You’re welcome, @mhucka.
What you described sounds like a good combination of the two methods.
In the context I am using the script, it is actually not getting the path from the front application. The Alfred workflow is a file filter; that is, a filter targeted at specific folders and/or specific file types. When I run it, Alfred shows me the files matching the query and, when I choose a file, it already has the path to pass along to the file action.
But that is not to say we can’t get it done using Applescript. @pete31 was kind enough to build a library for this very purpose (see below).
Could you share the name of this app you mentioned? Perhaps there is something that could be done.