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Command Line Utility to Make Files Executable

If you are like me and you make a lot of command line utilities then this script is for you. There are only a few steps to making an executable but this is exactly what makes it a good candidate for automation.

I make this script an executable naming it 'make_exe' and it goes in a folder called 'my_bin' in my home directory. Then when I want to make another file executable I just type 'make_exe' in a Terminal (I mainly use iTerm) it pops up a dialog asking me to pick the file, give it a name and it does the rest.

It makes a copy of the file that was chosen giving it the new name specified. It then chmods the new file to 755 (change to your liking). After that it is moved to '/users/user_name/my_bin/' (again, change to your liking).

Add this folder's path to your '~/.bash_login' or '.bash_profile' whichever one you use. 
 export PATH="$HOME/my_bin:$PATH"

If you have a terminal session open you will need to create a new one or reload the .bash file.

 . ~/.bash_login

#!/usr/bin/env ruby -w

=begin

  Make this file an executable file and
  place in your @default_bin folder.
  I made a folder called 'my_bin' in my 
  home directory.

  Add this folder's path to your '~/.bash_login' 
  or '.bash_profile' whichever one you use.
  eg. export PATH="$HOME/my_bin:$PATH"

  Each file you make executable will be moved
  to your default folder. 

=end



class MakeExecutable
  require 'appscript'; include Appscript
  require 'osax'; include OSAX
  require 'tmpdir'

  def initialize
    @default_bin      = "#{ENV['HOME']}/my_bin"
    @chmod	      = 755
    @temp_error_file  = "#{Dir.tmpdir}/make_exe_errors.txt"
  end

  def main_worker_bee
    choose_file
    choose_name
    create_exe

    error = move_to_bin
    if error == false
      error_message(error)
    end
  end

  def choose_file
    @file = osax.choose_file('Choose file to make executable')
    @dir = File.dirname(@file.to_s)
  end

  def choose_name
    name = osax.display_dialog('Name your executable',
    :default_answer => File.basename(@file.to_s, '.*'),
    :buttons => ['Cancel ', 'Do it!'],
    :default_button => 2
    )

    exit if name[:button_returned] == 'Cancel '
    @name = name[:text_returned]
  end

  def create_exe
    @new_name_path = "#{@dir}/#{@name}"

    `cp '#{@file}' '#{@new_name_path}'`
    `chmod #{@chmod} #{@new_name_path}`
  end

  def move_to_bin
    command = "#{@new_name_path} #{@default_bin}  2> #{@temp_error_file}"
    return system("mv #{command}")
  end

  def error_message(error)
    answer = osax.display_alert("There was an error\nError: #{error}",
    :as => :warning,
    :buttons => ['Try again', 'Exit'],
    :default_button => 1
    )
    if answer[:button_returned] == 'Try again'
      main_worker_bee
    else
      exit
    end
  end

end

if __FILE__ == $0
  MakeExecutable.new.main_worker_bee
end

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