Text File Content Extractor

A sophisticated AppleScript utility designed for batch extraction and formatting of text-based file contents. The script provides robust error handling, UTF-8 encoding support, and intelligent content organization with syntax-aware formatting.

Core Features

• Multi-file selection with comprehensive validation
• Support for common text file formats (txt, py, js, md, csv, json, xml, sh, rb, pl, php, html, css)
• Automatic syntax-aware code fence generation
• UTF-8 encoding management
• Graceful binary file handling
• Atomic write operations

Technical Implementation

The script implements a resilient error handling architecture with resource cleanup guarantees:

try
    -- Get multiple file selections
    set selectedFiles to choose file with prompt "Please select files" with multiple selections allowed
    
    -- Initialize empty content string
    set allContent to ""
    
    -- Process each file
    repeat with aFile in selectedFiles
        tell application "System Events"
            set fileExtension to name extension of aFile
        end tell
        
        -- Check if it's a text file
        if fileExtension is in {"txt", "py", "js", "md", "csv", "json", "xml", "sh", "rb", "pl", "php", "html", "css"} then
            -- Add path
            set filePath to "'" & POSIX path of aFile & "'" & return & return
            
            -- Read content with UTF-8 encoding
            set fileRef to open for access aFile
            set fileContent to (read fileRef as «class utf8»)
            close access fileRef
            
            -- Format with code fence and extension
            set formattedContent to filePath & "```" & fileExtension & return & fileContent & return & "```" & return & return
            
            -- Add to main content
            set allContent to allContent & formattedContent
        else
            -- Skip binary files but continue processing
            set allContent to allContent & "'" & POSIX path of aFile & "' (Skipped - not a text file)" & return & return
        end if
    end repeat
    
    -- Write everything to output file
    set outputFile to ((path to documents folder as text) & "selected_files_paths.txt")
    set fileRef to open for access outputFile with write permission
    write allContent to fileRef as «class utf8»
    close access fileRef
    
    -- Confirm to user
    display dialog "Files have been processed and saved to selected_files_paths.txt in your Documents folder" buttons {"OK"} default button "OK"
    
on error errMsg
    try
        close access fileRef
    end try
    display dialog "Error: " & errMsg buttons {"OK"} default button "OK"
end try

Installation

1. Save the script with a .scpt extension
2. Ensure you have appropriate permissions for the Documents folder
3. Optional: Create a keyboard shortcut or Quick Action for the script

Usage

1. Run the script
2. Select one or more text files when prompted
3. The formatted content will be saved to selected_files_paths.txt in your Documents folder

Error Handling

The script implements a comprehensive error management strategy:

• Resource cleanup on error
• User-friendly error messages
• Graceful handling of unsupported file types
• UTF-8 encoding validation

License

MIT License

Contributing

Feel free to submit issues and enhancement requests.