This Script is designed to run on OSX 10.3. It should run tolerably on 10.2 except that it will not actually set up the final step, you would need to hit command P or otherwise order the document to be printed.


QUICK START
Place this folder "Printer Purge folder" in your Applications folder.

Select "Printer Purge" as a startup item.

If you don't get to the Computer soon enough after it starts up and the Script Times out, you will still get the dialog (as a reminder) but the script won't complete it's task (open the graphic and set it up for printing). Select Edit from the box that pops up and then select run in the Script Editor to run the Script that way. Then close the Script.


INSTRUCTIONS LONG VERSION
Place this folder "Printer Purge folder" in your Applications folder. It will not work if you place it anywhere else unless you make an alias to it and put that in your Applications folder. That should work but has not been tested.

Select "Printer Purge" as a startup item. If you are not familiar here is the procedure:

1. Select "System Preferences" in your Apple Menu
2. Select "Accounts" in the "View" menu of "System Preferences".
3. Select "Startup Items" on the right side, just below your tool bar on the "Accounts" settings page.
4. Click on the "+" in the lower middle part of the "Accounts" - "Startup Items" page.
5. Navigate to your "Applications" folder if necessary and then to the "Printer Purge folder" and inside that to the "Printer Purge" AppleScript Application.
6. Click on the "Add" button to add "Printer Purge" to your Startup Items list.
7. Quit "System Preferences"

WHAT IT DOES
This Script actually runs every day whenever the computer is started, it will only ask you if you need to Purge your printer on Tuesday and Friday and it will ask you which printer you want to purge from the list of printers on your computer.

On Tuesday it will then open the "MyPurge.jpg" and order it to be printed (assuming that you are using OS 10.3., otherwise it will open the document and you will need to order the printing).

On Friday it will then open the "MyBlackPurge.jpg" and order it to be printed (assuming that you are using OS 10.3., otherwise it will open the document and you will need to order the printing).

It will not actually give the final print command, partially because your printer may not be ready at that point if you just turned it on.

You then hit Return or Enter twice and your printer should be happy for a few more days. At least that is the theory.


CHANGING TO A DIFFERENT PURGE DOCUMENT
The Script "Printer Purge" is set to use the application Preview open and set up printing for a document called "MyPurge.jpg" and "MyBlackPurge.jpg" in the folder "Printer Purge folder" in your Applications folder.

"MyPurge.jpg" is a 6 color test pattern and I used it simply because it was handy and it doesn't really matter much which one you use to keep the printer cleaned out.

"MyBlackPurge.jpg" is used on Friday because I find that the Black needs more maintenance than the colored jets.

You can put any ".jpg" file in this location and name it "MyPurge.jpg" or "MyBlackPurge.jpg" (as desired) and the Script should run fine, so feel free to have it print your favorite photo or whatever else if you prefer. Just in case you get the bright idea to have it print a different kind of document, that won't work since changing the document type from whatever it is supposed to be to ".jpg" will cause Preview to fail to open it.

For the complete selection of Mis Associates Purging Test patterns, go here:
http://www.inksupply.com/index1.cfm?source=html/purging.html


DISCLAIMER
This software was written and intended for OS Panther (10.3) and may not work correctly on earlier versions of OSX. Run it at your own risk.