Automator: "Application com.apple.amp.devicesui is not running when it is expected to."

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Level 1

4 points

Automator: "Application com.apple.amp.devicesui is not running when it is expected to."

I have two Automator scripts that I want to run. The first one goes into Apple Podcasts and refreshes the feed. The second one opens up the iPod finder window and Syncs the iPod with the (now) updated feed.

Script one runs no problem. Script two, on the other hand gives the error seen in the subject line when it's told to click the Sync button. I've run it with a Finder window open to the iPod as the active window, and still it gives this error. I know "Watch Me Do" is not the best tool, but it's the only one I could find. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Apr 8, 2021 7:24 AM

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Answer 1

Camelot

Level 9

58,641 points

Apr 8, 2021 5:10 PM in response to LorathZ

I don't play podcasts on an iPod, so it's hard to tell, but any time you're relying on 'watch me do' or UI scripting, you're bound to run into trouble at some point.

In this case I'd look at changing the second script to be more direct.

The Finder has an update command which refreshes the target window - it's designed to force the Finder to catch background changes on disk, but ostensibly there's no reason why it wouldn't update the iPod window.

If the iPod window is already open, I'd expect something like this to work:

tell application "Finder"
	update (target of Finder window 1)
end tell

If the iPod window isn't open, you should be able to craft some reference to it instead of using 'Finder window 1'.

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Automator: "Application com.apple.amp.devicesui is not running when it is expected to."

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