Questions tagged [services]
OS X Services allow sharing data and capabilities across applications. They are invoked by the user either through the active application menu's "Services" submenu or via keyboard shortcuts, typically to act on the data selected in the currently active application.
271
questions
2
votes
2
answers
523
views
What is the best way to update the name of a Service?
I changed the name of a Service by navigating to /Users/Me/Library/Services/ and renaming the .workflow file in Finder. I tried restarting the computer, but the previous Service name still exists in ...
2
votes
1
answer
198
views
Services bug that prematurely activates an application
I have discovered a very strange bug with Services.
To witness this behavior, please do the following:
Make sure that Safari is in your Dock.
Open Automator. Create a new Service.
Set the service to ...
1
vote
1
answer
266
views
Is it possible to display all of the Service titles in the context menu?
When one has more than three Services in a context menu, what occurs is that they are automatically kept within a "Services" sub-menu. The user then must hover over this sub-menu before they may click ...
-1
votes
1
answer
70
views
How can I restrict a Service context menu item to appear only when certain text is selected?
I am trying to figure out a way to have a Service show up in a context menu when text is selected, but if and only if that selected text is a URL.
The Automator Service in question will take the ...
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Automator Service: Parent of input from files or folders
I cannot find any information on this, so I hope somebody with experience can fill in the gap.
I am writing a simple Automator Service, and I can’t get past the first step.
The script is a Service
...
4
votes
0
answers
1k
views
Wireless Networking in Single-User Mode
How to enable AirPort network (and other) services; in single-user mode?
Input: (including prompt string)
bash-3.2# networksetup -setairportnetwork en0 <network> [password]
Output:
Error ...
2
votes
1
answer
654
views
Recreate an alias with the same name and timestamp programmatically
Let us develop a utility to batch process legacy alias files.
Implemented as:
Finder File Service,
Automator Workflow,
Applescript,
Shellscript,
or whatever else that those the job.
Per each file ...
2
votes
1
answer
213
views
Firefox/Services menu void
The items in Firefox/Services menu disappeared after I restart my iMac, but not in every browser tab. For example, they are there and working correctly if the browser display the Help/Troubleshooting ...
3
votes
1
answer
100
views
How to get a service working upon launch
A while ago, I wrote a few services and assigned them to key combinations. The problem is, even though services are under application's File menu item, I have to invoke it manually the first time, ...
4
votes
1
answer
129
views
What services on macOS might leak identifiable information?
I'm looking to make a set of firewall rules in macOS for use on untrusted networks, such that no identifiable information, such as account or device identifiers, might be inadvertently leaked.
macOS/...
2
votes
1
answer
794
views
What com.apple.diskspaced service does?
What is the purpose of com.apple.diskspaced? What this service does exactly?
$ launchctl list com.apple.diskspaced
{
"EnableTransactions" = true;
"LimitLoadToSessionType" = "Aqua";
"...
1
vote
0
answers
800
views
Text Services Keep Losing Their Keyboard Shortcuts in Mac OS Sierra
I keep having the repeated problem of the Mac text services losing the keyboard shortcuts that I assign to them (in System Preferences > Keyboard Pane > Shortcuts > Services), ever since upgrading to ...
2
votes
0
answers
310
views
System Data Usage - iOS v10.0.2 AT&T
iTunes Accounts in System Services is draining over 3.5 GB of data per cycle (Settings-->Cellular-->System Services-->iTunes Accounts). I monitored it closely during this data cycle.
I have disabled ...
2
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Get a list of ALL services running and not and whether or not they should be running
The basic problem I am trying to solve is that a Norton Anti-Virus process got stuck soaking up one full processor, and I had to kill it. (there was also a message on the norton app that said ...
25
votes
3
answers
12k
views
Keyboard shortcut for service only works after I manually run the service
After I assign a keyboard shortcut to initiate a service in System Preferences, I press the keyboard shortcut and nothing happens. I have to first click on the service title under the services menu (...
1
vote
1
answer
948
views
Create Service to search websites (with query)?
I would like to create a Mac Service where I could search on some websites, from applications like Scrivener. For example (with "{query}" for where the word should be):
https://www.google.ca/search?q=...
1
vote
3
answers
442
views
macOS Sierra Preview Extra Services
When I highlight text and right click, I usually get this menu:
Notice at the bottom where I have custom services such as "Custom Text To Speech" and "Add to iTunes as a Spoken Track&...
0
votes
1
answer
48
views
Is there a way to add Services to the Trash Can's context menu?
I am wondering if there is a way to add custom Services to the Trash Can's context menu (specifically the context menu that appears when right clicking the Trash Can from the dock rather than in a ...
41
votes
10
answers
37k
views
What is CalNCService and why does it run hot in macOS Sierra?
Since the upgrade to macOS Sierra I occasionally see a service CalNCService running hot (i.e. on 100% CPU). So going from the name, this seems to be some Calendar Service. I tried disabling Calendars ...
0
votes
1
answer
63
views
OSX service with custom user does not write Java Preferences
This is the setup:
OSX Yosemite
Java based service that is being started using a LaunchDaemon
The service is started with a custom user that is being created during installation
The user has a custom ...
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
How can I set up DNS for Bonjour and AirPrint to advertise printers across subnets
Several printers do not stay connected to clients--even though everything has static ip addresses--and they are not searchable across networks i.e. they do not appear with Bonjour.
Ideally I would ...
0
votes
1
answer
83
views
iTunes keyboard shortcut service only works when in focus
I have created an Applescript that will favorite the current track. I saved it as a service, and gave it a shortcut.
on run {input, parameters}
tell application "iTunes"
set loved of ...
2
votes
1
answer
7k
views
Finder - No Services Apply
I have services set up, particularly the one for opening Terminal from a folder. However, it doesn't appear in the context menu and in Finder > Services, there is nothing except "No services apply"
...
0
votes
1
answer
293
views
Malware caused "Search With Google" service to be named "Search With Trovi"
I'm dealing with a Mac that has been affected by some kind of Trovi malware - I've managed to undo most of the changes but there is still one I can't figure out.
The malware renamed the "Search With ...
4
votes
0
answers
604
views
Executing "Copy Dropbox Link" with a script
I want to create a script that executes the command from the contextual (control-click) menu, "Copy Dropbox Link". How can I access this command with Applescript (or any other Mac scripting service)?
...
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
AppleScript input text from user
tell application "Reminders"
set newReminder to make new reminder
set name of newReminder to "Text"
set due date of newReminder to current date
end tell
How can I set the name of ...
0
votes
1
answer
330
views
Can one install Automator .workflow services via Terminal without user consent?
I know I can just use open command on these files to run them and the user will be prompted with an option to install them. Can I install such services silently though?
0
votes
1
answer
43
views
Packaging a self-made service with dependancies — possible?
So I wrote a small service (a couple of services, really) which basically lets a user capture its screen (full screen or an area) and then make edits if necessary and then it uploads it directly to ...
1
vote
1
answer
169
views
Is it possible to have a variable in the title of an Automator Service file?
When one right-clicks selected text on a Mac, one is presented with various contextual menu items. You may notice that some of the item titles contain the selected text.
For example, the Dictionary....
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Suppressing an error completely in AppleScript?
So I wrote a small service that, when hotkey is pressed, captures a screenshot, uploads it to imgur and copies the link to the buffer. Thing is, if for some reason I decide NOT to capture anything and ...
1
vote
1
answer
44
views
Different Computer Modes for MBP
Is there a way to set different modes on my Macbook Pro. For example, I use my MBP for work, school and home. When I am at school I do not have my macbook plugged in to a charger and have to choosy as ...
0
votes
0
answers
43
views
Configuring application servers to run as service daemons?
Mac 10.9.5 here. I am trying to figure out how to configured my machine to run an executable (Java) app as a service/daemon, so that it is always running so long as the machine is on. Hence, this app ...
2
votes
0
answers
446
views
'Add notes' to a Calendar event using Automator
I would like to build a 'Service' for selected text which:
Get the currently selected text
Creates an Calendar event
adds the selected text as a 'note' for that Calendar event
I prefer Automator for ...
2
votes
1
answer
779
views
Run nrpe on boot w/o a logged in user
Running a Mac mini with server app. (El Capitan 10.11.4 & Server.app 5.1)
Installed Xcode, brew, and nrpe via brew. Works fine as such. It's not sensible to have to remote desktop to it and log ...
11
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Automator service not showing in services menu
I know next to nothing about the OS X, but I've been asked to make a few different scripts for actions in Apple Mail. One is to bind a hotkey that will create a reminder with a followup time of two ...
7
votes
1
answer
15k
views
How to create a service (shown in the context menu on the URL) in Safari?
I want to create a service which will be shown in the context menu when I right-click on any link in the Safari (need get the URL into the service).
This is my current contextual services menu on the ...
0
votes
1
answer
94
views
Reset "New Terminal at Folder" placement in context menu
Before when I enabled the option to open a new Terminal window from a certain folder, my context menu looked like this:
Now it looks like this:
How can I go back to having just the one option in the ...
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How to create a service that puts selected text into quotation marks?
I'd like to create a service that puts any text I select in TextEdit or web page text editors into quotation marks. I understand Automator is the tool to use, but how do I create this action using ...
2
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Automator Service to insert text only available when text is selected
I'm trying to make an Automator Service to insert the current date. I have one that works but it is only available in the Services menu when text is selected. I need it to be available when there is ...
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How can I use the automator to create text-to-speech service that talks faster than the current service?
The text-to-speech service has a speaking rate option that goes from slow to fast. But the fast option is not fast enough (its 300 words per minute).
I just tried to create a service. I simply ...
2
votes
1
answer
629
views
Refreshing the category of an Automator service
I'm trying to use Automator to create a simple service (open selected file in MacVim). Originally I (incorrectly) specified that the service accepts selected text as input. I have changed it later to ...
0
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Remove items from conextual menu?
I used this thread to make my own "Search with Chrome" Service. But when i right click some highlighted text in Preview.app it lists both "Search with Google" and "Search with Chrome."
"Search with ...
1
vote
2
answers
76
views
OSX Services - character substitution + for _
I've created a service to use primarily in a browser for searching IMDB, so instead of copying and pasting the film's name I just select the text and run the service I created which will automatically ...
0
votes
0
answers
333
views
Automator PDF contact sheet not using all images
I've used Automator to create a service that creates all selected images into a contact sheet. For some reason, the service doesn't want to use all the images; I have a selection of 42 images but only ...
1
vote
1
answer
59
views
Strange behaviour of services menu in some apps
For my own purposes, I created service named "Launch Terminal" which, naturally, launches terminal. I've edited it few times, then renamed, moved to iCloud, then again edited and finally copied to a ...
3
votes
3
answers
493
views
Automator service script ALWAYS launches application, disregarding conditional
I wrote a little service script to open an iTerm terminal window on an arbitrary folder on Finder.
I want it to check if iTerm is running, and if it is to open the terminal session in a new tab ...
2
votes
2
answers
175
views
Using `say` to create my own audiobooks
I like the idea of being able to select a bunch of text and have it saved as an audio file and/or simply read back to me using OS X's default say functionality. It's almost like I can create my own ...
1
vote
0
answers
1k
views
running python script of global keyboard shortcut in OSx
Hi I wrote a python script to get the size of the file of which I have URL I copied from browser or anywhere; I wanted to create a global keyboard shortcut so I tried to create using Automator > ...
3
votes
3
answers
7k
views
launchctl doesn't start cntlm daemon
I've installed cntlm on osx using the homebrew formula.
Then I've copied the .plist file and started the daemon:
sudo cp -fv /usr/local/opt/cntlm/*.plist /Library/LaunchDaemons
sudo chown root /...
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
OS X: How to lock down these frivolous protocols!
I ran a port scan on my Mac (OS X 10.9.4 if its relevant) and i realised all these random protocols with next to no explanation on the internet.
2 of the most unusual protocols include ndl-aas and ...