How to tell OS X not to "wait" during a bash script?

Question

I've set up this script:

#!/bin/bash
/Applications/NameChanger.app/Contents/MacOS/NameChanger "$@"
osascript -e "delay 1" -e "tell application \"NameChanger\" to activate"

I'm using it to pass file names to NameChanager. Without the second line it loads NameChanger unfocused. I thought I should use a delay and then activate with applescript to get it focused.

Unfortunately the script is "waiting" for NameChanger to run and then to exit before executing the applescript bit. How can I change that?

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 01 '11 at 14:09

3

Alternatively you can use the open command to launch NameChanger. This should also automatically bring NameChanger to the foreground:

#!/bin/bash
open /Applications/NameChanger.app --args "$@"

answered Jul 01 '11 at 14:09

sakra

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score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 01 '11 at 13:37

2

Append a & at the end of commands in a shell script that you want to run in the background.

/Applications/NameChanger.app/Contents/MacOS/NameChanger "$@" &

answered Jul 01 '11 at 13:37

Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams

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for some reason i didn't think that would work, but it did! Thanks! While you're at it can you look at this one? http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3169805 I don't think it has a real answer yet. I also proposed some edits. – cwd Jul 01 '11 at 13:40
1

I'd say the given answer is accurate. – Ignacio Vazquez-Abrams Jul 01 '11 at 13:42

How to tell OS X not to "wait" during a bash script?

2 Answers2