PrintFIX PRO Semi-Automatic Patch Reading using AppleScript
By John Vitollo
Version .01
ColorVision’s PrintFIX PRO (PFP) builds excellent paper profiles and my goal is to streamline the workflow. PFP is a one-patch-at-a-time-reader; even so, reading the Expert 700+ patch target happens fairly quickly. But I’m always searching for the most efficient way to complete a task.
My first success with automating patch reading was using Quickeys, a powerful macro building software. It worked fine but at $99.00 it’s a little pricey for my only use. In the past I’ve dabbled around writing code and scripting enough to get myself into trouble, but figured AppleScript might work and to make a long story short…AppleScript works very well.
You might be asking, “What will this AppleScript do…move the spectro and read the patches while I make coffee?”. Well not quite. You will still have to move the spectro on your own, but you will not have to press the spectro button or the Return/Enter key to read each patch...hence the reference to “semi-automatic” in the title. You will need to press a shortcut key once for each row of patches and move the spectro. Basically after the shortcut key is pressed the script fires the spectro automatically every two seconds for the specific number of patches in the row.
Here’s brief description using the below AppleScript with PFP for patch reading:
Place the spectro on the first patch of the target. Press the shortcut key to start the applescript. The applescript will trigger the return key thus telling the spectro to read the patch, after the spectro reads the patch move to the next patch and the applescript will tell the spectro to read the patch… and so on…you get the idea I hope. At the end of the row move the spectro to the next row, press the shortcut key and start again. There is a two second delay in-between readings that can be shortened or lengthened if desired by changing the delay value in the applescript.
AppleScript will not work alone for this specific task of patch reading. A program called “Spark” is needed to execute - start - the script via the keyboard while in PFP. Spark is donationware so please support the author for future builds.
http://shadowlab.free.fr/Creation/
There are two scripts for PFP. One script to read the eighteen patch row of the Expert Target and the other to read the fifteen patch row of the High Quality Target.
Download and install “Spark” to your Applications folder. Launch Spark and double-click the AppleScript icon in the left hand column named Lists:
After double-clicking, Spark’s empty AppleScript window will appear:
repeat 18 times
delay 2
tell application "System Events"
keystroke return
end tell
end repeat
Below is the AppleScript for the High Quality Target – copy and paste it into Spark’s AppleScript window. Click the “Check” button to verify the script has no problems – a warning will appear if so. Name the script and assign a shortcut key – I chose a combo of the Control and F16 key to start the script. Assign the Shortcut key by clicking in the Shortcut field and pressing the key or keys of your choice to start the script. Click the Update button when done.
repeat 15 times
delay 2
tell application "System Events"
keystroke return
end tell
end repeat
Make sure the Disable/Enable button is set to Disable…this makes Spark Active…believe it or not:
That’s it! Spark needs to be running and Enabled before reading your target.
The Expert Target’s bottom row will need to be read manually since it’s not a full row.
I’d like to thank Camelot and Neil at Apple’s AppleScript Discussions forum for all their help with the script.
Any questions should be posted to the ColorVision User to User Group at Yahoo.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/colorvision_group/messages