A shell script function to open a Finder tab from terminal

open_finder_tab.sh

# open the current folder in Finder's tab
function oft() {

  local folder_name=$1
  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"
        set target of front window to (new_tab_path as POSIX file)
    end tell

    return
EOF
  # clear the tempory veriable
  unset oft_absolute_path
}