AppleScriping File Transfers

SiteCam can be used to send images to a remote internet directory. If you choose not to use the built-in FTP you can use AppleScript. You may want to use AppleScript if you are behind a firewall and cannot use the SiteCam FTP to send images.

If you are using an internet service provider, you can automate the transfer of images and movies to a remote server. You should be familiar with using an FTP client such as Fetch or Anarchie to update your web page. Knowledge of AppleScript is also helpful.

Quick Setup

1. Start SiteCam
2. Create a new document by selecting New in the File Menu.
3. Save the document as "mydoc" to your hard drive
4. Under Media Format, set the format to JPEG
5. Set the number of colors, quality and size as you like
6. Set the interval to 15 minutes
7. Set the destination to a folder called "Images" on your hard drive or Ram Disk.
8. Select "Take Picture Now" to take the first JPEG picture
9. Select Start Periodic Capture in the document menu to start taking pictures every 15 minutes.

At this point you should be able to find the mydoc01.jpg on your hard drive. That image file will always be the most recent image with the above settings. As new files are created, they will be renamed so that the oldest image will have a higher index number.

If you need to instruct your PPP connection to dial and disconnect each time, you need to have a scriptable PPP on your machine. The PPP that comes with MacOS 8 is scriptable. There is also a scriptable PPP/OT on the Apple Developer's site under "Open Transport." Try this link for scriptable OT/PPP for MacOS 7. Once your scriptable PPP is installed, you can continue with FetchPPP Sample or AnarchiePPP Sample.

If you have a full time internet connection or don't need to worry about your PPP connection, look at Fetch Sample or Anarchie Sample.

Once you find an acceptable script, make a copy of it and make the changes required to get it to compile and move the latest image to your remote directory.

Once your script is moving the latest image (image01.jpg) to your remote server, save the script as "FTP Latest.txt" as a text file. Under SiteCam's document menu for "mydoc", set the "Post Process" AppleScript to the new text file. Test it out using the "Test" button. Now save those changes and try it out using the "Take Picture Now" menu item.

Some hints...

• If you are unfamiliar with ApppleScript, I recommend getting a book on AppleScript programming or download the AppleScript Guide.
• Try recording the actions you want scripted by creating a new ScriptEditor document and turn recording on. When you're done, stop recording and edit the resulting script as needed.
• Avoid all dialogs... Add a "saving no" to avoid the "save" dialog whenever possible.