INTRODUCTION

ChronoSync does not directly support automatic mounting of external drives connected via USB, FireWire, or Thunderbolt. Use this document to create a pre-synchronization AppleScript that scans for a specific volume and mounts it if it is not available.

RESOLUTION

Use the following steps to create the pre-sync AppleScript to mount the missing volume. Be sure to make the required changes so that the script searches for your desired volume name. This procedure makes use of the AppleScript Editor which be found in the Applications->Utilities folder.

1. Open the AppleScript Editor
   

   Open the Utilities folder, found in the Applications folder of your Mac, then open the AppleScript Editor.

2. Create the AppleScript
   

   Copy the following script and paste it into the AppleScript Editor. Change the word “Storage” to the name of the volume you’d like to mount (keep the quotes). This name can be found as the label underneath a mounted volume icon or at the top of the Get Info window for the desired volume.

   set myVolumeLabel to "Storage"
   tell application "Finder"
   set diskDev to do shell script "diskutil list | grep \"" & myVolumeLabel & "\" | grep -o 'disk[1-9]*' "
   if not (disk myVolumeLabel exists) then
   do shell script "diskutil mountDisk " & diskDev
   end if
   end tell
   
3. Compile and Test
   

   Click the 'Compile' button in the AppleScript Editor toolbar. Check for any errors. Now, test the script. First, make sure the volume being addressed in the script is ejected. Now click the 'Run' toolbar button. Does the volume get mounted in Finder or on the desktop? Correct any errors before continuing.

4. Save the AppleScript
   

   Save the AppleScript by going to the menubar and choosing File -> Save. Make
   sure to choose the 'Script' File Format if it is not chosen already. Choose a directory to store the AppleScript, then choose 'Save'. It may be helpful to keep any scripts in the same folder where the sync document is stored.

5. Set the Script in Your Sync Document
   

   Open the saved sync document and switch to the Options Panel. Expand the 'Scripts' section.

   Enable 'Pre-Synchronization script’, then click the ‘Choose’ button and select the AppleScript just created.

   Choose whether or not to abort the sync run if the AppleScript encounters an error by enabling or disabling ‘Abort on Script Errors’.

   Test the script by clicking 'Run'.

CONCLUSION

If all has gone well, the AppleScript should have launched before running the sync, and the volume that was previously un-mounted should now be mounted and accessible both via Finder and ChronoSync.

REVISION HISTORY

Mar-20-2014 - Created from Internal Support Notes.