Problem: Smart quotes around file names can prevent scripts from running.
When entering file or path names into a Prism script, you surround them with quotation marks. Only straight plain quotation marks work. Smart quotes confuse Prism. This picture shows the difference:
If you write and edit the script within Prism's script editor, there is no chance of confusion. You can only enter plain quotes and there is no chance of entering smart quotes.
But if you enter/edit in another application and paste into Prism, you can end up with smart quotes that confuse Prism.
Macs can automatically change plain quotes to smart quotes in some applications. To turn this off:
- Open 'System Preferences'.
- Select the ‘Keyboard' preferences pane.
- Select the ‘Text' tab in the ‘Keyboard’ preferences.
- Uncheck 'Use smart quotes and dashes’.
Microsoft Word can also automatically convert plain quotes into smart quotes. You can turn this off in the Autocorrect tab of Word's preferences (in the Autoformat section).
It is easy to delete a smart quote and enter a plain quote within the Prism script editor once you are aware of the problem.