A shell script to open a folder in Finder in a new tab or new window (if no window present)

open-in-finder.sh

#!/bin/bash

# open the current folder in Finder's tab

if [ -z "$1" ]; then
    folder_name=$PWD
else
	folder_name=$1
fi

if ! [[ -d $1 ]]; then
	# it is a file, get the enclosing folder
	folder_name=$(dirname "$1")
fi

# if no arguments are given, we use the current folder
# 'pwd -P' will resolve the symbolic link (Finder always resolves the symbolic link)
oft_absolute_path=$(cd ${folder_name:-.}; pwd -P )

# execute the applescirpt
osascript 2>/dev/null <<EOF
on currentFinderPath()
    tell application "Finder"
        try
            set finder_path to POSIX path of (target of window 1 as alias)
        on error
            set finder_path to ""
        end try
    end tell
end currentFinderPath

# Finder returns a path with trailing slash
# But PWD doesn't have one, so we add one for it
set new_tab_path to "$oft_absolute_path" & "/"

tell application "Finder"
    activate

    if not (exists window 1) then
        make new Finder window
    end if

    set finder_path to my currentFinderPath()

    if finder_path = "" then
        # the finder's window doesn't contain any folders
        set target of front window to (new_tab_path as POSIX file)
        return
    end if 
end tell

if new_tab_path = finder_path then
    # the finder's tab is already there
    return
end if

# get the last path component name e.g., /usr/local/ -> local
# we need it to compare with the name of radio buttons (the name of tabs)
set ASTID to AppleScript's text item delimiters
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to {"/"}
# assume there is a trailing slash at the end of path
set last_folder_name to text item -2 of new_tab_path
set AppleScript's text item delimiters to ASTID

# iterate through all radio buttons to check if the tab has been opened or not
# if it is not working for the future versions of Finder
# iteration all UI components by 'entire contents of window 1'
# see [Finding Control and Menu Items for use in AppleScript User Interface Scripting](http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20111208191312748)
tell application "System Events"
    tell process "Finder"
        set radio_buttons to radio buttons of window 1
        set button_num to length of radio_buttons
        repeat with i from 1 to button_num
            try
                set button_i to item i in radio_buttons 

                if not title of button_i = last_folder_name then
                    # the tab name doesn't match
                    # simulated 'continue'
                    error 0 
                end if

                # click the button will change the Finder's target path
                click button_i
                set finder_path to my currentFinderPath()

                if new_tab_path = finder_path then
                    # the finder's tab is already there
                    return
                end if
                # if we switch tab, the buttons will become invalid
                # so we have to retrieve them again
                set radio_buttons to radio buttons of window 1
            end try
        end repeat
    end tell
end tell

# the folder is not opened yet 
# open a new tab in Finder
# tell application "System Events" to keystroke "t" using command down

# set the Finder's path
tell application "Finder"
	my makeNewTab()
    set target of front window to (new_tab_path as POSIX file)
end tell

on makeNewTab()
    tell application "System Events" to tell application process "Finder"
        set frontmost to true
        tell front menu bar to tell menu "File" to tell menu item "New Tab"
            perform action "AXPress"
        end tell
    end tell
end makeNewTab

return
EOF
# clear the tempory veriable
unset oft_absolute_path