This query might be a bit premature, as it’s a question about the forthcoming Sierra gatekeeper, but here goes.
I’ve got an ASObjC application (‘Mail Manager’), that is so large that it’s split into 4 separate Applications. As well, an Applescript called from a Mail Rule in the Apple Mail app on new mail arrival is used, that calls a small application that checks if my main Application is allowed to run, and calls it if it is.
On top of that, 3 other Applications are used in my overall Application process, one of which is constantly called by multiple Folder Actions. This App monitors the calling folders for incoming ftp transfers from the ftp App ‘Interarchy’, and when it recognises that a transfer (which could be multiple items), is complete, adds the ftp folder to a .txt file list, which is monitored by my main app when running, which then processes the saved ftp transfers.
When running, the total of 7 Applications are stored in a folder called ‘Mail Manager’, in the Applications folder. They are unsigned.
To start off with, all scripts and Applications are located in the contents of the Mail Manager App. The contents also hold several information .pdfs, a font, a .png logo used in sending report emails, and several .txt files. 9.8 MB in total.
I have written an installer that starts Mail Manager up from anywhere on the disk, recognises that the running Mail Manager is not in the Applications folder, and proceeds to create a Mail Manager folder in the Applications folder if one does not exist, and then copies each Application stored in the contents to the Mail Manager folder, overwriting any previous versions that existed. It also copies the Applescript from the contents, to the location for Mail scripts, overwriting any old script. Mail Manager then transfers itself from wherever it is located to the Applications Mail Manager folder, overwriting any old version.
During this process, it creates a Dock icon for itself if one does not exist, pointing to the Mail Manager App in the Applications Mail Manager folder.
It then asks the user to click on the Dock icon, and then turns itself off. When the Dock icon is clicked, the newly located Mail Manager activates, and it’s first job is to list all the Apple Mail inboxes, and ask the user to choose which inbox the Applescript will apply to. It then writes, or overwrites, a Mail Rule that directs incoming mail from that inbox, to a mailbox called ‘* items to shift’, and adds a line activating the Mail Manager calling script.
All the extra Applications are called directly from the Applications Mail Manager folder when needed, to avoid accidentally using any other possible stored versions.
When updating Mail Manager, because it’s so complex, and while it’s being tested, I might write several amended versions and send them for testing, in a day. I’m up to update 4211.
During it’s operation, many Emails are sent from Mail Manager, to user settable lists. They all are headed by the contents stored .png logo, which is addressed directly by it’s stored position in the Mail Manager Application contents.
BIG question. How will the new Sierra gatekeeper technique alter the above procedure, if at all?
My main concern is that calling the folder embedded Applications directly using the folder/Application path may no longer work.
Also, will my initial copying of the contents stored Applications still be embedded in the Mail Manager folder?
Will referring to the embedded png logo still work?
As I don’t know the procedure, and I understand signing of the App will allow it to be stored in the Application folder, will signing versions of my App enable rapid re-writes? Will I have to sign EVERY individual App of the 7. Will I have to sign the Applescript? I’d prefer NOT to sign.
Regards
Santa
And what, you ask, was the beginning of it all?
And it is this......
Existence that multiplied itself
For sheer delight of being
And plunged with numberless trillions of forms
So that it might
find
itself
innumerably
Sri Aurobindo