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Using AppleScript to adjust monitor size and depth.
John Pugh has written an excellent collection of 33 scripting additions called Jon's Commands. This page will focus on the commands that control the monitor size and depth.
Installation: After downloading the small file, installation is as simple as dragging Jon's Commands on top of the System Folder. It will automatically be routed to the Scripting Additions folder. There is no need to restart, the commands are readily available.
To see the commands in action, launch Apple's Script Editor and type the following simple command and run it:
My Powerbook supports a limited set of screen options
{{name:"Color LCD", screen id:1, bounds:{0, 0, 800, 600}, screen size:{800, 600}, color depth:8, in color:true, has menu bar:true, resolution index:1, safe resolution:true, supported resolutions:{{resolution index:1, screen size:{800, 600}, safe resolution:true, name:"800 x 600"}}}} |
screen list
Depending on your monitor type, the Result window may display a surprising amount of info! These are all the possible monitor depths, screen sizes, and refresh rates that your current setup supports. Additionally, there is information on the number of monitors connected to the computer, and whether the setting is considered a Safe Resolution (True/False).
Safe Resolutions correspond to the Recommended settings in the Monitor & Sounds control panel. Don't be intimidated by the listing; we only care about a few of the many settings.
Examples: Assuming these settings are supported on your monitor, type the following into the Script Editor and run it:
set screens to {color depth:8, in color:false }
Your screen should have switched to 256 shades of grey. To switch back, set in color to true!
Switching monitor depth is easy too:
set screens to {color depth:16} -- 16 bit, thousands of colors
set screens to {color depth:8} -- 8 bit, 256 colors
Ok. How about screen size! Lots of people have been asking for that.
set screens to {screen size:{800, 600}, refresh rate: 75} -- Make it big!
set screens to {screen size:{640,480}, refresh rate: 60} -- Make it small!
What could be simpler! Here are a list of the commands for set screens to:
name string -- The name of this type of screen.
screen id integer -- The unique id of the screen.
screen size point -- The height and width of the screen.
bounds bounding rectangle -- The boundary rectangle for the screen.
refresh rate integer -- The refresh frequency of this monitor.
color depth small integer -- The screen color depth setting.
in color boolean -- If the screen is in color (versus grayscale).
has menu bar boolean -- If this is the main screen which the menu bar is on.
supported resolutions a list of record -- The resolutions supported by this monitor .
resolution index integer -- The index into the supported resolutions list for this resolution.
safe resolution boolean -- Is this resolution safe or does it require user confirmation?
Once you have a little script to accomplish your screen switchin' goal, save it as an Application and you can double-click it at any time. If you're using OSA menu, save it as a compiled script and put it in the Universal Scripts folder. |
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