Execute a Terminal Command using AppleScript (Mountain Lion)

Question

This used to work in pre-Mountain Lion OS X:

tell application "Terminal"
    activate
    do script "cd /"
end tell

Now, the new bash window is opened, but nothing is executed, no mater what the command-line script.

It's broken on the few systems I've tried it on, but is it a general problem? Is there a workaround?

@digiMonk Brilliant! Along with Reynhout's comments, this made me revisit the Startup options. You're right -- changing "Shell opens with" to "default login shell" fixes it. — Brent Faust
– Brent Faust, Commented Mar 28, 2013 at 2:25

reynhout · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-28 02:15:39Z

1

Works as expected for me.

Any recent changes to your environment or .bashrc?

bash$ cat t.applescript 
tell application "Terminal"
    activate
    do script "cd /"
end tell

bash$ osascript t.applescript
tab 1 of window id 9766

New Terminal window opens, "cd /" is visible in buffer, and shell is at /.

bash$ uname -smr
Darwin 12.2.0 x86_64

Edit: verified on 10.8.3 too

bash$ uname -smr
Darwin 12.3.0 x86_64

edited Mar 28, 2013 at 2:15

answered Mar 28, 2013 at 2:04

reynhout

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1 Comment

reynhout Over a year ago

I think my edit overlapped your comment -- just to be sure, I tested on 12.3.0 as well, same results. One idea: try creating a new user and doing the test there. That would rule out anything in your environment.

user1804762 · Accepted Answer · 2013-03-28 02:47:45Z

1

Check Terminal.app's Preferences, there are many options for new windows and what Shell to open at startup and many more–

answered Mar 28, 2013 at 2:47

user1804762

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