macOS Why isn't my AppleScript Working?

[cbrain]

Hi.

I am trying to write an AppleScript that empties my downloads folder. However, whenever I run the script, I get the dialog box, but then I get this error: "Finder got an error: Can't get folder "Downloads" of folder "Home".

The script is as follows:

set userResponse to the button returned of (display dialog "Are you sure you want to empty your downloads folder?" buttons {"No", "Yes"} default button 2 with icon caution)
if userResponse is "Yes" then
	tell application "Finder"
		empty folder "Downloads" of the folder "Home"
	end tell
	
end if

There is defiantly a folder called "Downloads" in my home folder. Is there something wrong with my code?

Thanks.

 

[WildCowboy]

I'm not an AppleScript expert, but don't you have to further define the location of the Downloads folder? Something like this:

empty folder "Downloads" of folder "Home" of folder "Users" of startup disk

 

[cbrain]

I've just tried that, but this time I get: "Finder got an error: Can't get folder "Downloads" of folder "Home" of folder "Users" of startup disk."

 

[semaja2]

You could use a do shell script to do it

do shell script "rm -Rf ~/Downloads/"

im not sure if thats the right command but you can do something like that

 

[lancestraz]

Where is the folder "Downloads"?
Is it "Macintosh HD:Users:your usernameownloads". Or something else?

 

[xUKHCx]

You do not need to put home in quotes also the empty contents command wont work. I would do it this way:

set userResponse to the button returned of (display dialog "Are you sure you want to empty your downloads folder?" buttons {"No", "Yes"} default button 2 with icon caution)
if userResponse is "Yes" then
tell application "Finder"
if the folder "Downloads" of home exists then
delete entire contents of folder "Downloads" of home
else
display dialog "Folder not found"

end if
end tell
end if

You could use a do shell script to do it

do shell script "rm -Rf ~/Downloads/"

im not sure if thats the right command but you can do something like that

This is actually delete the folder "Downloads" which would cause an error the next time the application is run. Also it is not the safest method as it actually deletes the files right there and then while the above method just moves them to the trash so then can be recovered incase the files were deleted accidentally.

 

[cbrain]

Thank You! That Worked!