How to automatically run a script at logon

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lyonrouge

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#142542 16-Mar-2014 19:47

I'm sure I'm just not typing the right keywords in Google. In Ubuntu I use synergy, which I have automatically starting after the user desktop has been started to ensure the application correctly processes the desktop dimensions. I want to do the same for the Mac, however, when I add the script to the login items the Mac opens it as a document instead of executing it. When I search for start-up scripting the material refers to system level (root) starting, what I believe to be the same as run level starting in other Linux distributions.

geocom

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#1006854 16-Mar-2014 20:19

You need to make the script executable.
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/8409946/how-do-i-make-this-file-sh-executable-via-double-click

Geoff E

lyonrouge

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#1006860 16-Mar-2014 20:45

Excellent, thanks. I had made it executable (chmod +x) and I had placed the shebang in the first line, but I had not called it .command. I renamed the script (mv autoSynergy.sh autoSynergy.command), added it to my login items, rebooted and it started successfully.

I returned to the user login items and changed it to hide at start, but it does not want to hide, but that is not so important, it is automatically running which is great.

Thanks.

sir1963

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#1006861 16-Mar-2014 20:47

You can cheat, wrap the script into an Automator action or Applescript saved as an Application
that way you can simply put the Application into the login items in the Users and Groups system preference.

lyonrouge

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#1006879 16-Mar-2014 21:00

Will that make it hide? Thanks for the terminology, will help my google searching.

geocom

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#1006896 16-Mar-2014 21:18

Depends on the script if it does not terminate. Then the automator program will also not quit.

In any case you could add "&" to the end of your command in the script and then add exit to the end of the script. you will also then need to make sure terminal will exit on the exit command. You can do this by doing the following. Terminal > Preferences > Settings > Shell: > When the shell exits: -> Close if the shell exited cleanly

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lyonrouge

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#1006921 16-Mar-2014 21:32

Setting the terminal to exit works a treat, thanks (the program I'm invoking from the script already performed the spawning so I didn't have to manually background it).