Stop a Time Machine backup that has already started?

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
#1

I wrote a couple of scripts: one to turn TM off, and one to turn it back on. A one-click version of the on/off switch in System Preferences. However, I keep forgetting to turn TM back on when I’m done.

My solution stands as an Automator app that will turn off TM backup scheduling and leave a window up asking me to turn it back on. When I get done with whatever needed the CPU/Hard disk’s full attention, I just click resume and all is well once more.

There is just one last thing I want to automate. In case I forget to run the app before starting up whatever intensive process, I want the app to cancel any TM backup that has already started and is slowing down the system. Yes, I could use the Time Machine icon in the menu bar and click “Stop backing up,” but it can get so slow that it is a hassle to sit around and wait for the GUI to respond. I just want to click my pause app, have any current backup stopped, cancel backup scheduling, and wait for me to resume scheduling.

SO, my problem: How can I use Automator/Apple Script/Shell Scripts to stop a backup that has already started.

My searches give me plenty of ways to start scheduling, stop scheduling, modify scheduling, but so far nothing to cancel a backup in progress. If it’s out there, it’s being obscured by all the people trying to adjust scheduling, not stop a current backup task.

Here’s what I have so far, with nothing yet that will stop an active backup when the workflow runs: http://cl.ly/C4KA

#2

I’m not sure if this is what you’re after, but for a script I’m developing I use this:


--Force Time Machine to stop
do shell script "killall backupd" user name "username" password "password" with administrator privileges
#3

Hi,

sorry, it’s a very bad idea to kill the process because the backup could be left in a undefined state.
The menu items of Time Machine’s menu bar item are accessible by its executable followed by a number
This stops the backup in a controlled way

do shell script "/Applications/Time\ Machine.app/Contents/MacOS/Time\ Machine 3"

See all available commands in /Applications/Time Machine.app/Contents/Resources/Menu.plist

#4

Ah, thanks very much. Yes, I was trying to avoid just killing the process and potentially ruining my backups.

#5

…and in case anyone finds this, I’ll just add that the file path passing from AppleScript to shell script will need escaped spaces to be themselves escaped:

do shell script "/Applications/Time\\ Machine.app/Contents/MacOS/Time\\ Machine 3"
#6

thanks… I’ve been trying to find a nicer way of doing that… I’m still new to applescript and keep finding new techniques every day

#7

…so now I’m trying to do this same thing with a third-party menu extra called Clusters (which compresses files wherever possible to save space), but when I go into the package contents, there is no menu.plist, but there is a MainMenu.nib.

Can I still use this method? Is there something else I can do to trigger a “click” on the menu line?

As far as I know there is no built-in scripting method to pause it.

It would be simple enough to pause it myself, and then run the rest of my automated workflow, but obviously a one-click solution for all the steps is preferable.

#8

I guess no, the menulet executable must explicitly support the direct call with parameters.
This is not the default behavior.