AppleScript wireless sync

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Level 1

49 points

AppleScript wireless sync

For over a year now, I've been using a small chunk of AppleScript to initiate a sync with my iPad every morning via an iCal event where the alert is a Run Script command. I do this due to the fact that my fave podcast is usually released between 6:00 and 6:30 AM Central Time, and I want it on my iPad when I walk out to get breakfast between 6:45 and 7:00.

The AppleScript is basically a one-liner: 'update "MyPad"'. This should initiate a sync, moving any recently downloaded podcasts to my iPad (named MyPad).

Worked great when I left my iPad connected via USB. However, now that it's doing a wifi sync, it fails with the following error:

An AppleScript event alert did not execute properly.

The script "SyncMyPad.scpt" that was assigned to the

event "Sync MyPad" didn't open or didn't finish

running because of the following AppleScript error:

"MyPad" doesn't understand the update message.

Any ideas on what I should be looking for to help diagnose and fix this issue? Did something change where the update command doesn't work with WiFi sync?

I'm of course running iTunes 10.5 and iOS 5.0 and OS X Lion 10.7.2 (required for WiFi sync).

Thanks!

MB 2.4GHz black  Mini 2.0GHz  MBP 2.4GHz  MB 1.83GHz  iPad 3G 64G, Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Oct 24, 2011 9:07 PM

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Answer 1

thcook

Level 1

0 points

Nov 2, 2011 9:53 AM in response to Alphaman.

There is a similar Automator action "Update iPod" that might help you out. I was wondering about this as well. Also it should sync when plugged into a power source (and computer and device are both available and on the same network.

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Answer 2

Alphaman. Author

Level 1

49 points

Nov 3, 2011 5:10 AM in response to thcook

Interesting idea. I just tried using "Update iPod", but unfortunately, it errored off also, saying "The connected iPod is set for manual updating. Please change its preferences to allow for automatic updating before using this action." And no, my iPad is indeed set for automatic updating. (BTW, this action can not discriminate between iOS devices; I also have an iPod Touch, but there's no input to Update iPod to allow me to specify which one should be updated.)

My iPad does sync when I put it in its dock, just before I go to bed. However, my fave podcast, Mac OS Ken, is published and updated on my Mac between 6:00 and 6:30 in the morning. I have this AppleScript set to run at 6:40, so that I can listen to it while eating breakfast. So it's all Mac OS Ken's fault. 😉

It's beginning to sound to me like Apple doesn't quite yet have the wireless API supporting all of the wired features. Hopefully, this will be rectified in a future release.

Thanks for your help, thcook!

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Answer 3

thcook

Level 1

0 points

Nov 3, 2011 5:56 AM in response to Alphaman.

When I got home last night I tried the automator action and it went ahead and synced my ipad, but not my phone. Both were listed in itunes, but the ipad was first. I think it only did the first one. I didn't have any time to play with it, but It might be able to specify which device to sync or do a loop to do every one.

Your error message seems to be the key. Whay happens when you manually trigger a wireless sync by right clicking on it in iTunes and telling it to sync? I beleive that automatic updating is for pushing out app and software updates to your ios device. It may be that you have it set to manually manage your music?

If you just want to sync the one podcast you could just add those items to the ipod? Maybe use the Find Songs and Add Songs to iPod automator actions?

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Answer 4

Alphaman. Author

Level 1

49 points

Nov 3, 2011 4:43 PM in response to thcook

When I manually sync wirelessly, it works as expected. No muss, no fuss, within a couple minutes the podcast (which has already been updated on my Mac) is pushed to the iPad. Nothing else changes WRT the iPad — no USB connection, no waking it up, no unlocking. It's still sitting in its dock, charging.

The only difference is that rather than the scheduled AppleScript or Automator action, I've initiated the sync manually in iTunes.

If I undock the iPad and re-dock it, it syncs just as it should.

Like you, my iPad is listed first, before my iPod Touch, and that's where I want the podcast to go. I just tried the Find Songs and Add Songs to iPod action, and it too errors off.

Has anyone else tried the AppleScript and gotten it to work? Here's the complete text of my code:

tell application "iTunes"

update "MyPad"

end tell

I still get the "MyPad doesn't understand the update message".

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Answer 5

thcook

Level 1

0 points

Nov 3, 2011 5:36 PM in response to Alphaman.

OK, I got a minute to delve into this a bit, and it is working for me.....sort of.

I tried your AppleScript and no matter what variable I use, it syncs the first device in the list. Same for the Automator action.

tell application "iTunes"

update "blah"

end tell

Sounds like a bug to me.

I do have a workaround to the ordering though, I just want to automatically sync my iphone, so I renamed it so it would be alahpabetically higher than the ipad name. I created an automator action ical event and scheduled it for every morning.

Still doesn't help with your error though. Have you tried resetting it? The code works for me iOS5 and 10.7.2

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