To purchase, simply launch the "MacSOS Registration"
software and add your details or open the URL
http://order.kagi.com/cgi-bin/r1.cgi?GG&
MacAT Overview
MacAT is a Windows AT/UNIX cron-like task scheduling application for Macintosh server administrators. It is a PowerPC application that allows 31 of the most common MacOS tasks to be run on demand, once, hourly, daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly or yearly without user intervention.
These scheduled tasks include:
-Sending eMail, ftp transfers
-Compress Files and Folders
-Binhex and Uncompress Files
-Bringing Applications to the Foreground (to maximise CPU usage)
-Hide Applications
-Launching Applications, Files and AppleScripts
-Quitting individual applications or alternatively quitting all currently running processes
-Copy, move, rename, open, delete any File or Folder.
-Mount remote AppleShare volumes automatically over AppleTalk (eg NT, MacOS, UNIX EtherShare, Linux Netatalk AppleShare Volumes)
-Unmount nominated AppleShare volumes
-Restart or shutdown the Macintosh
Each MacAT task result is automatically logged in the MacAT file and the number of logs per task can be set by the administrator.
MacAT could easily be used as a useful component of any MacOS server backup system (MacAT came about due to my own simple requirement that our MacOS servers were backed up nightly).
Requirements
MacAT needs to be running with an open 'crontab' file at all time.
MacAT requires MacOS System 7.1 but runs best under MacOS 8 or greater using the appearance manager (if installed).
MacAT runs as an application and does not add any extensions to your Macintosh System Folder.
This is a full working version of MacAT. Registration removes the shareware reminders. You are welcome to pass this software onto others (MacAT will revert to an unregistered copy) but please don't pass on the registration number.
Only one MacAT crontab file can be opened at any one time. MacAT task files are saved automatically (like FileMaker Databases). This decision was taken so that as each task is performed, the results are recorded and saved. The number of logs for each AT task can be adjusted in the preferences window by the server administrator. The log information can be very useful if you have complex batches of tasks that aren't giving you the results you need.
AT task are processed synchronously but several AT jobs can be scheduled to run in the same minute (as long as the other task have finished inside that minute). Where possible allow plenty of time for each task to complete (eg allow 2-3 mins between AT tasks).
Most buttons in dialog windows can be selected from the keyboard (holding down the command key will cause the button to reveal the required key). In a similar fashion, the tab-panel log screens can also be navigated using the keyboard (simply press 1, 2 or 3)
Clicking on the table column headers in each task panel sorts the information (eg Status, Date, Result).
Clicking on the "Todays' Next AT Task" description selects that the next task in the task list.
Tasks that quit MacAT, Restart or Shut Down the Macintosh are logged before the task is performed and worded as if the command executed successful. If the task subsequently fails then another log is recorded, describing the failure.
Launch Application
Any Macintosh application can be scheduled to run.
Bring Application To Front
Any running Macintosh application can be scheduled to be brought to the front. The application is not launched if is not running. (Consider just using a "Launch Application" task in this case).
Hide Application
Any running Macintosh application (except MacAT) can be scheduled to be hidden. Pretty boring really...
Quit Application
Requires the application to respond to the "quit" AppleEvent. As a required AppleEvent, almost every System 7 application should work. Use this command if you want to quit MacAT (the result will be logged).
Quit All Applications
MacAT sends the 'quit" AppleEvent to all open applications, including faceless background processes, (but excluding "File Sharing Extension"). Most faceless background MacOS components will start back up again automatically. MacAT will not attempt to quit the "Finder" or "MacAT".
Open File
Any Macintosh file, application or AppleScript cab be scheduled to run. Identical to "Launch Application".
Copy File
Copying files between AppleTalk File server volumes can take a while so allow plenty of time for this command to complete (eg 10 minutes before the next AT task is scheduled to run). This task will not replace an existing file. Consider scheduling a delete or rename task before copying/replacing).
Move File
The destination folder must reside on the same volume as the original file.
Rename File
Any Macintosh file, application or AppleScript can be renamed. Files are renamed in place (ie in the same folder). To move a file consider scheduling an AT copy task followed by an AT rename task.
Delete File
Any Macintosh file, application or AppleScript can be deleted. No warning is given and the task can not be undone. Caution. Deleting an alias deletes the original.
Compress File & Folder, Uncompress File
Any Macintosh file, application or AppleScript can be compressed. The "Stuffit Engine", part of DropStuff from Aladdin Systems, http://www.aladdinsys.com, must be installed. "Uncompress File" will uncompress or decode any file that the your Stuffit Engine can handle. Use this command to decode binhex files.
Binhex File
This task only encodes files to the binhex format. To decode a binhex file just use the "Uncompress File" task. Any Macintosh file, application or AppleScript can be binhexed. The "Stuffit Engine", part of DropStuff from Aladdin Systems, http://www.aladdinsys.com, must be installed and configured.
Copy Folder
Copying folders between AppleTalk File server volumes can take a while so allow plenty of time for this command to complete (eg 10 minutes before the next AT task is scheduled to run). All files and sub-folders are also copied. Aliases are not followed. This task will not replace an existing folder. Consider scheduling a delete or rename task before copying/replacing)
Move Folder
The destination folder must reside on the same volume as the original file.
Move Folder to Trash
Moves any folder to the trash. This is an alternative "Delete Folder" task if followed by an Empty Trash task.
Rename Folder
Folders are renamed in place (ie in the same parent folder). To move a folder consider scheduling an AT copy task followed by an AT rename task.
Delete Folder
Any folder can be deleted even if it is not empty. All files and sub-folders are also deleted. Use at your own peril.
NOTE. Deleting an alias of a folder now only deletes the alias and not the original folder as was the case for all versions of MacAT before version 4.0.
Mount Volume
You need to mount the volume on the desktop before MacAT allows you to add the user name and password information. The AppleTalk Zone server information is calculated automatically. The mount volume command uses AppleTalk and works over LocalTalk, Ethernet and ARA connections. Mounting an AppleTalk volume is slow (and modal), so allow MacAT a couple of minutes to mount the volume before the next MacAT task is scheduled. This task will not mount AppleShare IP volumes if they cannot be mounted via AppleTalk.
Put Away Volume
You can put away every volume except the Boot Volume. You should avoid having multiple volumes on the desktop with the same name. This command may have problems with removable disks.
Restart Computer
This command will fail if other applications require user input (eg Save, Don't Save dialog windows)
Shut Down Computer
This command will fail if other applications require user input (eg Save, Don't Save dialog windows)
Empty Trash
Make sure that the "Warn before emptying" check box is not selected in the Get Info window of the Trash, otherwise the Trash will not be emptied.
Send eMail
Use this command to automate sending regular eMail messages (eg monthly pay slip reminders). This task requires a valid: eMail address; return eMail address and SMTP server IP. Strict validation of the entered eMail addresses is not attempted. The TCP/IP subsystem must already be active otherwise this task will return an error (ie A PPP connection will not be automatically instantiated - the link must already be in place). Over a 28k modem PPP or ARA link, expect to take 2-5 seconds to send an eMail. With a permanent ethernet connection, the smtp process should take less than 1 second to complete. This task is really for Macintosh computers with a permanent network connection.
Brief explanation of the SMTP features:
The To: field holds the email address of who you are sending the mail to. You may separate multiple email addresses with commas. The From: field is used to tell the SMTP server what your ID is, and it sets the From: header. It MUST be in the form userid@host (eg. macsos@kagi.com).
The SMTP server is the server you wish to relay the mail through, probably your ISP's mail server. This can either be in the form of an IP address or a valid DNS name (eg hostname.domain).
Send Ping
This simply opens and closes a TCP connection to a port on an IP server. Handy if you just want to keep an internet connection from automatically closing due to inactivity.
Show URL
URL stands for Universal Resource Locator. URL's are addresses for Internet locations such as ftp and web sites. The Show URL task uses the user's Internet Config application preferences to determine which application to launch based on the type of URL specified. For example, passing a URL that beings with "http" will launch the user's web browser. For example adding the URL "http://order.kagi.com/cgi-bin/r1.cgi?GG&" to the MacAT "Show URL" task, will launch the user's chosen web browser and go to our purchase MacAT web page. Alternatively, the Show URL "ftp://ftp.garvan.unsw.edu.au/gerham/macsos/MacAT.sea.hqx" will launch the user's chosen ftp client application, go to our ftp site, and download the current version of MacAT (if it where there). "Show URL" never records an error even if something does go wrong.
Set
A set is a uniquely named collection of tasks that are processed sequentially. You must have already created the task for it to be added to the set. You cannot added sets to other sets. You can rename the set at a later date. There is a 60 second pause between processing tasks in a set (to allow the Finder time to catch up). Once a set starts, no other task will run until the set is finished. A set cannot be stopped once started. The time taken for the set to complete is logged. If as Set fails, email notification can be sent as per normal. Tasks that are part of a set are not run except as part of the Set.
Thoughts for Future Versions:
Send TELNET command
Mount AppleShare volumes over IP.
Open multiple MacAT files at once.
Replace File and Folder tasks.
Smaller RAM and disk space requirements.
Background faceless application engine while keeping the standard MacAT task-builder interface.
-Added "Hourly" to the list of schedule selections.
-Faster keydown timer setting to improve trapping of keyboard/button selections in MacAT windows.
-Tightened the checking when not selecting a month & date for "Yearly" schedule tasks.
-Added an Easter Egg.
-Removed close box from main AT list to make it harder to accidentally close the Mac crontab file.
-Reduced RAM requirements to less than 2MB.
-Enabled more keyboard navigation controls (eg pressing the spacebar edits the currently selected AT job).
v2.0
Released 10 Feb 1999.
-Added new task "Send eMail".
-Added eMail notification of task errors.
-Individual tasks can be turned on or off.
-Slightly widened the main task list to accommodate the extra task settings.
-Fixed a non-crashing bug where clicking the cancel button instead of selecting an application from the list of active applications failed to update the "Edit At Job" window.
-Added a self-closing notification alert. This alert automatically closes itself after several seconds to ensure that MacAT and the Macintosh server can continue unimpeded and is used extensively when SMTP processes fail. Note: eMail messages for failed task errors are not logged but rather a self-closing notification alert is posted.
v2.0.1
Released 10 Feb 1999.
-Fixed various non-crashing bugs where widgets did not deactivate in the background.
-Fixed various spelling mistakes in MacAT and documentation.
v2.0.2
Released 11 Feb 1999.
-Removed the problem where the "Put Away" task was not working reliably (due to a bug in the development environment REALbasic). The problem was fixed by replacing the Unmount XCMD with one written by Apple in the late 1980's).
v2.1
Released 18 Feb 1999.
-Added "Append Text Document" feature to outgoing "Send eMail" tasks (for those who need their log files emailed to them). Please note that I haven't attempted to strip any high ASCII characters (those greater than 128) from the appended text files. This may or may not be friendly to your smtp server. Let me know if you have any text files that contain strange characters that have problems when sending.
-Removed the command key " Q" from the "Quit" menu item.
v3.0
Released 3 March 1999.
-Added "Once" schedule.
-Added "Fortnightly" schedule. I believe that this schedule option is unique (on any platform) to MacAT.
-Added "Open Folder" task (used to activate Apple FolderAction Applescripts).
-Added "Hide Application" task.
-Added the ability to delete an individual tasks logs or all logs.
-Fixed crashing bug when "Put Away" task was performed repeatedly on a PPC. This bug appeared to be introduced by the Apple XCMD added in v2.0.2.
-Fixed cosmetic bug for "Yearly" tasked scheduled to run the first of the month.
Note: "Send eMail" task does not work on old Macintosh's which do not have Open Transport installed.
v3.1
Released 10 March 1999.
-Appear to have finally fixed the "Put Away" task. This was accomplished after integrating a new plugin, "FSPlugin" by Tim Spalone, instead of the previous unreliable XCMDs. Thanks to Mike Schon-Hegrad for beta testing the bugs out of this one.
-Added "Compress File", "Compress Folder" and "Uncompress File" tasks. These require the "Stuffit Engine" to be installed and configured.
-Fixed the visual bugs associated with the "Send email on failures" checkboxes.
v3.2
Released March 18 1999.
-Added a Title field to each MacAT task. This field, if it contains any text, will be displayed on the main MacAT task list instead of the usual MacAT generated summary description line.
-Added more balloon help.
-Redesigned preferences window.
-Added Veronica to credits on "About MacAT..." page.
-Added sound notification for whenever any MacAT task fails. I don't want to add different sounds for individual tasks as that would be a little too much 'featuritus'.
-Started to add "Run missed AT tasks when MacAT starts up". I will try to complete for the next version.
-Added user definable font and fontsize for main AT task, log and history list boxes.
v3.5
Released 31 March 1999.
-Added "Hide main MacAT list window after launch" preference setting. When selected the main list will always be invisible after launching MacAT.
-Added new menu item "Toggle AT list". Use this to show/hide the main MacAT list window.
-Added confirmation dialogs when closing or quitting MacAT (even when the main MacAT list window is hidden). This warning dialog does not appear when quitting MacAT via a MacAT task. You can set MacAT to not ask for confirmation to quit in the preferences window.
-Added a "Run AT Task" menu. This allows you to run the selected task immediately from the main MacAT list window.
-Added an "Insert MacAT tag" feature for the send email task. Allows the insertion of the 'date' and 'chooser name' when the mail is ultimately sent. Let me know if you have more suggestions for this command.
-Added on-screen notification of missed tasks. At launch, MacAT scans through the list of AT tasks and checks the last execution date. Tasks that should have been run (but were missed as MacAT was not launched) are flagged as 'missed'. The server administrator can then determine if they should be performed 'by hand' (using the new "Run AT Task" menu). MacAT does not automatically run missed tasks in case the tasks really were meant to be skipped.
-Tidied up a lot of the internal menu handling logic and code.
-Added a preference setting to re-enable the command key "Q" for the "Quit" menu item.
-Changed the command key for the Edit Task button in the Edit task window from "T" to "E".
v3.5.1
Released 1 April 1999.
-Fixed a potential bug when email attachments could not be found.
v3.6
Released 12 April 1999.
-Added a blurb to outgoing eMail messages that should have had attachments but the attachment document could not be found.
-Fixed the over zealous 'missed' task notifications.
-Re-jigged the preferences screen.
-Added preferences setting to disable MacAT eMail vocabulary substitutions (sorry Matt H!).
-Added "IP Address" and "Internet Config: Name" to MacAT's eMail vocabulary.
-Finally enabled logging of "Send eMail" errors.
-Enabled a default button in the About MacAT window (for registered versions).
-Added more balloon help.
-Added a balloon help on/off button to the main MacAT list window.
-Fixed the Cancel button in the preference window so that it actually reverse any preferences changes.
-Added Internet Config support, namely the From: eMail address and SMTP server names are automatically detected.
v3.7
Released 21 April 1999.
-Added the "Send Ping" task. This simply opens and closes a connection to a port on an IP server. Handy if you just want to keep an internet connection from automatically closing due to inactivity.
-Added "Every X mins" schedule. This allows a task to be scheduled to run every 1-2147483646 minutes (While this upper number is possible, it is equivalent to running a job approx, every 4083 years and MacAT is limited to work until only 2039).
-eMail and ping commands are only logged once instead of the previous way were the task was always logged and errors, if any, where subsequently logged later.
-Enabled a single launch only, debug preference setting. Don't use this under normal circumstances.
-Fixed a "Send eMail" bug that has been lurking since v3.2.
-By default, "Insert MacAT tag" is now turned off for new MacAT users as this feature has been causing some crashing problems with some computers.
v4.0
Released 10 May 1999.
-PowerPC only release as 68k version has some problems.
-Deleting a folder alias now only deletes the alias (with previous versions of MacAT, the "Delete Folder" task would resolve the alias and delete the folder the alias was pointing to. I thought it was too dangerous to leave it this way).
-Added the "Binhex File" task.
-Added the "Move File" task. The destination folder must be on the same volume.
-Added the "Show URL" task. Uses the appropriate application (based on the user's Internet Config settings) to go to the URL (web address, ftp address, etc.) specified.
-Added the "After MacAT Startup" schedule. This allows you to nominate the number of minutes after the MacAT crontab file is opened before the task is to be performed.
-Added ascending and descending sorting buttons to the "Task", "Task History" and "MacAT History" lists. Note, it is still not possible to sort the "Schedule" column in any direction.
-Copying to the clipboard has been enabled in the "Task History" and "MacAT log" lists for those who want to export this information to other programmes.
-Added two disclosure triangles to hide/show sections of the MacAT window. The size of the main window is not saved with the crontab file but is rather saved in the preferences file. You need to open and save the preferences to save the current window height.
-Added a purchase MacAT reminder to all eMail sent from unregistered copies of MacAT.
-Added separators instead of blank lines in task popup menu.
-Added a web payment URL link to the "About MacAT..." window and registration window.
-Upgraded FileCopy XCMD to v4.0. This enables a "Cancel" button in the copying dialog box.
-Upgraded FolderCopy XCMD to v3.4. This enables a "Cancel" button in the copying dialog box.
-Removed "StuffPlug" (a third party REALbasic plugin) and replaced it with yet another brilliant XCMD "FullStuff" from Rinaldi.
-Also removed "Gestalt Plugin 1.1 (PPC)" and "FreeMem-PPC" plugins in yet another attempt to get 68k to work again.
-Fixed bug with erroneous eMail logs after eMail was successfully sent.
-The default button on the "Startup Window" is now the "Open" button.
-MacAT now monitors the remaining memory allocated to MacAT. If the remaining free memory falls below 30k then MacAT automatically quits. In the past, the Macintosh would potentially hang.
-Added "Don't display full path names (just file names)" in lists and "Don't display full paths (when successful)" preferences where the former refers to list views and the latter to logs.
v4.0.1
Released 24 May 1999.
-Upgraded the FullStuff XCMD to fix random crashes when Stuffit Engine is not installed.
-Fixed a small bug with preferences and the main window not being open.
-Added "Disable Internet Config" as it may have been affecting MS Internet Explorer's ability to download cookies. Untested.
-Ascending and descending buttons now immediately sort (the highlighted list column) when clicked.
-Appear to have fixed a bug were tasks could be lost when columns where sorted descendingly. Fixed by turning off international sorting in the FullSort XCMD. This change shouldn't affect the English centric MacAT.
-MacAT version number is now automatically detected.
v4.0.2
Released 31 May 1999.
-"Remove File" and "Remove Folder" tasks can now delete locked files.
v4.5
Released 22 June 1999.
-Added the "Set" Task. A set is a named collection of tasks that are processed sequentially.
-Added the "Move Folder" task.
-Added the "Move Folder to Trash" task.
-Added the "Empty Trash" task.
-Checkboxes to delete logs now work again.
-Might have implemented a workaround for a bug in the FullSort XCMD which resulted in disappearing tasks (and corrupted crontab files) after descending list sorts.
-Fixed the visual bug where a double quote was surrounding the 'Zone' information in the schedule list for Mount Tasks
-Fixed the bug introduced in v4.0.2 where the Rename Folder task may have been deleting the folder.
-If a text file is opened which contains invalid AT tasks then the default action is to quit MacAT without saving any changes.
-Fixed a display bug when displaying shortnames in the main MacAT lists. The complete path is now displayed even when the file can't be found.
-Moved the progress bar displaying the status of the running task slightly up, allowing the addition of a small descriptive task text line.
-If a corrupted AT is found when opening a crontab file, MacAT now asks if it should quit immediately or continue opening the file.
-Re-enabled the debug checkbox again so that the free memory remaining is again displayed.
-Restored the previous CopyFolder XCMD as the newer one was causing problems. The only disadvantage is that the "Cancel" button has been removed when copying..
-Reinstated the previous RemoveFolder XCMD as well as the newer one.Furthermore, I have seen folders that just will not be deleted by either XCMD so I add the "Move Folder to Trash" as an alternative to delete.
-A progress bar displaying the status of saving the file is now shown.
v4.6
Released 1 July 1999.
-Re-enabled descending sorting on the Status and Task colums in the man MacAT task list.
-Added "Eject Removeable Disk" task. This task will physically eject the floppy or cdrom disk from the computer (Sorry zip disks don't eject.)
-Added the "Sleep" task. This will put the computer to sleep if the computer can be put to sleep.
v4.6.1
Released 2 July 1999.
-Fixed the "Restart" task so that it could be edit again.
MacSOS grants a free 30 day license for use of this software (MacAT), starting from the date of receipt, after which time said software must be registered with MacSOS with appropriate compensation and registration forms. Under no circumstances may the software be used beyond the free 30 day licensing period unless the previously stated conditions have been satisfied. You must purchase a separate copy of the software for each Macintosh it is used on.
Unless explicitly stated in writing, MacSOS does not grant permission to distribute the software for profit in any form, including but not limited to, electronic information service distribution, bulletin board distribution, and magnetic or optical medium distribution. Non-profit distribution of the software is acceptable without prior written notice, providing that the software is not modified in any way, and the complete works of the software are included in the distribution package.
MacSOS is not responsible for any damage to the purchaser's computer system or data and in no event will MacSOS, its officers, directors, employees or agents be responsible to the purchaser for any consequential, incidental, or indirect damages (including damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information and the like) arising out of the use or inability to use the MacSOS product, even if MacSOS has been advised of the possibility of such damages.
If you have any questions concerning the above license, please do not use this software.
