A fix for the Procrastinatr damage
TUAW readers, please accept my deepest apologies again for this Procrastinatr fiasco. As it turns out, most of my iCal calendars are simply subscriptions to my Google Calendars, so I never saw any damage before posting this. Fortunately, however, a commenter on the Procrastinatr post by the name of ejk has put together an AppleScript that can reverse the damage. After creating my own set of local calendars with events and todos, and testing this four times, I am confident that it works. After the jump I have included the script in its entirety, as well as instructions for your inspection. I have also listed instructions for backing up your calendars as they are. If you just want a download, I have also posted a link to a script I compiled myself, after the jump.The AppleScript fix for Procrastinatr, courtesy of ejk:
set timeBack to (-1 * weeks)
tell application "iCal"
activate
repeat with allCals in calendars
repeat with myEvent in events of allCals
set (start date of myEvent) to ((start date of myEvent) + (my timeBack))
set (end date of myEvent) to ((end date of myEvent) + (my timeBack))
end repeat
repeat with myTodo in todos of allCals
if (due date of myTodo exists) and not (completion date of myTodo exists) then
set due date of myTodo to (due date of myTodo) + timeBack
end if
end repeat
end repeat
end tell
Before you run any of this, I recommend making a backup of your calendars as they are now just in case. Here's how:
- 10.4 stores your calendars in ~/Library/Application Support/iCal.
- 10.3, if I recall, places you calendars in ~/Library/Calendars.
Simply clicking on either of these folders and hit cmd + D, that's a Duplicate command that will create a copy of the folder with "Copy" attached to the name. Back this up, if you want, as you see fit.
To create your own AppleScript, simply go to your Applications/AppleScript folder and open the Script Editor. Copy and paste this text into the editor (everything between the "set timeBack..." line and final "end tell" line) and chose File > Save As. In this dialog, make sure you set the File Format to "Application", and make sure all three of the Options (Run Only, Startup Screen and stay Open) are un-checked. Save this script anywhere you want and then run it. Depending on how large your calendar database is, this could take a little while so I recommend you just sit tight while it's running to keep this by the book.
If you just want this script as a download, I've posted it here.
Again, TUAW readers, please accept my deepest apologies for the mess I helped to make.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
mark said 6:18PM on 6-21-2006
So if Procrastinatr didn't muck up your iCal, what did Procrastinatr do & what made you post it? What did it to to make you think it was so...useful?
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Mark said 6:23PM on 6-21-2006
From David's original post: "Even though it's only a 0.8b version, this handy little app can help you make molehills out of mountains and start managing your time again."
So, David ... if you ran the program, as you say, and didn't see *any effect* at all on your iCal calendar...
...what, exactly, prompted you to perceive Procrastinatr as handy, helpful, or capable of helping people manage their time?
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ejk said 6:24PM on 6-21-2006
Just to note: The person who wrote the fix script was Brian, not me. I just corrected a small mistake.
I think it's important to note how quickly he responded to the problem.
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Jeremy said 6:25PM on 6-21-2006
Here's where .Mac syncing works. I stupidly ran the program, screwed up my iCal stuff, and was able to to back to .Mac and re-sync my iCal and replace the damaged calendars with my calendars that had been backed up. That's another way to fix it.
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David Chartier said 6:28PM on 6-21-2006
In all honesty, I thought it was just a harmless joke app when I saw it. iCal wasn't running when I downloaded it, so when I opened Procrastinatr - and remember almost all my calendars are read-only gCal subscriptions so it didn't do anything to me - it simply opened iCal, so I thought it was just a harmless joke. Kind of a pun at getting more pro-active in being organized.
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olivier said 6:50PM on 6-21-2006
come on, read again the name of the app and tell me that it didn't sound suspicious!
you like to test new software, fine, but you know that it can harm your mac and data so you backup.
give us a break, give brian a break, give david a break, there are tons of backup solutions. i personally have 3 different automated backups of my contacts + calendars (.mac/external drive backup/server backup).
and most of all, i think twice before pressing the INSTALL icon of an application i've never heard of.
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jimmac said 7:25PM on 6-21-2006
Sorry, olivier, no "break" from me for David Chartier, the TUAW blogger who recommended this malware.
There is simply no excuse when a popular and (previoiusly) respectable blog site ends up harming its readers!
The very useful http://www.macosxhints.com/ site tests every hint thoroughly or warns when testing is not performed.
SHAME ON TUAW.
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Reid Bode said 7:28PM on 6-21-2006
My guess is that Brian's friend that he unleashed this on submitted it, and not him.
Also, for a good prank, a real website would fool his friends better that emailing it to them.
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David Chartier said 7:33PM on 6-21-2006
Like I said jimmac: first of all, I am deeply sorry. But for the record: I did download and test the app. Because of my unique circumstances, the app wasn't able to pull any tricks on my calendars, so I couldn't catch the malicious intent.
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barry said 7:37PM on 6-21-2006
The problem was that we had heard of it. From a website we PREVIOUSLY thought to be reputable.
I mean sure on April 1, I'm quite wary, but I don't have the luxury of unlimited time so most of the year I try stuff that was recommended by a source I trust without fully investigating.
If I want information on practical jokes I would read a practical jokes blog or at least a computer blog that would mark practical jokes as such.
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Pablo said 7:55PM on 6-21-2006
- Brian made a mistake creating the software,
- David made a mistake by posting it without further testing.
- But the biggest mistake of all was from the idiots who blindly installed a program they knew nothing about.
The end user can be the best or the worst security tool. Educate yourselves and hope this simple lesson sticks in your thick noggins. Next time, and there will be a next time, the outcome probably won't be so benign.
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mrtotes said 8:16PM on 6-21-2006
This is a real teller. So next time a Mac blog recommendes something fun - ppl blindly install it entering the Admin password only to find it's basically a virus or similar.
Brian has done us all a favour by reminding us of the importance of backing up and only giving admin access to known trusted applications. At least it was relatively harmless (I know I'll get flamed for that statement - but seriously it didn't corrupt drives or OSes) incident to keep us all as a Mac community in check.
I didn't download this - but I did foolishly buy PocketMac Pro 3.51 for syncing my PocketPC - it does something similar but costs $39. ;-( Doh!
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Mike R said 10:07PM on 6-21-2006
Has anyone else here noticed doublespeak on David's behalf?
He's given us two responses:
A: "I didn't think it was a harmful app, i thought it was useful."
B: "I thought it was just a gag, like the cup holder deal"
You can't even get your lies straight. Don't you know toying with people's computers is risky business? What's to keep the next cup-holder gag from secretly installing adware on your system? Clearly people think you're a reputable journalist, although we've all seen just what an incompetent buffoon you are this past week.
One bad post after another Dave, how are you going to top this one?
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Buthidae said 11:09PM on 6-21-2006
I big THUMBS-UP to all of the commentors in this thread, and in the original post.
You all have proved that Mac OS X is PRECISELY AS SECURE AS THE CHUMP SITTING IN THE CHAIR! For the love of Christ, if your stuff is important - BACK IT UP!!!
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Fero said 11:28PM on 6-21-2006
Yes, Dave made a mistake by not investigating more about this app.
Yes, Dave made a mistake by recommending it in the first place.
Yes, Dave screwed up.
Get over it people. People make mistakes and being a TUAW editor does not make perfect.
Instead of whining about how Dave made you install this app think about how easy it is to make people install something without reading the small print.
Atleast something good came out of this: It shows you how naive and careless Mac users can be when it comes to installing apps.
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Johnny said 11:59PM on 6-21-2006
- I don't think Brian's big mistake was creating the software. Like no one has ever played a joke with a friends computer before? But creating a whole website for it and getting a domain name? Woah ... bad move Brian. Stick with emailing such apps to your friends. Don't screw around in the public domain like that unless you're ready for it. (you aren't ready for it)
- David, David, David. You clearly weren't thinking. I know you tested it on your own machine, but after it didn't appear to do anything and after reading the intent in the readme, weren't you the least suspicious? Why would you post it before having thoroughly checked its authenticity? (running it once and then posting is not thorough) With no warning to your readers??
A wise supporting actor once said, "With great power comes great responsibility." I may be wrong, but I consider TUAW a major media outlet for the Mac community. And it seems you forgot what writing for it commands of you. I think we all know what would happen if a writer in the traditional news media printed a story that was (albeit unintentionally) misrepresenting and damaging to readers. There would be a retraction, an apology, and then the writer would get canned. Too harsh? Maybe, but that's the real world. Perhaps Weblogs, Inc. should have editors for more than just Engadget so that something like this doesn't happen again.
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LD said 12:38AM on 6-22-2006
David, if you thought it was a gag app, why didn't you post it under Humor? Why the two different responses as Mike R pointed out?
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Sandman619 said 1:14AM on 6-22-2006
An easy way to backup your iCal database:
File > Backup Database > Choose your backup location > Press [ OK ]
As an avid tryer of new software, if something creates havoc on my Mac, then I realize that I'm the only one responsble for the outcome.
Never blindly try anything.
First determine if you're curious or if there's a real need for this software.
Then, back up, you never know when a good appl can cause unintended results; that happens.
If something does go wrong, the responsibility is your own, you installed it.
Cheers!
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David Chartier said 1:16AM on 6-22-2006
#17: The fact that it wasn't also listed under humor was an oversight as well. Guys: the whole post was a mistake, k? We've all established this by now, and I've apologized multiple times in the comment threads for both of these posts, as well as more publicly in both of the posts themselves, and I'll do it again: I deeply and sincerely apologize for all the trouble I have caused.
Mike R is going out of his way to nit-pick everything I've said (and some things I haven't said) because he disagrees with or has a grudge against some of the posts I write, such as the DRM posts surrounding court issues from European countries and that DefectiveByDesign protest. It isn't the first time a reader has had issues with something a blogger writes, and the guy is out to get me. Take his comments as seriously as you like.
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Florin Cojocariu said 1:49AM on 6-22-2006
Reasons for posting the initial article aside, this is a good example about how people tend to blame others for their own mistakes. Sure, David did a mistake, but he quickly admited it. But the majority of the angry readers looks like they are installing apps without reading the docs attached, which isn't very smart either. Quote from the Read Me file bundled with the app: "*All Procrastinatr does is add a week to the deadlines of every event and to-do on your calendars. If this is not your desired result, command-z is your friend, but must be used separately for each event and to-do. Better yet, just don't run this program." Sure, is in size 9 and in gray, but I would say you can't miss it.
Funny enough, David himself didn't bother with the read me file. This may be the first piece of "Read the f... read me"-ware. Very educational...
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