Saving and Recalling Window Positions With Automator

Want to know more about how to use Automator on your Mac?
Check out this MacMost course!

You can also watch this video at YouTube (but with ads).

// Set this to be the folder where you save the files. Remember to create it!
var filePath = '/users/macmost/Window Positions/';

var app = Application.currentApplication();
app.includeStandardAdditions = true;

// get the list of files in the special folder
var fileList = Application("System Events").folders.byName(filePath).diskItems.name();
if (fileList.length > 0) {

	// choose a file
	var whichFile = app.chooseFromList(fileList, {withPrompt: "Which Positions?", defaultItems: fileList[0], cancelButtonName: 'Save/Cancel'});
}

if (!whichFile) {
	// hit the save/cancel button, so save
	saveWindowPositions();
} else {
	// otherwise a file was selected, so load
	loadWindowPositions(whichFile[0]);
}



function saveWindowPositions() {

	// prompt for the filename
	try {
		var prompt = app.displayDialog('Save positions under what name?', {defaultAnswer: "My Window Positions"});
	} catch (e) {
		// do nothing if cancelled
		return;
	}
	var positionsName = prompt.textReturned;
	
	var savedPositions = [];
	
	// loop through all applications
	var appList = Application("System Events").applicationProcesses.whose({visible: true}).name();

	for (appNum in appList) {
		var appName = appList[appNum];
		
		// loop through all windows for application
		var windowList = Application(appName).windows;
		
		for (windowNum in windowList) {
			var whichWindow = windowList[windowNum];
			
			// put the app name, window number and location in the list
			savedPositions.push({app: appName, window: windowNum, bounds: whichWindow.bounds()});
		}
	}
	
	// open a new file, overwrite if needed
	var file = app.openForAccess(filePath + positionsName, { writePermission: true });
	app.setEof(file, { to: 0 });
	
	// write data to file
	app.write(JSON.stringify(savedPositions), {to: file});
	app.closeAccess(file);
}



function loadWindowPositions(filename) {
	
	// get saved positions from file
	var fileText = app.read(Path(filePath + filename));
	var savedPositions = JSON.parse(fileText);

	// loop through windows in list
	for (windowNum in savedPositions) {
		var windowData = savedPositions[windowNum];
		
		// if there is a window for that app, then set its positions
		if (windowData.window < Application(windowData.app).windows.length) {
			Application(windowData.app).windows[windowData.window].bounds = windowData.bounds;
		}
	}
}