Automator not recording keystrokes (keyboard shortcuts)

don't use automator record action for this. you can simulate the first one with applescript if need be. the second one is the shortcut to sleep display. what exactly are you trying to do? there is likely a better way to do it. recording things with automator should be the option of absolutely last resort if nothing else works.

ok, so you've installed Insomina X. as I understand it, it keeps your computer awake even if you close the lid. if I understand you correctly you want to start insomnia x, close the lid and then put the display to sleep, right?
I'm not sure why you need a keyboard shortcut to launch insomnia x if you are going to be calling it from automator. just let automator execute the action
"launch application" and add insomnia x" to that action. for putting the display to sleep I would suggest using this app
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/26234/sleep-display

again you can call it from automator using "launch application" action.

ah, ok. but you say you created a shortcut (ctrl opt+coms) to enable insomnia once it loads, is this right? sorry, this is not something I ever used so I'm not sure how it's organized.

if this is correct then you can simulate those keystrokes with applescript as follows.

tell application "InsomniaX" to activate
tell application "System events" to keystroke "s" using {command down, control down, option down}

you can embed it into an automator workflow using "run applescript" action

on run {input, parameters}
 
tell application "InsomniaX" to activate
tell application "System events" to keystroke "s" using {command down, control down, option down}
end run

I want to be able to close the lid, move from class to class without having the computer go to sleep.

The internal disks should also be shut down - you don't want to move the machine while the drives are spinning.

I'm not sure what's going on. try inserting a delay. maybe the commands fire two fast.

on run {input, parameters}
tell application "InsomniaX" to activate
tell application "System Events" to key code 51 using {shift down, control down}
delay 1
try
tell application "SleepDisplay" to activate
end try
end run

P.S. you can also use "try... end try" as above. that should probably kill the error message.

BTW, red menace made a very good point about carrying your laptop around with the hard drive spinning. that's not a great idea.

Message was edited by: V.K.

why do you need any automation for this? just close the lid, let the laptop go to sleep and then wake it with an external mouse or keyboard. this will not wake the screen.