Export data to a "Pages" file

Getting Started
1

I have an app with an sqlite backend database. What I would like to do is query the database for three fields in a table and …

Open an existing “Pages” file (a new file if I have too) and dump the contents of the recordset in to the Pages file, and then save the pages file to the desktop.

Or.. If I had the 3 fields of data in a listbox, just export the listbox to a “Pages” file

Is this possible? If so, any quick thoughts would really be appreciated.

Thanks

2

Do you mean Pages (document layout) or Numbers (spreadsheets)? Sounds like you’re exporting data in a table format, which suggests spreadsheet…

3

Thanks!! I do want to export them to a ”numbers file”.

the ultimate end state would be to export the 3 fields from a record set or a list box to a numbers file, and in code add a password to that numbers file.. and save the file to the desktop

Thanks

4

Numbers uses a proprietary file format that you probably shouldn’t bother trying to reverse engineer. So you’ll have to use AppleScript to automate the creation, password setting, and saving of the file.

5

Thanks. I’ve never used an apple script. Can you point me in the right direction to a tutorial of some type?

6

Just ask ChatGPT for help with AppleScript.

You can easily create a CSV file for Numbers. If you want to get fancy do an Excel file either with MBS or Einhugur.

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7

He wants it to be password protected. Amazingly, despite Apple’s ongoing neglect of AppleScript, Numbers supports adding a password to a file vía scripting.

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8

Well… Keep in mind I am a rookie..

After two hours of goggling and trying (and failing) to make it work, I tried ChatGBT. In 5 min I had something running.. :slight_smile:

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MUCH THANKS to all!

So this is what I got to work, simple, I like it…

set csvFile to POSIX file “/Users/Home/Desktop/Data.txt”
set saveFile to POSIX file “/Users/Home/Desktop/data.numbers”

tell application “Numbers”
set doc to open csvFile
set password “password” to first document
save doc in saveFile
close doc
end tell

So next step. How do I Call this from within my XOJO app. And can I somehow pass it the filepaths of csvFile and saveFile instead of them being hardcoded into the script.

10

As far as I remember you can pass parameters into the AppleScript. I prefer using MBS or osascript where I can build the scripts in code. Oh, and don’t do your first script in a thread on Tahoe because of Apple stupidity.

But you need to learn about entitlements for AppleScript. Otherwise, your script will fail in a Xojo app.

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Oh, and don’t do your first script in a thread on Tahoe because of Apple stupidity.

What does this mean? What bad thing is Tahoe doing?

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Some more reading for you that might answer questions: PSA: don't do your first AppleScript in a thread