macOS AppleScript, Hazel and Abbyy FineReader

[dragonladygb]

I am using Hazel to run an AppleScript to execute Abbyy FineReader 12 to OCR files automatically. I am an AppleScript newbie.

I have 3 problems/questions:

1) I expect there is a way to detect if Abbyy FineReader executed successfully or had an error but I am not sure how to do it.

2) When FineReader runs, the date added and date created are set to the current date/time along with Date Last Opened and Date Last Modified. Is there a way to maintain the date added and date created as happens when I run the application manually?

3) What I really want to do, is run Fine Reader only if a new pdf is added, or if a pdf is modified by other than FineReader. Any ideas on how to accomplish that?

My apple script (which was found on the Noodlesoft Hazel forum) is run using Hazel.

on hazelProcessFile(theFile)
   
    using terms from application "FineReader"
        set langList to {English}
        set saveType to single file
        set exportmodepdflayout to "text under the page image"
        set keepPageNumberHeadersAndFootersBoolean to yes
        set keepImageBoolean to yes
        set imageOptionsImageQualityEnum to high quality
        set usemrcboolean to no
        set makepdfaboolean to yes
        set pageSizePageSizeEnum to automatic
        set increasePaperSizeToFitContentBoolean to yes
    end using terms from
   
    WaitWhileBusy()
   
    tell application "FineReader"
        export to pdf theFile from file theFile
    end tell
   
    WaitWhileBusy()
   
end hazelProcessFile

on WaitWhileBusy()
    repeat while IsMainApplicationBusy()
        delay 10
    end repeat
end WaitWhileBusy

on IsMainApplicationBusy()
    tell application "FineReader"
        set resultBoolean to is busy
    end tell
    return resultBoolean
end IsMainApplicationBusy

 

[superscape]

Hi,

I'm not familiar with Hazel or FineReader so my advice is going to be rather general. I can't help you with question 2, but as far as question 1 goes... You do very basic testing for an error like this:

try
   set theAnswer to 10 + "foo"
on error theError
   display alert "Ooops!" message theError
end try

In my example, the second line will always fail since you can't add text to a number. An error message will be generated and saved in the "theError" variable. In my code I choose to display the error to the user, but you can do as you see fit. For more detailed and advanced methods, take a look at this:

https://developer.apple.com/library...riptLangGuide/reference/ASLR_error_xmpls.html

It's possible that FineReader may return *something* useful as a result of the export command (e.g. a true or false depending on whether it succeeded or not). You'd need to look at the scripting dictionary to find out.

As far as question 3 goes, I assume you mean you want to run your script when a file is added to a folder? If so then take a look at Folder Actions. Probably the easiest way is to make them through Automator.

Hope that's of some help!

 

[kai-uwe-heinz]

I had the same intention. This is what worked best for me: I use the "hot folder" included in Abbyy 12. All files in a specific "hot" folder are OCR'ed according to my presets. Hope that helps. GBU