Change desktop picture from command line ???

[JupiterZen]

Is there a way to change the desktop picture from the command line in OS X?

If someone knows how to do this (or if it can't be done, but I doubt that ;-) I would really appreciate it.

[Mr. Anderson]

I think you can do it from Apple Script - try doing a search on this.....

But I remember way back in the day at school when we were using Unix boxes (12 years ago) and we could remotely log in and post a pic on someone else's screen in the lab. ;)

D

[JupiterZen]

Originally posted by Mr. Anderson
I think you can do it from Apple Script - try doing a search on this.....

But I remember way back in the day at school when we were using Unix boxes (12 years ago) and we could remotely log in and post a pic on someone else's screen in the lab. ;)

D

Remotely changing the desktop was exactly what I was planning to do ... ;)

I'm not that familiar with Apple Script, but I figure you can execute scripts from the command line. I will probably be able to figure that out ;)

Thanx, I'm off searching ...

[Doctor Q]

I know a crude trick that works, even without AppleScript. I'm sure there is a better way to do this, but I'll report this method.

1. Create a new folder that will hold the current desktop picture, e.g., "Desktop Picture" in your home folder.

2. Copy a single image, e.g., ~/Pictures/sunset.jpg, to the folder from Step 1. Give it a generic name, e.g., picture.jpg.

3. In the "Desktop" preference pane, pick Collection: "Choose Folder..." and select the folder from Step 1. Turn "Change Picture" on and set a time, e.g., "every minute". I don't think it matters whether or not you pick "Random order".

4. Anytime you want to change desktop pictures, copy the new picture over the file from Step 2, e.g.,

cp "~/Pictures/mydog.jpg" "~/Desktop Picture/picture.jpg"

When the time you picked in Step 3 is next up, the desktop picture will change. You could even make a shell script to do the command from Step 4, e.g.,

setdtp mydog

[JupiterZen]

Originally posted by Doctor Q
[B]I know a crude trick that works, even without AppleScript. I'm sure there is a better way to do this, but I'll report this method.


Sounds like a good option ;) I'm gonna try this one.

Thanx ...