Problem: It is not possible to send remote AppleEvents from a background-only application, because the EPPC toolbox requires that the user interact with the standard user authentication dialog box at the start of every session.
Solution: If guest access is available on the target machine, always log on as a guest without bringing up the authentication dialog box.
The AutoGuest INIT installs two head patches into the system that work together to allow background-only applications to send AppleEvents to remote machines. The first patch allows automatic connection to machines that provide guest access; the second patch eliminates the "no user interaction allowed" error that the EPPC toolbox will normally return whenever an application in the background attempts to start a session with a remote machine.
These patches are also included in MPW ".o" format, so they may be linked with background-only applications that need to send AppleEvents. See the file "SampleUse.c" for a discussion on how these patches should be used from within your programs.
This code is unsupported, and Apple Computer, Inc. makes no claims about its suitability for use in any application. Direct problems and comments to Greg Anderson (greggor@apple.com).
Acknowldgements:
Many thanks to:
• Scott Boyd for implementing the first version of the AutoGuest INIT
• Paul Young for providing the StartSecureSession patch used in the current version of the INIT
• Michael Gough for finding the source of the "no user interaction allowed" bug in EPPC
