Macjanitor

Hi Bradley,

Automator is not able to do what you want without adding in AppleScripts...

...so you might as well do what you want all in AppleScript.

Specifically, if you wanted to 'Automate' majanitor you would need to use GUI scripting.

I think however, if you let us know what functions of macjanitor you would like to Automate...these can be done via the Terminal and then added into an AppleScript...and then added in to a user cron or iCal alarm to make it run automatically.

Have a look at Apple GUI Scripting pages. and also download PreFab UI Browser there is a 30 day demo.

regards

Ric

Bradley

I've got some great news for you. There's no need for you to use Automator or Applescript to do the background cron maintenance routines. Apple has done that for you and it's called... OS X 10.4.2

10.4.2 will now do them at the next available opportunity if your system has missed them the first time around.

Hi Bradley,

as EddieC correctly states, the version of OS X that are currently using does the periodic Daily, Weekly, Monthly scripts on a restart - if they haven't been done.

But this is now handled by launchd and not cron, as far as I know there are still a few bugs and so there is nothing stopping you from running them yourself, if you feel it is necessary.

You can edit the plist file directly, so as to allow them to run when you 'know' that your mac will be on, Camelot, "how to change times daily/weekly/monthly runs" #1, 01:35am Sep 16, 2005 CDT

Or you could just type:

sudo periodic daily weekly monthly

(then press the return key, then your password)

into Terminal and they will all get done.

regards

Ric

Hi EddieC,

the bugs I was thinking of are discussed here, Mikey-San, "Periodic Scripts, Launchd, and You", 10:51pm Aug 26, 2005 CDT

...couldn't find the post earlier !

regards

Ric

Thanks, Ric. I think I remember reading that tread about a week ago.

Is there somewhere you can easily confirm that the maintenance scripts have been run?

When I was using Onyx for this task, a box would pop up and just say, "All scripts have been run" or something like that.

Interasting... I've read yours posts and I also have a question to ask myself... Can we schedule the computer to start up at ex 06:00am, and burn a cd from your last created playlist in iTunes, so when you're awake you can ear it on your way to work, first thing in the morning in your car?

Is there somewhere you can easily confirm that the maintenance scripts have been run?

You can check by looking at the 'daily.out', 'weekly.out' and 'monthly.out logs in the Console utility.

Hi Catarina,

You could set your Mac to 'turn on every morning at 5.55am (System Preferences-->Energy Saver-->Schedule button !), then create a workflow...

1) Get Specified iTunes items (Recently Played-Playlist)
2) Burn a Disc

Save as an iCal Alarm Plugin, and set it to 6am in iCal recurring everyday !

You going to get through a lot of cd's !

The only thing you have to do is make sure there is a blank CD in the drive !

Haven't tried it myself though, but it should work !

Regards

Ric

I'm not sure I know how to create an iCal Alarm Plug-in (I'm writing from my work, on a pc...)... Is it like a reminder,no? It must be something that does something... Sorry for my "numbness" but I'm not sure I got it... And since I'm new to automator, I have to figure out how to make a task first :S it shouldn't be complicated for whom works with macs since system 7...
Kissessss
CV

The reports on Console may as well be in Chinese. I tried using Onyx and surprosingly, it worked! Maybe the most recent security update fixed the problem. Onyx is a great idiot-proof way of running these scripts and fixing permissions for non-powerusers like myself.

I agree that Onyx can be a very useful, all round, utility.

Hi Catarina,

have posted you a little refresher movie here, iCal Alarm Movie !

hope this helps

regards

Ric