Tagged Questions

0
votes
1answer
23 views

Show When Applications Were Opened and Closed

I'd like to be able to see a list of applications that were recently opened and quitted on a per user basis. Ex: 19:25:34 Google Chrome Canary opened by John Smith 20:45:32 Pages quitted by Julie ...
0
votes
2answers
46 views

Need Help with an Applescript / plist

This has been a learning experience for me. Everything checks out logically to me in this script/ plist but something isn't correct. Everything runs, but then the script runs every minute which is ...
0
votes
1answer
19 views

Is it possible to show custom icons in the Scripts menu?

You know that "scripts" menu you can show in the right side of the menu bar? It's very useful. I'm talking about this menu: I've set some custom icons for the files in the scripts folder using the ...
0
votes
0answers
173 views

Advanced Apple Script iCal Help

This is what I have so far. All works ok, except for my duplicate check. Just receiving tell statement for "Event Discarded: Old.". When this is not the case. Any Help? to ...
0
votes
0answers
64 views

sudo defaults read NSGlobalDomain AppleLanguages gives error

I know defaults read NSGlobalDomain AppleLanguages gives result correctly. But doing sudo defaults read NSGlobalDomain AppleLanguages gives The domain/default pair of ...
3
votes
2answers
279 views

How to batch convert word documents to pdf?

Is there a scriptable way that I can convert several MS Word documents to PDF? I thought this might be possible using python, but I am unable to find any advice online on how best to do this.
2
votes
1answer
30 views

Sharing settings report (security audit)

I am new to Mac administration and struggling somewhat on how to programatically report in the settings in the Sharing Preference panel (10.7 and 10.8). Basically - I want to report in which settings ...
3
votes
1answer
72 views

Detecting that a script is run within ARD

Does anyone know of a way to detect that a shell script is running within ARD (vs. running the same script locally on the machine)? I looked at detecting that we are running in interactive mode - ...
0
votes
0answers
701 views

OS X 10.8 'cannot execute binary file'

I have a third-party software to preprocess my data (the data is recorded with the device of the third-party). This software was written for unix systems and runs without any problems on the following ...
1
vote
1answer
248 views

“Self Destruct” script to remove certain directories and/or applications

Let's say your work situation isn't going so well, and you suspect the end is near. How would you prepare a script (or similar) to remove your personal files and applications from your work computer ...
5
votes
2answers
407 views

How to disable individual USB ports by script?

I am looking for a script which will allow me to disable one specific USB port on my Mac mini. It would only serve a purpose if it works in real-time and didn't require a reboot. I've found scripts ...
1
vote
2answers
359 views

Toggle “Use all F1, F2 as standard keys” via script

I toggle the "Use all F1, F2 as standard keys" setting very often and would like to automate it via a script (or a keyboard shortcut). Is it possible? I've tried to Google the right arguments for ...
0
votes
0answers
153 views

How to script detecting locked screen/login session?

I am looking a way for a script (either bash or AppleScript, doesn't matter) to detect whether the state of either the screen or the user login session is locked or not (i.e. the user will need to ...
1
vote
1answer
206 views

double password entry to access account

I have the Require password 4 hours after sleep ... option in Security and Privacy System Preferences set and am running a script with launchd to suspend my session at a certain time of day (see this ...
0
votes
2answers
376 views

lock account and sleep

Is there an easy way to lock my mac and then immediately sleep, all in one command? I know I can show the login window and then choose the sleep button, but I'd prefer one step rather than two (and a ...
1
vote
1answer
411 views

Is it possible to write a script to change the Energy Saver settings in OS X (10.7.3)?

Basically, whenever I know I'm going to be gone, or if I'm going to sleep, I change the Energy Saver settings in System Preferences in OS X (10.7.3) for Power Adapter to: Computer sleep: 1 min ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views

Start program in response to system events (like ip address changes, etc.)?

I want to start a program in response to system events, such as: IP address changes WIFI connectivity changes (whether I'm connected, and/or which network I'm connected to) Volume (as in disk) ...
1
vote
2answers
476 views

What is your preferred way to start a (shell) script from the GUI?

I was wondering what ways there are to start a (shell) script from the GUI, e.g. double-clicking an icon in Finder or launching via Spotlight. This is not about opening a terminal and "manually" ...
6
votes
2answers
3k views

Make a script/app run on logout

We all know that Mac OS X has the very useful Login Items functionality which lets you, among other things, set up apps/scripts to run when you log in. I'm looking for a way to setup a list of ...
1
vote
4answers
1k views

os x terminal -remove files older than x days

trying to create a scripts that deletes files older than X days. It seemed straight forward enough but all files seem to be getting removed? find /Volumes/Groups/Projects/530_BFAMI/test/ -ctime +30 ...
2
votes
1answer
318 views

Why setting image as its own icon with sips result a blurred icon? Are there any alternatives?

I've successfully changed icons using the procedure described in an another question: Changing or setting a file or folder icon programmatically. Either my sips (or Finder) got broken afterwards or I ...
3
votes
3answers
1k views

Programmatically/Script-atically changing the default Open-With setting

Is there a way to change what app opens a file type programmatically/with a script? Basically, sometimes I'm working on a web site, and I want to set all web files to open with a text editor (*.php, ...
15
votes
4answers
1k views

Concisely starting Mac OS apps from the command line

I do a fair amount of work in the command line, and I find myself defining a lot of aliases of the form: alias skim='/Applications/Skim.app/Contents/MacOS/Skim' Is there a way to add magic such ...
5
votes
4answers
1k views

Alternatives to command line unzip?

I've found that the command line unzip tool doesn't gracefully handle some of the files I'm unzipping: it makes a bunch of junk directories, and creates files whose resource forks aren't found. ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views

Turn on Back To My Mac via a Script or Command Line

The VPN software I use for work (IPSecuritas) requires me to turn off Back To My Mac to start it's connection, so I frequently turn off Back To My Mac in order to use my VPN connection (the program ...