How to use LaunchBar for Twitter (with "from LaunchBar")

[ptujec]

There are already some entries about applescripts to use LaunchBar for Twitter.
In this entry I want to give you some instructions how to install and use an applescript as a LaunchBar Action.

1. Copy the following code

Code: Select all

--  This script was put together with the help of the following sources:
--  http://blog.codahale.com/2007/01/15/tweet-twitter-quicksilver/ by Coda Hale
--  http://i.grahamenglish.net/540/iquicktwitter-my-quicksilver-twitter-ichat-growl-hack/ by Graham English
--  http://www.leancrew.com/all-this/2009/02/url-shortening-scripts-fixed-i-think/ by @drdrang (fix for &ampersand issues)
--  put together and adapted by @ptujec to work with LaunchBar
-----------------------------------------------------------------------


-- take string from LaunchBar
on handle_string(tweet)
   
   -- do wordcount
   if length of tweet > 140 then
      my growlRegister()
      growlNotify("Tweet too long", ("(" & length of tweet as text) & ") characters")
      return nothing
   end if
   
   --do tweetescape
   set tweet_new to tweetescape(tweet)
   
   -- take logininformation from keychain
   tell application "Keychain Scripting"
      set twitter_key to first Internet key of current keychain whose server is "twitter.com"
      set twitter_login to quoted form of (account of twitter_key & ":" & password of twitter_key)
   end tell
   
   -- update twitter
   set twitter_status to quoted form of ("source=launchbarat&status=" & tweet_new)
   set results to do shell script "curl --user " & twitter_login & " --data-binary " & twitter_status & " http://twitter.com/statuses/update.json"
   
   -- display dialog results
   my growlRegister()
   -- you can change "Tweet" into a diffent text e.g. "Zwitscher"
   growlNotify("Tweet", tweet)
   
end handle_string

-- fix for &ampersand issues (by @drdrang)
on tweetescape(tweet)
   set cmd to "\nfrom urllib import quote\nprint quote(\"\"\"" & tweet & "\"\"\", \"/:\")\n"
   return (do shell script "python -c " & (quoted form of cmd))
end tweetescape

-- additional scripting for Growlnotificati
using terms from application "GrowlHelperApp"
   on growlRegister()
      tell application "GrowlHelperApp"
         register as application "Tweet" all notifications {"Alert"} default notifications {"Alert"} icon of application "Launchbar.app"
      end tell
   end growlRegister
   on growlNotify(grrTitle, grrDescription)
      tell application "GrowlHelperApp"
         notify with name "Alert" title grrTitle description grrDescription application name "Tweet"
      end tell
   end growlNotify
end using terms from


2. Open Script Editor ("/Applications/AppleScript/Script Editor.app")

3. Paste the code into the empty window of Script Editor. Save it as "Tweet" in the LaunchBar Actions Folder ("~/Library/Application Support/LaunchBar/Actions")

4. Restart LaunchBar

5. Tweet!
Now invoke LaunchBar and start typing "TWEET" until it comes up. (You can asign a abbreviation like a simple "T" with cmd+alt+A for the next time) Than hit the spacebar and write your Tweet. Press return.
And that should be it. Its a very fast way to post a tweet.

If you are using Growl (http://www.growl.info/) you will get a notification with your Tweet, so you know your Tweet was successful submitted.

Have fun!

[ptujec]

LaunchBar got registered as a source for Twitter.

This is the relevant code to show "from LaunchBar" in your Tweets:

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set twitter_status to quoted form of ("source=launchbarat&status=" & tweet)


Its already included in the code above. So enjoy!

[ptujec]

*please delete*

[more.said.then...]

Please keep up the good work and supplying source . I had quit using launchbar for years and then I re-discovered LB5 with so much more functionality, hardest part is remembering each hotkey and "option" commands/keys.

With knowledgeable folks like yourselves coding scripts for private use or otherwise benefit the LB5 project. As a long time little snitch user I was happy to see both apps being developed. There are definitely some dry spells, when releases are far and few between, but good apps can cope and not lose customers.

That is where coders, whom can take advantage of applescript support help a great deal. I know you aren't getting paid for your hard work and the hours put in for it to be tweaked to near perfection. Man, I would be so happy to see you take your skills and open a little site selling your scripts or at least donation-ware. I'll fund projects lol.

Seriously though, would you ever be willing to try and code an applescript add-on for something specific? Of course, cash before source. If you would be willing to at least attempt or think about an idea or two or three that I have I would LOVE if you got in contact with me either through pm here or email through the board. Much love, have a great weekend I hope to hear from you. Thanks again!

[ptujec]

Please keep up the good work and supplying source :mrgreen: . I had quit using launchbar for years and then I re-discovered LB5 with so much more functionality, hardest part is remembering each hotkey and "option" commands/keys.

With knowledgeable folks like yourselves coding scripts for private use or otherwise benefit the LB5 project. As a long time little snitch user I was happy to see both apps being developed. There are definitely some dry spells, when releases are far and few between, but good apps can cope and not lose customers.

That is where coders, whom can take advantage of applescript support help a great deal. I know you aren't getting paid for your hard work and the hours put in for it to be tweaked to near perfection. Man, I would be so happy to see you take your skills and open a little site selling your scripts or at least donation-ware. I'll fund projects lol.

Seriously though, would you ever be willing to try and code an applescript add-on for something specific? Of course, cash before source. If you would be willing to at least attempt or think about an idea or two or three that I have I would LOVE if you got in contact with me either through pm here or email through the board. Much love, have a great weekend I hope to hear from you. Thanks again!

What you write flatters me. But actually I'm only collecting pieces and putting them together. Seriously. Fair enough that I share the outcome.
If you follow the sources (mentioned in the script) you will get to the people who are doing the work.

[ptujec]

This is kind of a one-more-thing: http://is.gd/jHzD

Now you can combine this with the tiny URL script (http://is.gd/iIRg)!

Create a tiny URL and tweet it in just 3 or 4 steps:

1) select URL with LaunchBar (Instant Send)
2) hit "tt"
3) ... add some additional words to the tweet
4) hit ↩

or:
1) run "TinyAndTweet" script (it will take the URL in Safaris frontwindow)
3) ... add some additional words to the tweet
4) hit ↩

[xanatos]

it would be nice if a script could return a string to LB like the compress functions return a path to a file

[ptujec]

it would be nice if a script could return a string to LB like the compress functions return a path to a file

I agree ... but have no clue how to do that. Would like to be able to add words to it before tweeting though.

[norbert]

it would be nice if a script could return a string to LB like the compress functions return a path to a file

Right now this can be accomplished with:

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tell application "LaunchBar" to set selection as text to "some text"

[ptujec]

it would be nice if a script could return a string to LB like the compress functions return a path to a file

Right now this can be accomplished with:

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tell application "LaunchBar" to set selection as text to "some text"

... in this case:

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tell application "LaunchBar" to set selection as text to shortURL

Though thats nice I wish it would be possible to add text to it. Otherwise its of no use for Twitter.

[xanatos]

sound's good, I will give it a try in my script

[xanatos]

is there a way to enter text into the text field which will be displayed eg when executing a shell command from LB?

[bd1121]

This is all very helpful! The script works great. Does anyone have a solution for posting status updates to Facebook in this same way?

Thanks!

[ptujec]

This is all very helpful! The script works great. Does anyone have a solution for posting status updates to Facebook in this same way?

Thanks!

found s.th. here:
http://chucker.me/2007/08/06/more-statu ... g-goodness
... but it doesn't work yet. Thats how far I got:
http://pastie.org/399064

[no-username]

I believe this script can only work if you have your login and pass stored in your keychain, which I do not. It seems to do nothing for me, no error, no tweet.