OSXFAQ Mac OS X Tip-of-the-Day  

Today's tip shows how to create a simple Automator application that launches iTunes and sets it into motion.

First, launch Automator from the usual Applications directory. From the left-most 'Library' pane, select iTunes. From the middle 'Action' pane, drag and drop the actions as I've done, which are shown in the rightmost pane.

Each dragged item becomes a step in the Automator workflow. Examining steps 2 to 5:

Step 2 is to get an iTunes item. In this example I pressed '+' and selected an iTunes playlist from the resulting dialogue window. When the workflow is executed, it will also launch iTunes if not already running.

Step 3 takes the playlist from Step 2 and tells iTunes to start playing it. Click the options twisty arrow to select iTunes features such as shuffle and repeat.

Step 4 sets a sensible volume level. It affects the volume setting in iTunes, not the System Preferences volume.

Step 5 switches on iTunes visuals.

Finally, Step 1 sets the overall volume, and is found by selecting System from the leftmost pane, instead of iTunes.

Press Run in the top right to test out the workflow. As a test, set all the volumes to zero and quit iTunes first. When the workflow executes, iTunes should launch and play the selected playlist (at the chosen volume) and switch into full screen visuals.

Save the workflow for future editing by selecting Save As... from the File menu. Set the File Format pop-up to 'Workflow'. Save the workflow as a double-clickable application by selecting File Format as Application.

Now, double-clicking the application will launch iTunes, just as we saw when pressing Run.

Wake up to iTunes!

You can also save the workflow as a plug-in by selecting Save As Plug-In... from the File menu. Select 'Plug-in for:' and iCal Alarm from the resulting dialogue dialogue (or dialog for those on the other side of the pond) and iCal will appear showing an event ready-alarmed with the workflow application. Change the event to reoccur daily at some suitable time in the morning to act as a tuneful alarm clock.

iCal Workflow plug-ins are saved in Library:Workflows:Applications:iCal

Here's a neat tip. Daily occurring tasks clutter up your iCal display. Put such events in a special calendar and uncheck it to hide.

This OSXFAQ tip tells you more about iCal alarms:

Tomorrow's tip shows how to bulk-edit song information in the iTunes library.

Enjoy! :- )

Tiger 10.4.4