Fix for Auto-Play in Keynote 6.2.2

With the update to Keynote 6.2.2, Apple changed the application’s AppleScript dictionary. This change stopped some Keynote presentations playing when triggered by Power Manager events. Thankfully the fix is simple.

Prior to Keynote v6.2.2, released on 22 August 2014, the following AppleScript would launch and start a presentation:

tell application "Keynote"
	activate
	open myFilePath
	start
end tell

With the update, the start command now needs an explicit document. Without a document, the AppleScript fails and the presentation does not start.

The solution is to provide a reference to the frontmost document. The fixed AppleScript now becomes:

tell application "Keynote"
	activate
	open myFilePath
	start front document
end tell

We are working on a minor update to Power Manager that will incorporate this solution. Until then either avoid updating Keynote, or switch over to a Run script daily style event. Your embedded script can use the following as a template:

#!/usr/bin/osascript

set myFile to "/Users/you/Desktop/My Presentation.key"

tell application "Keynote"
	activate
	open myFile
	start front document
end tell

If you need help scheduling your presentations, please get in touch.

Update Power Manager 4.3.2 is available now and includes the above fix.