AppleScript to create a new file in Finder (to be used in Automator)

automator_new_file.scpt

-- AppleScript to create a new file in Finder
--
-- Use it in Automator, with the following configuration:
-- - Service receives: no input
-- - In: Finder.app
--
-- References:
--  - http://apple.stackexchange.com/a/129702
--  - http://stackoverflow.com/a/6125252/2530295
--  - http://www.russellbeattie.com/blog/fun-with-the-os-x-finder-and-applescript
--
-- Know bugs
-- - When create/delete in desktop, after some time, the file is showed again and after deleted (it works, but it's strange)

set file_name to "untitled"
set file_ext to ".txt"
set is_desktop to false

-- get folder path and if we're in desktop (no folder opened)
try
    tell application "Finder"
        set this_folder to (folder of the front Finder window) as alias
    end tell
on error
    -- no open folder windows
    set this_folder to path to desktop folder as alias
    set is_desktop to true
end try

-- get the new file name (do not override an already existing file)
tell application "System Events"
    set file_list to get the name of every disk item of this_folder
end tell
set new_file to file_name & file_ext
set x to 1
repeat
    if new_file is in file_list then
        set new_file to file_name & " " & x & file_ext
        set x to x + 1
    else
        exit repeat
    end if
end repeat

-- create and select the new file
tell application "Finder"
    
    activate
    set the_file to make new file at folder this_folder with properties {name:new_file}
    if is_desktop is false then
        reveal the_file
    else
        select window of desktop
        set selection to the_file
        delay 0.1
    end if
end tell

-- press enter (rename)
tell application "System Events"
    tell process "Finder"
        keystroke return
    end tell
end tell

Install

The idea behind this AppleScript is to create an Automator workflow and assigning a shortcut to it using the following steps:

• Open Automator and create a Service;
• Set the input to no input, and the application to Finder.app;
• Drag and Drop the Run AppleScript workflow element onto the grey space;
• Put the contents of this AppleScript in the textbox;
• Save the workflow with a reasonable name (like New File);
• Go to Settings -> Keyboard -> Shortcuts -> Services and assign a shortcut to it.

For Alfred There’s this nice workflow to do the same:
http://ianisted.co.uk/new-finder-file-alfred-2

It’s using ruby though, but its code is tiny and super fast:

---

_osa1 = 'tell application "Finder" to set insertionLocation to insertion location as alias'
_osa2 = 'return POSIX path of insertionLocation'
activeFinderPath = (osascript -e "#{_osa1}" -e "#{_osa2}").strip

filename = 'untitled'
extension = 'txt'

if '{query}' == 'help' || '{query}' == '?'
system("open", "http://ianisted.co.uk/new-finder-file-alfred-2")
exit
else
if '{query}' && '{query}'.include?(?.)
filename = '{query}'.split('.')[0]
extension = '{query}'.split('.')[1]
end

file = [filename, extension].join('.')
path = [activeFinderPath, file].join

template = [extension, extension].join('.')
if (File.exists?("templates/#{template}"))
  system(%[cp "templates/#{template}" "#{path}"])
else
  system(%[touch "#{path}"])
end

end

When you need an input field instead of renaming afterwards (this way, you don't need the Accessibility security right):
replaces line 14:

set file_name to text returned of (display dialog "" default answer "untitled")
if file_name is "" then
	set file_name to "untitled"
end if

and delete rows 59++

Open Automator and create a Service;

There is no "Service" in Catalina, but there is a "Quick Action"

The version to open file in default text editor.

-- AppleScript to create a new file in Finder
--
-- Use it in Automator, with the following configuration:
-- - Service receives: no input
-- - In: Finder.app
--
-- References:
--  - http://apple.stackexchange.com/a/129702
--  - http://stackoverflow.com/a/6125252/2530295
--  - http://www.russellbeattie.com/blog/fun-with-the-os-x-finder-and-applescript
--
-- Know bugs
-- - When create/delete in desktop, after some time, the file is showed again and after deleted (it works, but it's strange)

set file_name to "untitled"
set file_ext to ".txt"
set is_desktop to false

-- get folder path and if we're in desktop (no folder opened)
try
    tell application "Finder"
        set this_folder to (folder of the front Finder window) as alias
    end tell
on error
    -- no open folder windows
    set this_folder to path to desktop folder as alias
    set is_desktop to true
end try

-- get the new file name (do not override an already existing file)
tell application "System Events"
    set file_list to get the name of every disk item of this_folder
end tell
set new_file to file_name & file_ext
set x to 1
repeat
    if new_file is in file_list then
        set new_file to file_name & " " & x & file_ext
        set x to x + 1
    else
        exit repeat
    end if
end repeat

-- create and select the new file
tell application "Finder"
    
    activate
    set the_file to make new file at folder this_folder with properties {name:new_file}
    if is_desktop is false then
        reveal the_file
		delay 0.1
        open the_file
    else
        select window of desktop
        set selection to the_file
        delay 0.1
    end if
end tell

Add delay 0.3 line after reveal the_file to fix rename focus for newest macOS. You also need to allow Finder in security setings for Accessibility tab.