If you're not familiar with a TinyURL, it's an online service that converts long URLs into short ones more appropriate to share in email. It's especially helpful sending out some of the links on Mactopia like http://www.microsoft.com/mac/help.mspx?target=dba51e78-0553-4b76-a5f9-03ac865b9bd71033&clr=99-2-0&ep=10&CTT=Category&MODE=pv&locale=en-US&usid=26cb034b-55de-4dec-b4ad-0851e84645b9
Long links that this are notorious for breaking. A TinyURL will not break in email postings and never expires.
AppleScripting Entourage:
Part 4
This is the TinyURL for the outrageously long link above:
http://tinyurl.com/56r8qu
To create a TinyURL, log into TinyURL.com enter the long URL into the box, click on "Make TinyURL!" copy and paste the link into your email message.
Today we're going to look at an AppleScript to automate the process of creating a TinyURL as well as an alternative to running AppleScripts in Entourage using TypeIt4Me and TextExpander.
When I first started writing this article, I had found an AppleScript that will create a TinyURL from the clipboard contents to use in TextExpander. I was not able to modify and use from the Entourage Script Menu Items folder and this was a perfect example to show an alternative to running scripts in Entourage. During the process of writing this post, Barry Wainwright (a fellow Microsoft MVP) generously donated his time to write a script for Entourage. Barry's script also fixed a bug where the anchors were left out when creating the TinyURL with the scripts I had found to be used with TextExpander.
Now you have options:
- Use the Entourage AppleScript, Make tinyURL from the Entourage Script Menu Items folder
- Use TypeIt4Me to run the script
- Use TextExpander to run the script
Use Script in Entourage
- Download Barry's script, Make tinyURL v.1.2
- Place this script in the Entourage Script Menu Items folder
- Copy a URL in a message.
- Select script "Make tinyURL" from the Script Menu, or assign a shortcut to a script and run the script using the shortcut. It will be automagically replaced with a Tiny URL. I used the shortcut Control-Shift-S
Use the script in TypeIt4Me or TextExpander.
I discussed several applications to insert shorthand conversions into an Entourage message in a previous blog post: Insert text automatically into a message (Part One). Only TypeIt4Me and TextExpander have the ability to launch AppleScripts.
Use one of these scripts in TypeIt4Me or TextExpander:
- Barry's script Make tinyURL v.1.2 that does include the anchors in the link. Download the script. Open in the Script Editor and copy the script
- Use one of the script options authored by Jack-Daniyel Strong
- David Smalley's Use TextExpander to create a TinyUrl
Use Script in TypeIt4Me
In TypeIt4Me, create a new abbreviation and insert the script you selected.
In TypeIt4Me's edit window, pull down the Insert/Special menu and pick Execute as AppleScript:
Assign your shorthand for the entry. I used tinyurl.
Use Script in TextExpander
David Smalley describes how to do this on Use TextExpander to create a TinyUrl, plus you can read the SmileOnMyMac Blog (developers of TextExpander) to download a TextExpander Group ready to go. David does note on his site:
Looks like Jack-Daniyel Strong devised a much nicer version of my applescript that is faster, and has error checking. Nice work! I'm now using his script
You might want to use Jack-Daniyel Strong's script instead of the one that's available through TextExpander or use Barry Wainwright's script that does include the anchor in the link.
I hope this has enticed you to try out an "auto-enter shorthands" like TypeIt4Me and TextExpander. Not only are they useful for launching AppleScripts in Entourage, but you'll wonder how you ever typed without one.
Useful links:
Previous articles in AppleScripting Entourage tutorials:
