How to pass several variables from Shell Script to AppleScript in Automator?

Question

There is an excellent answer for the reverse, pass several variables from AppleScript to Shell Script but I can't find a comprehensive answer for the opposite when there are two or more variables/arguments and or a bash function.

In Automator I am trying to pass variables like so: Run AppleScript > Run Shell Script > Run AppleScript.

Run AppleScript: which passes a URL as an argument
Run Shell Script: which uses "$@" for that argument

/bin/bash serial=$(($RANDOM % 10000)) /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg -i "$@"  -c copy  bsf:a aac_adtstoasc "/Path/to/file/movie_$serial.mp4" 2>&1 $! exit 0

Run AppleScript: This is where I need to pick up stdout, and the PID of the last executed process ffmpeg from Run Shell Script above. I can't seem to get anything. I have tried adding an automator "Storage Variable" but it's not receiving.

Using AppleScript's Do Shell Script command I couldn't get serial=$(($RANDOM % 10000)) to actually put a serial number in the file name movie_$serial.mp4. The file name was literally output as "movie_$serial.mp4", instead of "movie_1234.mp4".

serial=$(($RANDOM % 10000)) works perfectly in Terminal and in Run Shell Script. Not sure what I am missing to make it work with "Do Shell Script".

do shell script "/bin/bash serial=$(($RANDOM % 10000)); /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg -i " & link_ & ffmpegOpt & "'" & sPath & "$serial.mp4" & "'"

Which returns the following for the "do shell script" call:

"/bin/bash serial=$(($RANDOM % 10000)); /usr/local/bin/ffmpeg -i urlofmovie -c copy -bsf:a aac_adtstoasc '/Path/to/file/movie_$serial.mp4'"

When using ffmpeg the path on the command line the save path has to be in quotes.

Please have a look at: What should I do when someone answers my question? — user3439894
– user3439894, Commented May 22, 2020 at 3:08

user3439894 · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-26 17:42:25Z

1

If I read your OP correctly, you actually have two different issue here.

Not knowing how to provide input to a Run AppleScript action from a Run Shell Script action.
Variable parameter expansion is not occurring for you with: $serial

Issue 1:

To return something from a Run Shell Script action to another action. e.g. a Run AppleScript action, set the last line of the Run Shell Script action to, e.g.:

echo "foobar"

Or:

printf "foobar"

For multiple items use, e.g.:

echo "foobar
barfoo"

Or:

printf "foobar\nbarfoo"

Issue 2:

I am not in the position to replicate your do shell script command at the moment; however, the reason variable parameter expansion is not occurring is because the variable has single-quotes around it.

... '/Path/to/file/movie_$serial.mp4'"

Expansion will not take place when a variable has single-quotes around it, so you need to formulate your command so it can be expanded. Or in a separate step, process what's necessary to to accomplish the goal.

For example:

set sPath to "/path/to/file/movie_"
set serial to ((random number from 0 to 32727) mod 10000) as string
set pathFilename to sPath & serial & ".mp4"

Then you can use, e.g.:

... & pathFilename's quoted form

In your do shell script command while adjusting the entire command to work for you.

In other words, you can get rid of, e.g.:

/bin/bash serial=$(($RANDOM % 10000));

And:

& "'" & sPath & "$serial.mp4" & "'"

answered Apr 26, 2020 at 17:42

user3439894

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1 Comment

John Over a year ago

I accepted your answer (two years later), but wanted to add a technique for separating shell script input into multiple arguments within Script Editor. See below.

John · Accepted Answer · 2022-01-22 20:22:12Z

0

When running a shell script from Script Editor and wanting to return more than one argument as input; and assign those arguments to variables in your Apple Script:

One method I discovered:

Example shell script:

SHELL_VAR1=$(date)
SHELL_VAR2=$(whoami)
echo "$SHELL_VAR1","$SHELL_VAR2"

The echo command at the end, with a comma for delimiter, will output to Apple Script in this format:

{"January 21, 2022", "john"}

In the Apple Script:

set input to (do shell script "script.sh")
set the text item delimiters to ","
set {var1, var2} to {text item 1, text item 2} of the input

{var1, var2}

If there is another, simpler, method I would love to learn it.

Is there a special notation for multiple arguments that Apple Script can use for input?

i.e. $1 $2 or something similar

edited Jan 22, 2022 at 20:22

answered Jan 21, 2022 at 20:21

John

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