OffShoot Helper is a small menu bar app (macOS only) that enables you to automatically set up OffShoot with a specific configuration called Workspaces.
This feature requires an OffShoot Pro license.
Getting Started
Open the app and click the OffShoot Helper icon in the menu bar.
Select Example Workspace.
OffShoot will open, setting a Source and Destination.
Workspace files are stored in ~/Library/Preferences/Hedge/Workspaces/. You can quickly get to this location by selecting Manage Workspaces...
A Workspace is a JSON file that specifies how to set up OffShoot. A separate menu item is created for each JSON file in the Workspaces folder.
Workspace actions
A workspace file contains an array with one JSON object that can define the following actions:
Copy [
{
"clearSourcesAndDestinations": true,
"setSources": ["/Users/hedge/Desktop"],
"setDestinations": ["/Users/hedge/Desktop"],
"setPreferencesToDefault": true,
"setPreferences": {"keyword": "value"},
"runBashCommands": ["say 'Hello'"],
"runAppleScript" : "/path/to/scriptfile.scpt"
}
] Clear Sources and Destinations
When set to true, OffShoot clears all Sources and Destinations.
Copy "clearSourcesAndDestinations": true Set Destinations
Sets one or multiple Destinations e.g. ["/path/to/destinationOne","/path/to/destinationTwo"]
Copy "setDestinations": ["/Volumes/X1"], Set Sources
Sets one or multiple Sources as a collection e.g:["/path/to/source1","/path/to/source2"]
Copy "setSources": ["/Volumes/Z1", "/Volumes/Z2"] Restore Default Preferences
When set to true, OffShoot's preferences are reset to their default setting (except for Connect, Cloud, and License preferences).
Copy "setPreferencesToDefault": true, Set Preferences
Set any preference by using the dictionary below.
Copy "setPreferences": {
"general_auto_source_recents": "0",
"general_auto_source_name_enabled": "1",
"general_auto_source_name_pattern": "UNTITLED;ARRI UDF;A*_*;B*_*",
"general_auto_recognize_destinations_enabled": "1",
"general_auto_eject_sources": "0",
"general_date_tomorrow_starts": "0",
"transfers_queue_mode": "0",
"transfers_verification_mode": "Transfer", // e.g "Transfer", "Source", "SourceAndDestination"
"transfers_logs_on_destination_enabled": "1",
"transfers_logs_on_destination_mhl_per_file_enabled": "0",
"transfers_extra_log_location": "",
"transfers_force_underscores": "0",
"connect_enable": "0",
"integrations_foolcat_enable": "0",
"integrations_foolcat_match_destination": "",
"integrations_foolcat_report_location": "",
"integrations_foolcat_report_name": "{Source Name}",
"integrations_foolcat_report_description": "",
"integrations_frameio_enable": "0",
"integrations_parashoot_enable": "0",
"integrations_scratch_enable": "0",
"integrations_scratch_match_destination": "",
"integrations_scratch_match_extension": ".mov; .mp4",
"integrations_scratch_project": "",
"integrations_scratch_group": "{YYYY}-{MM}-{DD}",
"integrations_scratch_timeline": "{Source Name}",
"integrations_scratch_watchfolder": "/Library/Application Support/Assimilator/Watch",
"scripting_opt_in": "0",
"scripting_events_checkpoint_issue": "",
"scripting_events_disk_added": "",
"scripting_events_disk_busy": "",
"scripting_events_disk_idle": "",
"scripting_events_disk_removed": "",
"scripting_events_disks_idle": "",
"scripting_events_file_copy_completed": ""
}
Not all Preferences are built-in, we're adding them on a need-to-have basis. Missing one that is required in your workflow? Let us know .
Run bash commands
Copy "runBashCommands": ["say 'Hello'"] Run AppleScript
Copy "runAppleScript" : "/path/to/scriptfile.scpt" The example below loads a workspace and uses this script to set two Finder windows on the right side of the OffShoot main window.
It's also possible to use a relative path
Autostart
By default, OffShoot Helper is set to automatically start at computer login.
Terminal command to disable:
Copy defaults write nl.syncfactory.Hedge.Mac.Helper launchAtLogin 0 Terminal command to enable:
Copy defaults write nl.syncfactory.Hedge.Mac.Helper launchAtLogin 1 Terminal command to check the current autostart setting:
Copy defaults read nl.syncfactory.Hedge.Mac.Helper launchAtLogin Auto start workspace
OffShoot Helper can launch a workspace automatically on system startup:
Terminal command to enable a startup workspace:
Copy defaults write nl.syncfactory.Hedge.Mac.Helper launchWorkspaceAtStart "filename.json" Terminal command to disable the startup workspace:
Copy defaults delete nl.syncfactory.Hedge.Mac.Helper launchWorkspaceAtStart Terminal command to check the current startup workspace:
Copy defaults read nl.syncfactory.Hedge.Mac.Helper launchWorkspaceAtStart Change workspaces folder
You can set a custom workspaces folder with this Terminal command:
Copy defaults write nl.syncfactory.Hedge.Mac.Helper CustomWorkspaceDirectory "/the/path/to/the/custom/dir" 
