Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) 3 is the latest release of Apple’s desktop management software, enabling administrators to distribute software, manage assets, and remotely administer Mac OS X systems via a network. ARD 3 takes advantage of innovative technologies in Mac OS X Tiger such as Automator.

Automator is built on the concept of actions - discrete tasks such as opening a file, cropping an image, or sending a message. With Automator users can string together a series of actions into a single Automator workflow document. Much like a script, a workflow document can be executed, triggering each action and passing any data generated by the action to the next action in the workflow.

Using the Automator actions installed with ARD and custom actions you create, you can develop workflows to automate repetitive system administration tasks. For example, workflows can distribute software, create detailed software and hardware reports, and remotely configure systems using ARD.

Tags: administrator ard automator mac macintosh os_x osx server workflow on 07-20-2008 -Cached -About Shared by:Jeff Johnson

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Automator is an application that lets users automate repetitive procedures performed on a computer. Developers create Automator actions--loadable bundles that perform discrete tasks--that users link together in a workflow. Developers can implement Automator actions using AppleScript, Objective-C, or a combination of the two. System administrators and end users can also supply their own shell scripts as Automator actions. Actions can access the capabilities of individual applications (including the Finder) and a wide range of system services.

Tags: applescript automate automation automator on 07-20-2008 -Cached -About Shared by:Jeff Johnson

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