How can I use Base64 image paths in AppleScript? - base64

Question

I have come up with an AppleScript, to monitor my VPN connection from VPN Tracker. So far I got the code working, meaning it shows the correct state as text. I created two PNG files, which I converted into Base64 and would like to use those as the status output, instead of just having text. The reason for the Base64 conversion of the images is, so I can share the script with others, without needing to share the actual images as well and expect the user to put them somewhere on his Mac.
I am however unsure of how to decode those Base64 strings in AppleScript, so it shows the actual image in the end.
This is the code I have so far (with the text output)
set conn_state to "" as string
if application "VPN Tracker 365" is running then
tell application "VPN Tracker 365"
try
if name of groups contains "group_name" then
set conn_state to state of connection of group ("group_name") as string
if conn_state = "On" then
return "VPN active"
else
return "VPN inactive"
end if
end if
on error
return "An error occured"
end try
end tell
end if
I did do some research on the internet but could not find anything that would help me, solve this problem, or I was maybe not using the right search terms.
Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance

Answer 1

"The reason for the Base64 conversion of the images is, so I can share the script with others, without needing to share the actual images as well and expect the user to put them somewhere on his Mac."
Consider taking a different approach. The following solution will enable the image(s) to be bundled within your Applescript and avoid having to Base64 encode/decode them:
Save your AppleScript as an "Application" format via the AppleScript Editor.
Locate your resultant application via the "Finder"
Click on it while pressing the ctrl key.
Via the context menu choose "Show Package Contents".
Copy your .png image(s) to the Contents/Resources folder.
Then in your code access the path to the image as follows:
# Get the pathname to where this script resides in the filesyetem.
set pathToMe to (path to me) as text
# Create the full pathname to the image
set pathToPng to pathToMe & "Contents:Resources:img.png" as alias
# Just a demo to illustrate that the image path can be accessed.
tell application "Preview" to open pathToPng
Note: This example code assumes you've copied an image named img.png to the Contents/Resources folder. It firstly obtains the path to wherever your app is located and assigns the images path to the pathToPng variable
Edit:
Or, as #user3439894 kindly mentioned in the comments, simply use the following code to obtain the path to the image(s) directly:
# Create the full pathname to the image
set pathToPng to path to resource "img.png"
# Just a demo to illustrate that the image path can be accessed.
tell application "Preview" to open pathToPng
Note: This utilizes path to resource to obtain the path of the image, and the aforementioned steps 1-3 are still necessary