10.5: Find current Space number via AppleScript

One drag about Apple's Spaces implementation in Leopard is that there is no way to access Spaces via AppleScript. While you can use AppleScript to select indvidual spaces by simulating keystrokes, it'd be nice to have some way to find what the current space is via AppleScript.

Well, using PreFab Software's excellent UIBrowser, I was able to figure out how to accomplish that precise task with AppleScript.

(I believe you'll need to check Enable Access for Asssistive Devices in the Universal Access pane of System Preferences, if you haven't already, for this to work. You'll also need the Spaces menubar extra to be visible, which you can enable in the Spaces pane of System Preferences.)

The script will return the variable theCurrentSpace with the number of the currently displayed space. You can use that information in any way your scripting or automation imagination desires. Here is the AppleScript; copy and paste into Script Editor:

set xxVar to 0
tell application "System Events"
  tell process "SystemUIServer"
    set xVar to value of attribute "AXChildren" of menu bar 1
    set cVar to count of xVar
    repeat with iVar from 1 to cVar
      set zVar to value of attribute "AXDescription" of item iVar of xVar
      try
        if zVar = "spaces menu extra" then
          set xxVar to iVar
          exit repeat
        end if
      end try
    end repeat
  end tell
end tell
if xxVar = 0 then
  display dialog "Spaces Menu Extra not installed"
else
  tell application "System Events"
    tell process "SystemUIServer"
      set theCurrentSpace to value of menu bar item xxVar of menu bar 1
    end tell
  end tell
  
  -- Do what you want with "theCurrentSpace" variable starting here
  get theCurrentSpace as number
  -- Do what you want with "theCurrentSpace" variable ending here
  
end if

[robg adds: I haven't tested this one.]

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10.5: Find current Space number via AppleScript
Authored by: CajunLuke on Tue, Mar 4 2008 at 6:56PM PST

If you go out to the "All Spaces" (F8) screen, the result is 65538.

10.5: Find current Space number via AppleScript
Authored by: wgscott on Wed, Mar 5 2008 at 7:04AM PST

This works (returns the number of the space I am in), but there really ought to be a better way.

Is there an applescript way to change to a specified space, or to get the application assigned in a space?

10.5: Find current Space number via AppleScript
Authored by: chucky23 on Wed, Mar 5 2008 at 12:07PM PST

"This works (returns the number of the space I am in), but there really ought to be a better way."

Agreed. Apple should have genuine AppleScript hooks into Spaces, but they don't as of yet.

I was amazed I was able to get this working just by using GUI scripting.

-----

"Is there an applescript way to change to a specified space"

Yup. Just simulate the keystroke with AppleScript.

For example, I have my prefs set up to switch to a space by hitting a number with control. So the following AppleScript will switch me to Space "1":

tell application "System Events"
keystroke "1" using control down
end tell

-----

"or to get the application assigned in a space?"

Check out this hint:

http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20071217092214986

10.5: Find current Space number via AppleScript
Authored by: CapnPolo on Thu, May 8 2008 at 2:54PM PDT

A bit different, but is it possible to trigger an AppleScript when the current space is changed?

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