript does.

My lists still have the pause codes in between the words, so I just have to copy a list from Excel or Numbers, type 'say " ' in AppleScript and paste the list. Works like a charm, thanks again!