AppleScript, Do Shell. How do I write the 'test' command to the 'script editor'? — by Quinn "The Eskimo!" (Apple DTS) on Apple Developer Forums

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Apple's DTS engineer explains that do shell script throws an AppleScript error whenever the command exits non-zero (so test -d on a missing folder errors), shows try blocks to handle it, multi-line scripts, and quoted form of POSIX path for safe paths. He also suggests avoiding the shell where System Events can do the job.

Quick steps

Wrap failing commands in try / on error
Use quoted form of POSIX path of ... for file paths

Paraphrased from the source. Menus can differ by version, so check the original for full details.

Read the full thread on developer.apple.com

Source reviewed

2026-11-02

Link checked

2026-11-02

Tested hands-on

Not by Oddbyte.Me

applescriptdo shell scripterror handlingquoting

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Short Apple guide on combining AppleScript with Terminal: opening Terminal's scripting dictionary in Script Editor and running an AppleScript file from the command line with osascript.

Use scripts with Automator on Mac — by Apple Support

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Shows how to add the Run Shell Script and Run AppleScript actions to an Automator workflow. For shell scripts you pick the shell and type the commands; for AppleScript you can edit and test in the action or write it in Script Editor.

Mac Automation Scripting Guide: Calling Command-Line Tools — by Apple Developer Documentation

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Apple's guide to running shell commands from AppleScript with do shell script, including building a command by concatenation and why paths with spaces break unless wrapped with quoted form of. This is an archived page, so details may predate current macOS.

AppleScript, Do Shell. How do I write the 'test' command to the 'script editor'? — by Quinn "The Eskimo!" (Apple DTS) on Apple Developer Forums

Quick steps

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