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Term At Target

This guide shows how to open Terminal at a Finder location using a Shortcut and AppleScript.

What It Does

Section titled “What It Does”

This Shortcut can:

  • Open Terminal at a selected Finder location.
  • Handle files, folders, and Finder aliases.
  • Ask whether to open inside a selected folder or at its parent level.
  • Ask whether alias selection should use alias location or target location.
  • Prevent immediate duplicate launches with a run lock.

Requirements

Section titled “Requirements”
  • macOS with Shortcuts app and Terminal app.
  • Shortcut includes:
  1. Get Selected Files in Finder
  2. Run AppleScript

How to Install

Section titled “How to Install”

Step 1: Create the Shortcut

Section titled “Step 1: Create the Shortcut”
  1. Open the Shortcuts app.
  2. Click + to create a new Shortcut.
  3. Name it Open Terminal in Folder.
  4. Add Get Selected Files in Finder.
  5. Add Run AppleScript.

macOS Shortcuts app (on macOS 15): Shortcut initialization

Step 2: Add the AppleScript

Section titled “Step 2: Add the AppleScript”
  1. Open TermAtTarget.applescript.
  2. Copy the raw script.
  3. Return to Shortcuts.
  4. Click inside the Run AppleScript action.
  5. Paste the script.
  6. Click outside the action so changes are saved.

macOS Shortcuts app (on macOS 15): Adding AppleScript code

Step 3: Configure Shortcut Details

Section titled “Step 3: Configure Shortcut Details”
  1. Open Shortcut Details (i button).
  2. In Details, enable Use as Quick Action.
  3. Enable Finder and Services Menu options.

macOS Shortcuts app (on macOS 15): Configuring the Shortcut Details

How to Use

Section titled “How to Use”

Basic Usage

Section titled “Basic Usage”
  1. Open Finder.
  2. Select a folder, file, or alias.
  3. Run the Shortcut from Quick Actions or Services.

If You Select a Folder

Section titled “If You Select a Folder”

You can choose:

  • Open Terminal INSIDE this folder
  • Open Terminal at this folder's LEVEL

If You Select a File

Section titled “If You Select a File”

Terminal opens at the file’s containing folder.

If You Select a Finder Alias

Section titled “If You Select a Finder Alias”

You can choose:

  • Open Terminal at TARGET location
  • Open Terminal at ALIAS location

If target is a folder and you choose TARGET, folder behavior still applies (INSIDE or LEVEL).

If Nothing Is Selected

Section titled “If Nothing Is Selected”

The script prompts you to choose a folder.

Customization

Section titled “Customization”

Edit these properties in the AppleScript:

property defaultFolderAction : "ASK" -- ASK, INSIDE, LEVEL
property defaultAliasAction : "ASK" -- ASK, TARGET, ALIAS

Folder action behavior:

  • ASK - Prompt every run.
  • INSIDE - Always open inside selected folder.
  • LEVEL - Always open at parent of selected folder.

Alias action behavior:

  • ASK - Prompt every run.
  • TARGET - Always use alias target location.
  • ALIAS - Always use alias file location.

Troubleshooting

Section titled “Troubleshooting”
  • If files/folders are duplicated, check keyboard shortcut conflicts first.
  • Do not assign this Shortcut to ⌘D (Finder Duplicate).
  • If Terminal opens twice, check that Shortcut trigger is not assigned in multiple places.
  • Confirm Finder and Terminal permissions when prompted by macOS.

Technical Notes

Section titled “Technical Notes”
  • Terminal launch uses open -a Terminal <path>, rather than AppleScript’s direct Terminal handling. This approach prevents an issue where two Terminal windows would open simultaneously.
  • Script returns {} to avoid passing Finder input downstream.
  • Alias and folder routing is handled explicitly through script options.

About

Section titled “About”

Created by Ervins Strauhmanis. Licensed under MIT. Current version: 1.3.0.