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SpiffyGuyC · Jun 8, 2001, 02:07 PM

Hey everyone, I'm wondering if there is an applescript available or a way to program one that will log out a user in OS 9 after a certain period of time (not an idle timer). Thanks!

S

Paul Crawford · Jul 27, 2001, 05:11 PM

Hi SpiffyGuyC,

If you haven't yet found or written a suitable script, you could try searching the usual suspects such as MacScripter's ScriptBuilders (Script Library) section.

[Side note:- If you're running under Mac OS Classic, it would probably be better to find or write a suitable system extension (INIT), as that would provide truly system-wide functionality.]

With the AppleScript approach, one would need to explicitly make sure that the applet is started up at Login (e.g., by placing a copy in the each User's personal Startup Items subfolder). For any Limited or Panels Users, one would also need to make sure that they are granted the privilege of running the applet. There are also tricks that one could use to ensure that the applet runs "invisibly" as a background-only app (BOA), e.g., by fiddling with a Classic applet's SIZE resource ('Only Background' flag) via a resource editor such as Apple's free ResEdit.

The actual code for the script/applet might not be be too difficult. It would need to be saved as a 'Stay Open' applet, so that it could have 'on idle' handler. One would declare a global "timer-start" variable, and a global "timer-interval" value, at the top level of the script, e.g.:-<BLOCKQUOTE>code:<HR><pre>global theLoginTime
property theUsageLimitInSeconds

15 * minutes)[/code]The 'on run' handler would initialise that timer-start variable, e.g.:-<BLOCKQUOTE>code:<HR><pre>on run
--"Remember" the login time
set theLoginTime to (current date)
end[/code]The 'on idle' handler would be set to wake up periodically (or, for greater efficiency, it could be set to wake up only at/near the designated time) to check whether the usage interval had elapsed, e.g.:- <BLOCKQUOTE>code:<HR><pre>on idle
-- Double-check whether it's time to log out
if (((current date) - theLoginTime) >= theUsageLimitInSeconds) then
-- Call a routine to force a Logout (see below)
DoLogout()
end if

-- Signal to the OS that we want to wake up only at/near the designated time
return theUsageLimitInSeconds
end[/code]
The 'DoLogout()' routine is probably the most troublesome piece of the puzzle, because it would require the installation of a third-party scripting addition or OSAX (I don't think the Finder or the Multi-User Startup extension provides a "logout" Apple Event). One could use any of the OSAXen available at MacScripter's Scripting Additions library that can emulate the typing of a keystroke with the Command-key down (to simulate choosing 'Cmd-Q', or whatever keystroke is custom-defined for the Finder's Logout menu-item shortcut), plus pressing the <Return> key (to simulate accepting the subsequent "Are you sure you want to quit and logout?" prompt).

[Update 2001/09/16: Well, mea culpa. :-( I hadn't realised that versions of MU later than 1.1 seem to flush the event queue when the logout prompt is displayed. So, under MU 1.2.x+, any extra <Return> keystroke would almost certainly be lost. The good news is that there are ways around this; the bad news is that it requires an extra step and the use of a scriptable extension (such as the KeyQuencer Engine) which is capable of generating a time-delayed keystroke or button-press and which is also controllable from AppleScript via some interface (such as the 'KeyQuencer Links' OSAX). I've added one such KQ-inspired step to the script below.]

For instance, with the "Sandi's Additions" OSAX (Update: and the commercial KeyQuencer 2.5.x package) installed, one would say something like:-<BLOCKQUOTE>code:<HR><pre>on DoLogout()
tell (application "Finder")
-- It's necessary to bring an app frontmost to send it keystrokes
activate

-- Set up a "delayed" command to confirm & dismiss the forthcoming
-- Logout prompt
-- [Required for MU 1.3.x+, which seems to flush the event queue, thus
-- discarding an "inline" followup keystroke]
-- ...First, set up the initial "delay" command (waiting for the Logout
-- prompt to appear, up to 1.5 seconds)
set theFollowupKQMacro to ("WaitWindow dialog 75 ticks quiet")
-- ...Then, append the actual followup command
-- ...[NOTE: We could use either a button-presser or keystroke-typer command]
(*
set theFollowupKQMacro to �
(theFollowupKQMacro & return & "Button \"Logout\"")
*)
set theFollowupKQMacro to �
(theFollowupKQMacro & return & "Type return")

-- Initiate the "delayed" command to confirm & dismiss the Logout prompt
-- NOTE: Requires the 'KeyQuencer Links' OSAX
KeyQuencer Do Macro theFollowupKQMacro

-- Emulate typing the Finder's Logout shortcut
-- NOTE: Requires the "Sandi's Additions" OSAX
TypeText "q" with Command
end tell

-- The applet needs to explicitly quit if it's running as a BOA
quit
end[/code]

In any event, good luck with finding or writing your auto-Logout script or extension!

Regards,

--Paul

[ 09-16-2001: Message edited by: Paul Crawford ]