How to Use the Backslash Character in AppleScript Script

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This article was previously published under Q115815

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SUMMARY

The backslash (\) character has a special meaning when it is part of a string in an AppleScript script. The backslash is used to indicate the start of an escape sequence. To use a backslash in an AppleScript string, use two backslashes (\\).

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For example, the following AppleScript script is meant to change the default folder from the main FoxPro folder to the TUTORIAL subfolder.

   tell application "Microsoft FoxPro"
      Do Script "SET DEFAULT TO .\tutorial "
   end tell

The \t will be interpreted as a horizontal TAB character that will cause the command to fail without an error message. To correct this problem, the syntax of the AppleScript script should be:

   tell application "Microsoft FoxPro"
      Do Script "SET DEFAULT TO .\\tutorial"
   end tell

Depending on what character follows the backslash, three results could occur:

The command will fail without an error message.
The command will fail, causing an error message such as "Unrecognized phrase/keyword in command" in Microsoft FoxPro.
The command will cause an error message such as "Expected "" but found unknown token" in the AppleScript Editor.

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