How do I scroll to the top of a window using applescript?

Question

I want applescript to scroll a window all the way up.

I've tried the page up key, the home key, and I've tried looking for a way to scroll using the built in scrolling capabilities of the window, but I've so far been unable to even move the scrolled position at all.

Answer 1

Basically, use a tell app "System Events" statement to send keystrokes and key codes. In theory, you could use the following:

keystroke page up key
keystroke page down key
keystroke home key

But for me this doesn´t work. The good news is that you can use the key codes instead. I suggest using the excellent free Full Key Codes application to read them, though it is a bit tricky to let it read two keys pressed simultaneously.

The key codes for the fn+ arrow keys-combos are as following:

Page up: fn+ up key: key code 116

Page down: fn+ down key: key code 121

Home: fn+ left key: key code 115

End: fn+ right key: key code 119

So for example if you had a long page open in Safari, and you want to scroll to its end, use

tell application "System Events"
tell application "Safari" to activate
    — to see the animation, we wait a moment:
    delay 0.5  

    key code 119

end tell