Hi all.
This probably isn’t the best place to ask this question, so if there is no help here, I’m not offended.
I want to run a plist file to start an old screensaver manually.
Looking via Google I haven’t found anything that tells me how to do this. There are how to CREATE a plist, but not a way to run them from a command line.
Has anyone done this?
If so how?
And if anyone knows where there is a list of actions that go in the key section, that would be helpful too.
Regards
Plist files are property lists, they don’t “run”. I suspect you need to investigate how to manually start an old screensaver and then apply that technique to whatever file you have. I don’t expect you will find anything searching for how to “run a plist”.
Hi Tim.
I understand (to a point… I’m self taught as a programmer) what you are saying but I have a situation, and maybe YOU can explain it where I go:
var disableTheCurrentScreensaver as New Shell
disableTheCurrentScreensaver.Execute ("defaults -currentHost write com.apple.screensaver idleTime 0”)
it stops the set screensave from launching (according to what I read from apple).
However when my program ENDS, I run this:
var resetTheScreensaverTime as New Shell
resetTheScreensaverTime.Execute ("defaults -currentHost write com.apple.screensaver idleTime 3600”)
and when I go into system settings, the entry still shows as NEVER.
And, yes, it is one of the options available. I read that if you chose something like 7 minutes because it wasn’t an apple time setting it wouldn’t work.
So I am wondering if I have to relaunch the com.apple.screensaver to make the restart work.
Regards.
Look into Launch Services. It controls the automatic/timed/etc launching of processes on the Mac.
When you edit a plist it’s not necessary to relaunch the application or whatever you mean with relaunching a plist. Do you have this plist by default because I can’t find it with PrefsEditor:
Hi Beatrix. Yes I do.
But I did find out something … interesting.
When I run my program, and do, via terminal, the command
defaults -currentHost read com.apple.screensaver
I see the idle time change. And when my program quits, and I do the same command, it is just showing the right setting.
Just System Settings entry is still showing the NEVER entry.
Go fig.
Regards
Are you in the correct host? I think every developer has mixed up the hosts at least once. I remember feeling utterly stupid as the values didn’t change.
Hi Beatrix.
I use
-currentHost
which by my understanding (and it could be wrong) is who I am logged in as. And I am an Administrator.
Now, I did notice that there are two idleTimes.
idleTime
and
idletime
and no, I’m not being funny.
defaults -currentHost read com.apple.screensaver
{
CleanExit = 1;
PrefsVersion = 100;
idleTime = 3600;
idletime = 3600;
moduleDict = {
moduleName = iLifeSlideshows;
path = “/System/Library/ExtensionKit/Extensions/iLifeSlideshows.appex”;
type = 0;
};
tokenRemovalAction = 0;
Right now, when I run my program, and actually run the command on both of them, everything seems to be changing properly.
Oh, and I was doing some reading and I might have to do a
killall cfprefsd
Stay tuned.
What macOS are you on ? In Sonoma (madOS 14) and later, Apple changed the Screen Saver preferences / plist system yet again.
See https://forum.iscreensaver.com/t/understanding-the-macos-sonoma-screensaver-plist
Maybe helps pmset and or caffeinate.
Thanks. I’ll take a look.
Regards