TNCS-0019 – Automatically Run Your Sync Silently via AppleScript
Created: April 4, 2014 | Updated: September 2, 2015
Some users prefer to have an icon on their desktop that, when launched, automatically runs their sync silently and hidden from view. Use this document to create an AppleScript that will run a sync silently as if it were being run from ChronoSync’s background scheduler.
RESOLUTION
Use the following steps to create a schedule for your sync document, then create the AppleScript to run the scheduled item. This procedure makes use of the AppleScript Editor which can be found in the Applications->Utilities folder.
Create the Schedule
First create a dummy schedule to be run via AppleScript. This can be done by clicking the ‘Add to Schedule’ button from the toolbar of the saved sync document, leaving the scheduled settings at their default, and saving the schedule. To prevent this schedule from running automatically per the scheduled settings, uncheck the schedule in the Scheduled Documents Manager window as shown in the screen grab below.
If you have multiple scheduled items, make a note of the position your ‘dummy’ schedule is listed as the Scheduled Documents Manager window:
Open the AppleScript Editor
Open the Utilities folder, found in the Applications folder of your Mac, then open the AppleScript Editor.
Create the AppleScript
Copy the following script and paste it into the AppleScript Editor:
tell application “ChronoSync Scheduler” to Synchronize item X of scheduled items
Note: On older versions of ChronoSync, (Pre 4.6.0) substitute ‘ChronoSyncBackgrounder’ for ‘ChronoSync Scheduler’.
Replace ‘X’ with the number the scheduled item is in the SDM window. For example, if I wanted to run the ‘MBP to Passport’ scheduled sync shown in the screen grab above, I’d use the value ‘2’.
Compile and Test
Click the ‘Compile’ button in the AppleScript Editor toolbar. Check for any errors. Now, test the script. Remember, if everything works, the sync document should open and begin syncing!
Now click the ‘Run’ toolbar button. Does the sync get launched? Correct any errors before continuing.
Save the AppleScript
Save the AppleScript by going to the menubar and choosing File -> Save. Make sure to choose the ‘Application’ File Format. Choose a directory to store the AppleScript, such as the Desktop, then choose Save.
CONCLUSION
If all has gone well, you should be able to open and run the saved sync document by double-clicking the AppleScript file you’ve just created.
REVISION HISTORY
Sep-2-2015 – Noted the v4.6 change of the ‘ChronoSyncBackgrounder’ to ‘ChronoSync Scheduler’.
Apr-4-2014 – Created from Internal Support Notes.