Is there a way to specify file links using an environment variable so a link won't be broken when the top level directory changes?
For example, a file link will be c:\Documents1\myFile.pdf on one computer but c:\Documents2\myFile.pdf on another. Can I specify these paths using <env>\myFile.pdf and define <env> on each computer appropriately?</env></env>
Thanks
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I don't know how to use environment variables in the nodes links, but maybe you can solve your problem by using relative links.
in Preferences / Environment / Hyperlink types / links
change from Absolute to Relative and when inserting a file as node it will have a relative link. This way if the folders structure is similar in both computers it should work.
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Thanks for the idea and it works but seems somewhat cumbersome. If I
understand correctly, the relative position of the map the link is in and
file referred to has to stay the same. I wish there was a way to define a
variable for the directory or directory tree the referencing map was in and
use that in a link path. Any changes in relativeness could be absorbed in
the value of the variable.
I don't know how to use environment variables in the nodes links, but
maybe you can solve your problem by using relative links.
in Preferences / Environment / Hyperlink types / links
change from Absolute to Relative and when inserting a file as node it will
have a relative link. This way if the folders structure is similar in both
computers it should work.
Another way is to make a script that updates all the links in your nodes at
once. You will have to run it every time you change from computer.
It is doable and not difficult.
I’m not at the computer right now but I could make a first version of the
script for you to try if you think it’s worth the effort.
Another way is to make a script that updates all the links in your nodes at
once. You will have to run it every time you change from computer.
It is doable and not difficult.
I’m not at the computer right now but I could make a first version of the
script for you to try if you think it’s worth the effort.
Dear Forumer,
as comented here I have to work part of my time in a different computer (starting this week), so I realized I needed this script for myself too.
Here is the version I did for the map I have to work in both computers. I have other scripts that I use frequently that need absolute links to the files to be used, so the relative links solution wasn't an option for me too.
Here is the code:
deflastLocAttr='currentFileLocation'//name of the attribute that contains last location//finding node that has this attributedefnodo=node.attributes.containsKey(lastLocAttr)?node:c.find{it.attributes.containsKey(lastLocAttr)}[0]//looks for the folder of the current mapdefcurrLoc=map.file.parent//if the map has no nodo yet, then it gives you the possibility to add the attribute to the selected node and ends the scriptif(!nodo){if(ui.showConfirmDialog(node.delegate,"No '$lastLocAttr' attribute in this map.\n\n Do you want to add '$lastLocAttr' attribute to the selected node?".toString(),'Location node',0)==0){node[lastLocAttr]=currLocreturn'new loc node. interrupted'}else{return'interrupted'}}//looks which was the last folder where the map was when runing this script (check in in other computer)deflastLoc=nodo[lastLocAttr].toString()//if they are the same then do nothing, there was no travelif(lastLoc==currLoc){ui.showMessage("current directory is already set to:\n\n $currLoc".toString(),2)return'interrupted'}// list of all nodes that have a link to a filedefnodos=nodo.map.root.find{n->n.link.file!=null}//change the link for each one of them replacing the last location with the new onenodos.each{n->n.link.file=newFile(n.link.file.canonicalFile.toString().replace(lastLoc,currLoc))}// update the last location information, for the next Check Innodo[lastLocAttr]=currLoc//successui.informationMessage("directory changed to:\n\n $currLoc".toString())return'done'
It adds the Attribute "currentFileLocation" to one of your nodes to remember the last time it changed all the links.
For this script to work you need to place your map in the root folder of your project. That's the way its working now, but you can modify it if you need.
I attached a map to this post. It has a node with the script. You can copy it to your map and execute the script in it (by clicking in its icon) every time you change from computer.
You can also use System.getenv to get the environment variable (path) you need, doing something like:
defcurrLoc=System.getenv('myEnvironmentVariable')
or if you can't (or don't want) to create new environment variables, you can get the computer's name (using System.getenv('COMPUTERNAME') )and define the path depending on this in the script's logic
BR
edo
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
or if you can't (or don't want) to create new environment variables, you
can get the computer's name (using System.getenv('COMPUTERNAME') )and
define the path depending on this in the script's logic
nice work, bookmarked for later use ;)
When looking at your code, I thought, wouldn't it be easier to store the last known path in the map data instead of a node attribute?
No need for searching, and dialogs and almost no risk for accidentally messing with the path either that way.
node.map.storage["lastLocAttr"]
Jochen
If you would like to refer to this comment somewhere else in this project, copy and paste the following link:
Hi Jochen,
You are right. I corrected my script to use a map storage variable instead of node attributes.
This is the new version:
deflastLocSto='currentFileLocation'//name of the Map Storage Variable that contains last locationdefm=node.map//getting the active map//looks which was the last folder where the map was when running this script (check in in other computer)deflastLoc=m.storage[lastLocSto]?.string//looks for the folder of the current mapdefcurrLoc=m.file.parent//if the map has no map variable yet, then it gives you the possibility to add it and ends the scriptif(!lastLoc){if(ui.showConfirmDialog(node.delegate,"No '$lastLocSto' storage variable in this map.\n\n Do you want to add it to the current map?".toString(),'Location Map Storage Variable',0)==0){m.storage[lastLocSto]=currLocreturn'new lastLocSto. ended'}else{return'interrupted'}}//if they are the same then do nothing, there was no travel --> do nothingif(lastLoc==currLoc){ui.showMessage("current directory is already set to:\n\n $currLoc".toString(),2)return'interrupted'}// list of all nodes that have a link to a filedefnodos=nodo.map.root.find{n->n.link.file!=null}//change the link for each one of them replacing the last location with the new onenodos.each{n->n.link.file=newFile(n.link.file.canonicalFile.toString().replace(lastLoc,currLoc))}// update the last location information, for the next Check Inm.storage[lastLocSto]=currLoc//successui.informationMessage("directory changed to:\n\n $currLoc".toString())return'done'
Is there a way to specify file links using an environment variable so a link won't be broken when the top level directory changes?
For example, a file link will be c:\Documents1\myFile.pdf on one computer but c:\Documents2\myFile.pdf on another. Can I specify these paths using <env>\myFile.pdf and define <env> on each computer appropriately?</env></env>
Thanks
I don't know how to use environment variables in the nodes links, but maybe you can solve your problem by using relative links.
in Preferences / Environment / Hyperlink types / links
change from Absolute to Relative and when inserting a file as node it will have a relative link. This way if the folders structure is similar in both computers it should work.
Thanks for the idea and it works but seems somewhat cumbersome. If I
understand correctly, the relative position of the map the link is in and
file referred to has to stay the same. I wish there was a way to define a
variable for the directory or directory tree the referencing map was in and
use that in a link path. Any changes in relativeness could be absorbed in
the value of the variable.
Thank you
On Sun, Apr 18, 2021 at 10:00 AM Edo Frohlich edo_f@users.sourceforge.net
wrote:
Another way is to make a script that updates all the links in your nodes at
once. You will have to run it every time you change from computer.
It is doable and not difficult.
I’m not at the computer right now but I could make a first version of the
script for you to try if you think it’s worth the effort.
Yes, please. That'd be great!
Thank you.
On Sun, Apr 18, 2021 at 12:18 PM Edo Frohlich edo_f@users.sourceforge.net
wrote:
Dear Forumer,
as comented here I have to work part of my time in a different computer (starting this week), so I realized I needed this script for myself too.
Here is the version I did for the map I have to work in both computers. I have other scripts that I use frequently that need absolute links to the files to be used, so the relative links solution wasn't an option for me too.
Here is the code:
It adds the Attribute "currentFileLocation" to one of your nodes to remember the last time it changed all the links.
For this script to work you need to place your map in the root folder of your project. That's the way its working now, but you can modify it if you need.
I attached a map to this post. It has a node with the script. You can copy it to your map and execute the script in it (by clicking in its icon) every time you change from computer.
hope it helps,
edo
Last edit: Edo Frohlich 2021-04-20
You can also use
System.getenvto get the environment variable (path) you need, doing something like:or if you can't (or don't want) to create new environment variables, you can get the computer's name (using
System.getenv('COMPUTERNAME'))and define the path depending on this in the script's logicBR
edo
Edo,
I really appreciate your help. I'll put this script to use in a few days.
I'll be sure to update you on how it goes.
Thank you!
On Tue, Apr 20, 2021 at 6:38 AM Edo Frohlich edo_f@users.sourceforge.net
wrote:
Hi Edo,
nice work, bookmarked for later use ;)
When looking at your code, I thought, wouldn't it be easier to store the last known path in the map data instead of a node attribute?
No need for searching, and dialogs and almost no risk for accidentally messing with the path either that way.
Jochen
Hi Jochen,
You are right. I corrected my script to use a map storage variable instead of node attributes.
This is the new version:
I attached a map containing bothe versions.