Disable automatic changing of wallpaper image

[jessemillar]

When I set my wallpaper using wallpaper to a directory instead of an image (e.g. wallpaper set ~/.trunk/wallpaper/desktop), it automatically checks the "Change picture every X minutes" checkbox. This does not happen when I set the wallpaper to a specific file (e.g. wallpaper set ~/.trunk/wallpaper/desktop/foggy-trees.jpg). Is this an Apple-imposed limitation? Or could there be a CLI flag that allows me to disable that functionality?

[sindresorhus]

What's the point of setting it to a directory if you don't want it to change automatically?

[jessemillar]

I have a manual script setup that runs periodically to change the wallpaper in response to system events. I'd rather not have it change randomly on me via the OS.

[sindresorhus]

There's no macOS API to control this behavior. It's just happens when we pass a directory as wallpaper.

macos-wallpaper/Sources/wallpaper/Wallpaper.swift

Line 109 in c226380

try NSWorkspace.shared.setDesktopImageURL(image, for: nsScreen, options: options)

One solution could be to programmatically change that system preference after setting the directory as wallpaper.

The setting might also be stored in the wallpaper database, not sure, which we do have access to:

macos-wallpaper/Sources/wallpaper/Wallpaper.swift

Lines 41 to 57 in c226380

	/// Works around macOS bug where it sometimes returns a directory instead of an image.
	/// https://openradar.appspot.com/radar?id=4959084113559552
	private static func getFromDirectory(_ url: URL) throws -> URL {
	let appSupportDirectory = try FileManager.default.url(for: .applicationSupportDirectory, in: .userDomainMask, appropriateFor: nil, create: false)
	let dbURL = appSupportDirectory.appendingPathComponent("Dock/desktoppicture.db")
	let table = Table("data")
	let column = Expression<String>("value")
	let rowID = Expression<Int64>("rowid")
	let db = try Connection(dbURL.path)
	let maxID = try db.scalar(table.select(rowID.max))!
	let query = table.select(column).filter(rowID == maxID)
	let image = try db.pluck(query)!.get(column)
	return url.appendingPathComponent(image)
	}

[boettchs]

HI, cool tool!
Wondering if you can change the duration of the rotation? My test Mac sets at 30 mins, but I'd like to save it to 8 hours or on login, etc?

Thanks much!