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rdijkgraaf

macrumors member
Original poster
Jan 29, 2016
31
5
Netherlands
I have Automator automatically open certain applications at a certain time in the evening. The next morning the windows are open. I would like to avoid having to close them by hand with cmd-w, I want Automator to do that for me automatically after opening the apps. Automator can open Apple Script, but what do I enter next?
 
I’m not sure I understand, you want to open apps without visible windows?
Depending on the apps, you can use open -j
Example in AppleScript:
AppleScript:
do shell script "open -j /System/Applications/Calculator.app"

Related threads and apps
“I wrote an AppleScript that Quits all running apps at once!” https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-that-quits-all-running-apps-at-once.2379603/
“Quit app by pressing the red dot?” https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/quit-app-by-pressing-the-red-dot.2395078/
Quick Action to Quit All Applications https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-to-close-apps-in-mission-control.2371321/post-31754914
Swift Quit "Close Mac Applications Automatically When Their Windows Close" https://swiftquit.com/
RedQuits "All programs now quit and close all open windows if you click the red button." http://www.carsten-mielke.com/redquits.html
 
I’m not sure I understand, you want to open apps without visible windows?
Depending on the apps, you can use open -j
Example in AppleScript:
AppleScript:
do shell script "open -j /System/Applications/Calculator.app"

Related threads and apps
“I wrote an AppleScript that Quits all running apps at once!” https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...-that-quits-all-running-apps-at-once.2379603/
“Quit app by pressing the red dot?” https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/quit-app-by-pressing-the-red-dot.2395078/
Quick Action to Quit All Applications https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/how-to-close-apps-in-mission-control.2371321/post-31754914
Swift Quit "Close Mac Applications Automatically When Their Windows Close" https://swiftquit.com/
RedQuits "All programs now quit and close all open windows if you click the red button." http://www.carsten-mielke.com/redquits.html
 
Last edited:
I tried to use your script with and without the '.app' but I get an error message. Apperently I am doing something wrong ... See attachments.
Automator.jpg
Error message.jpg
 
Why use “Get Specified Finder Items”?
Simply “Run AppleScript”:
AppleScript:
do shell script "open -j /Applications/Indigo\\ 2023.1.app"
 
It’s not simply closing windows, but you can quit applications, selective or all, using Automator or Shortcuts. Some quick example screenshots:


Automator_Quit-Apps.pngShortcuts_Quit-Apps.png
 
Thanks again, your suggestion to open app via automator and 'run script' works simpler than my previous system. But the – minor but a bit annoying – problem still remains: I have to close the window manually every day.
 
Not all apps respect open -j, you could try to close the window with AppleScript
AppleScript:
tell application "Indigo 2023.1"
    activate
    close window 1
end tell
 
Thanks again. I would understand it if you have more important stuff to do, then just don't answer.

It should be simple I think, but I keep getting error messages. The app opens, but there's a problem with closing the window.
Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 22.04.09.jpg
Screenshot 2024-01-24 at 22.03.12.jpg
 
If do shell script "open -j /Applications/Indigo\\ 2023.1.app" doesn’t open the app without any windows, don’t use it.

Try in ScriptEditor just

AppleScript:
tell application "Indigo 2023.1"
activate
close window 1
end tell

to see if it closes the window of the app.

If it doesn’t work, there could be other ways to close the window
MacScripter - Close the window https://www.macscripter.net/t/close-the-window/74468
Script for closing an application's window https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252048971
 
If do shell script "open -j /Applications/Indigo\\ 2023.1.app" doesn’t open the app without any windows, don’t use it.

Try in ScriptEditor just

AppleScript:
tell application "Indigo 2023.1"
activate
close window 1
end tell

to see if it closes the window of the app.

If it doesn’t work, there could be other ways to close the window
MacScripter - Close the window https://www.macscripter.net/t/close-the-window/74468
Script for closing an application's window https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252048971
Dear Bogdanw, thanks for all your supportfor this noob! Ultimately it is working properly, see the image.
(Indigo underwent an update, so 2023.2 instead of 2023.1).
Screenshot 2024-01-29 at 18.48.41.jpg
 
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