scripting
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PackRat dev calls for AppleScripters
Rod Schmidt, developer of PackRat, has issued a call for AppleScripters who are interested in automating his rocking Backpack client. PackRat, to my knowledge, doesn't have AppleScript support yet, but that does seem to be at the top of the request list and would mark another powerful feature PackRat has over Backpack's own web UI: OS integration. I would love to be able to, for example, right-click some selected text in a Cocoa app and click "Send to PackRat," which would then sync up to Backpack all without me ever having to touch an actual webpage. If you have some AppleScripting skills and are interesting in making PackRat even cooler, be sure to drop Rod a line by heading over to his announcement post or contacting him from his company's site, infiniteNIL.
TUAW Tip: enable the AppleScript menu
As I was working on an AppleScript-related post this morning, I couldn't seem to find any TUAW Tips in our vast archives that explained how to enable that AppleScript menubar item (pictured) that is mentioned so often in Mac software circles. This, of course, called for just such a tip.So: the AppleScript menubar item. It's a very handy tool for accessing all those AppleScripts you hear about that automate this or toggle that. As long as you save those scripts in ~/Library/Scripts (where ~ is your Home folder), they'll appear in this AppleScript menu - once you've enabled it. I personally think this menu item should be included in the default set of every Mac, but I'd wager that Apple sees this as a little too nerdy of a feature to drop on brand new users. Fair enough.To enable this menu (nerd) in Tiger, go to /Applications/Applescript and open the AppleScript Utility. It offers a few options for handling AppleScripts, including turning on this menu and the order in which the menu displays scripts from both the default system level /Library/Scripts (in your main hard drive) and your personal ~/Library/Scripts folder. If you're on 10.3 (Panther), I *think* you have an /Applications/AppleScript folder, but instead of a full-blown AppleScript Utility app, it's an AppleScript called 'Install Menu' or something similar. Back on Tiger in the AppleScript Utility - you don't worry about the GUI Scripting option unless you come across a script that specifically needs it, though I don't think enabling this for simplicity's sake can harm anything either.If this process went according to plan, you should now have your very own AppleScript menubar item like I have in the screenshot here. clicking it will offer a simple menu of all the scripts you have between the two directories you chose to display. As long as you enabled your personal Home script directory, any scripts you save there should appear in this menu immediately after saving, ready to carry out your bidding.With that said, why not check out some of our past AppleScript posts, such as one of my personal favorites: an AppleScript from Fraser Speirs that opens iSync, syncs all your devices (such as a phone or PDA), then quits iSync. If you use an application launcher such as Quicksilver, you can tie handy scripts like these to Triggers (system-wide keyboard shortcuts) for even more convenience.
Griffin releases Proxi 1.0
Back in April we wrote about the public beta of Proxi, which is the easy-to-use scripting software from Griffin Technology. Proxi lets you automate complicated routines, much like Automator or QuicKeys. Earlier this week, Griffin released version 1.0 of Proxi. Changes to version 1.0 include support for the following triggers and tasks (among others): Griffin AirClick (as well as several other Griffin devices) Applescript iTunes monitor iChat monitor Mail monitor Growl notification Open file Open URL Write to file Proxi requires Mac OS 10.4 or later, is free and universal.
Stream MythTV content to any 3G phone
When a person is on a mission, he/she can accomplish anything, no matter how Rube Goldberg-esque the solution turns out to be, so you can forgive Gary Lerhaupt's rather complicated how-to on streaming recorded programs to any 3G-enabled cellphone. Far too detailed to go into the specifics here, Lerhaupt's method basically programs your MythTV box to send recorded TV shows to a computer running Apple's open source Darwin Streaming Server software, which sets up dedicated URLs for each file and allows you to stream from your handset's browser at will. Those without pretty decent tech skillz should probably not attempt this one, as even the how-to assumes some knowledge of 3gp video conversion, script running, and something called an rtsp streaming protocol; instead, you're probably better off spending a few extra bucks on that Windows Mobile phone and employing the no-brainer solutions that the good folks at Orb and Sling Media have already come up with.
Breakfast Topic: Best macros
Macros are a useful way to create custom commands, from witty sayings to more complex spell invocations. Many of the addons available obviate the need for macros by providing a lot of automated speech and the like, but there is still the occasional need for a quick and dirty macro.What macros do you use? Which are your favourites?Personally, I started out experimenting with macros when I was a very young Druid, with a /say macro that would tell targets of fly-by buffings who was responsible. I came to my senses quickly -- it was a remarkably spammy macro and I cringe when I see it still in my macro list. I've also used the macro functionality to change spell icons, as some of my different characters share the same icon for separate actions, a confusing situation. However, I've never found a 'killer' macro, though I'm happy to be converted.
FastScripts Lite
FastScripts is a menubar script launcher on steroids. It offers up everything the Apple version does, and a whole lot more. It also happens to cost $15, which is a fair price for the application but some people might balk.Balk no more, because FastScripts Lite has been released and it is available at everyone's favorite price point: free. There are some limitations but I think that the developer has been very generous with the functionality that is included in this free version.
