A collection of commands that may be from a CLI Shell, or programming language such as AppleScript, which are executed in order with limited iteration, usually as a way of automating actions or events.
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
5k views
Possible to run scripts on sleep and wake?
MacBook Pro 2010 running OS X Lion.
Is it possible to run scripts on sleep and wake events?
My specific application is that I've got Dropbox-synced Truecrypt volumes that I regularly use on both my ...
9
votes
4answers
3k views
Changing a file or folder icon using the Terminal
How can I change or set the icon for a file or folder, in the terminal, do I need to use a scripting language?
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Getting notified when someone logs into a server using SSH or Remote Desktop
I have a mac mini server running OS X Lion Server 10.7.3. It pretty much runs unattended without problems. However, the server is under constant "attack" according to the logs. The firewall and ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
What is the difference between .command, .tool, and .sh file extensions?
I saw a couple of questions about executing command line scripts? I saw that the .command and .tool extensions were mentioned. I have always used .sh. What is the difference between these different ...
7
votes
1answer
4k views
How do I modify Word 2011 for Mac so I can see tracked changes inline and notes simultaneously?
Background:
In Word 2011 for the Mac, it's possible to view tracked changes inline -- that is, see the changes made on the screen within the text itself, as opposed seeing them in a balloon off to ...
6
votes
3answers
278 views
6
votes
3answers
544 views
Lock screen with LaunchBar
I extensively use Launchbar and have almost all my daily productivity items working through it.
Since I use my personal MacBook at work, I do not have use a screen saver password, however, when at ...
6
votes
4answers
337 views
Tools or scripts for tracking a stolen or lost Mac?
Actually I do use the prey project but was wondering about other tools or scripts one could use to find back information about a lost/stolen Mac.
With features like:
-Getting the ip address or any ...
6
votes
2answers
318 views
What's the easiest way to automate logging into a website?
There's this website I need to access about every ten minutes. And apparently it was designed in 1993, by sadists. There is no "remember me on this computer" checkbox. And if you don't interact with ...
6
votes
4answers
3k views
Checking for folder/file changes using Automator?
Is there there a way to check a folder/file for changes (includes adding files, deleting files, changes in files,...). The 'Folder action' in Automator is only checking if any files are newly added.
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 ...
5
votes
5answers
2k views
How to send an email from command line?
How to send an email from command line or script? I want to be able to run the script programmatically by passing the receiver and the message.
5
votes
4answers
6k views
How do I execute a bash script that requires root privileges?
I have this script lines from my ISP:
sudo bash
echo "plugin L2TP.ppp">>/etc/ppp/options
echo "l2tpnoipsec">>/etc/ppp/options
It works if I paste line by line into Terminal.
I want to ...
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. ...
5
votes
2answers
530 views
A programmatic method for disabling all sharing services?
I'm seeking a programmatic method for disabling all the sharing services on a Mac. My preference is for an AppleScript or a shell script.
I'd like to have the services shown in the picture below ...
5
votes
3answers
6k views
Are there Greasemonkey scripts for Safari?
There's the wonderful Greasemonkey to run user-defined JavaScript on web pages.
Is there such a thing as Greasemonkey for Safari? Or would one instead write a Safari Extension to customize behavior ...
5
votes
2answers
408 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
452 views
How can I automatically download multiple sites through Coda?
I have several sites in Coda that I would like to automatically re-download when I tell it to. The sites are collaboratively managed, and I'd like to download a fresh copy of the sites automatically. ...
4
votes
1answer
558 views
Best scriptable OCR Software for OSX for a paperless office
I'm planning to get a paperless office and for that, I a need good scriptable piece of OCR for OS X?
What do you use? What is your favourite and why?
There is a blogpost by Marco Arment about a few ...
4
votes
1answer
10k views
How do I remove a user via single user mode in 10.7?
I occasionally will setup a user's machine that has been in for repair beyond the simple re-install of the OS. For example: install a new hd, install the OS, create a user, install updates and then ...
4
votes
1answer
111 views
Force an app to run one of its menu options from a shell script?
Is there any way to force the App to run one of its menu options if there is no command line interface available?
Perhaps an Automation sort of thing?
EXAMPLE
I would like to run NewsFire's "File > ...
3
votes
4answers
566 views
Can I download all pictures on a page?
Is there a way I can run a script with a certain web page as the argument that will download all the images from there?
3
votes
2answers
2k views
How can I enable SSH without using the gui or apple script on snow leopard?
A while back here How can I enable internet sharing without using the gui or apple script on snow leopard? I asked if any one knows how to enable Internet sharing without using GUI or apple script, 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, ...
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.
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 ...
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 - ...
3
votes
1answer
176 views
Applescript array of applications
I have a script that reload the active tab of an open browser, but I want it to do with all opened browsers. Is there a way to make a list/array and use it in this code?
This code works with one ...
3
votes
3answers
208 views
App or script to monitor/log processes starting and stopping?
I want to be able to start an app or script, leave it running for a few hours, then come back and see a log of what processes started and stopped in that time. This is not the same as Activity Monitor ...
3
votes
3answers
92 views
An automated iTunes?
So I've wanted this for a really long time but I'm not 100% sure how to do it. I basically want to be able to have iTunes play a radio station when I come home.
I was thinking of being able to have ...
3
votes
1answer
199 views
Can I make the Finder label a folder if it contains a file or folder of a specific name?
I'd love it if I could somehow make the Finder color-label all folders containing a .git directory so I could tell at a glance if the folder is a Git repo. Any ideas?
3
votes
1answer
288 views
Automator PDF text to Spoken Audio file: What's wrong with this script?
I have pages of PDF notes which I want converted to spoken audio to aid revision.
There are several suggested workflows online, but I'm still not getting the results I want.
I used this model from ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I use Terminal to monitor a network interfaces total traffic in Mb
I would like to use the terminal to monitor the network traffic on a given interface, with a view to providing alerts when certain cumulative totals have been exceeded.
The script needs to gain ...
3
votes
3answers
430 views
An app or script to watch folder and display new images in full screen?
I'm teaching a photography class and would like to use a cheap setup to display photos taken by the students in real time.
I have a macbook pro and an iphone. I also have an eye-fi card but it's an ...
2
votes
1answer
629 views
Why won't wget work with cron?
I've been using the bashpodder script (http://lincgeek.org/bashpodder/) recently, and while the script works beautifully when I use it in the command line, the crontab I created for it doesn't work at ...
2
votes
6answers
1k views
Center Window on Screen
I'm creating a few screen casts and wanted to exactly center my windows in my screen. Any good way to do this on the Mac? I found an Apple Script example (and a few linked screens) but none of them ...
2
votes
2answers
668 views
Is there a Mac OSX equivalent of zenity?
I'm porting some simple X windows/bash scripts to Mac OSX, but I cannot find a build of Zenity (a Gnome app for basic GUI dialogs) for OSX. Is there some other command line driven dialog utility I can ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Opening a terminal window to a specific directory from a bash script
How can I write a bash script in Mac OS X that opens a Terminal window in a specific directory? I'd assume something like:
open /Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app
But that does nothing (maybe ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
Automatically press a key every 60 seconds
Is it possible via Automator, an app, applescript, etc. to automatically press a key (i.e. "g") every 60 seconds?
2
votes
1answer
46 views
How to implement this script on a Mac
I just read Matt Might's blog post on eliminating filler and "weasels" from my writing, and I am wondering how I would implement this on Latex to run and check my document? I know I should use ...
2
votes
3answers
206 views
How to determine the absolute path to a file in a shell script
I am writing a generic script that can get passed both absolute and relative (to the current working dir) paths to existing files.
I need a fail-safe way to turn all those passed paths into absolute ...
2
votes
1answer
77 views
Running actions when I disconnect external monitor
I would love to auto start Bartender (by the way, excellent app that hides some of your notification area icons) when I unplug my external monitor from my Mac.
Is there any app or script that could ...
2
votes
3answers
434 views
How do I create an AppleScript that will quit an application at a specific time and then put the computer to sleep?
I've been toying around with AppleScript and Automator to get this thing to work, but I just can't seem wrap my head around it. If anyone could show me an example or give me some tips on how I can set ...
2
votes
3answers
236 views
How can I see how long my computer has been active (as in not idle)
I've seen a variety of solutions to check how long my machine has been idle, and I know I can check how long since last reboot with uptime, but I'm curious if there's a way to see how long since my ...
2
votes
1answer
455 views
How do I script Powerpoint to save a directory of PPTX files as PDFs?
If I have a directory of PPTX files I would like to save as PDFs. How do I script this operation?
2
votes
1answer
56 views
'script' command in terminal, looking for a flush open
When I use 'script' on a unix terminal the -f option flushes the data straight to the file - from the man page "-f Flush output after each write. This is nice for telecooperation: One person does ...
2
votes
2answers
640 views
Inserting shell script into .app bundle
I'm trying to shoe-horn a shell script into an application bundle so that the shell script will be run when I open the bundle, as opposed to the executable put in there.
Specifically, I'm trying to ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
How to: Create a playlist with full albums for which one (or more) of its contained tracks has a 5 star rating?
I am looking for a tool/script/javascript to run within windows against my iTunes database that will produce a playlist of "all albums for which I have given five stars to any one song."
I can easily ...
2
votes
2answers
682 views
Command Line method to backup using two Time Machine disks
Does anyone know of a command line method to select the active Time Machine disk? I would like to alternate between two backup disks for redundancy. I would like this to be automated, presumably via ...
