Python script that calls jamfHelper binary

[kennethdean2010]

Is there a way I could just add a counter to loop through the following code X amount of times:

def display_prompt():
    """Displays prompt to allow user to schedule update installation

    Args:
        None

    Returns:
        (int) defer_seconds: Number of seconds user wishes to defer policy
        OR
        None if an error occurs
    """
    cmd = [JAMFHELPER,
           '-windowType', 'hud',
           '-title', GUI_WINDOW_TITLE,
           '-heading', GUI_HEADING,
           '-icon', GUI_ICON,
           '-description', GUI_MESSAGE,
           '-button1', GUI_BUTTON,
           '-showDelayOptions',
           ' '.join(GUI_DEFER_OPTIONS),
           '- ']
    error_values = ['2', '3', '239', '243', '250', '255']
    # Instead of returning an error code to stderr, jamfHelper always returns 0
    # and possibly returns an 'error value' to stdout. This makes it somewhat
    # spotty to check for some deferrment values including 0 for 'Start Now'.
    # The return value is an integer, so leading zeroes are dropped. Selecting
    # 'Start Now' should technically return '01'; instead, only '1' is returned
    # which matches the 'error value' for 'The Jamf Helper was unable to launch'
    # All we can do is make sure the subprocess doesn't raise an error, then
    # assume (yikes!) a return value of '1' equates to 'Start Now'
    try:
        proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                                stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
        out, err = proc.communicate()
        # Check that the return value does not represent an 'error value'
        if not out in error_values:
            # Special case for 'Start Now' which returns '1'
            if out == '1':
                return 0
            else:
                return int(out[:-1])
        else:
            return None
    except:
        # Catch possible CalledProcessError and OSError
        print "An error occurred when displaying the user prompt."
        return None

But at the specified intervals:

GUI_DEFER_OPTIONS = ["300", "0", "7200", "14400", "28000"]

[SheeppOSU]

But at the specified intervals:

You want it to loop only at specific intervals?

---

Like this? -

count = 0
while True:
    count += 1
    display_prompt()
    if str(count) in GUI_DEFER_OPTIONS:
        for x in range(1, loopTimes + 1):
            display_prompt()

[kennethdean2010]

But at the specified intervals:

You want it to loop only at specific intervals?

---

Like this? -

count = 0 while True: count += 1 display_prompt() if str(count) in GUI_DEFER_OPTIONS: for x in range(1, loopTimes + 1): display_prompt()

Yes exactly. Now I am thinking this is what I am looking for a while loop to loop through until no more options. That make sense. Thanks SheepOSU... I have been crash coursing Python this weekend using "Automate the Boring Stuff with Python" by Al Sweigart on Udemy plus referencing the companion book at Safari Online. I will toy with this and see how it goes. I really appreciate the help. I think I may have it from here. Thanks for showing me the way @sheeppOSU!!!! :)

[SheeppOSU]

no problem, that's why I am here

[kennethdean2010]

Ok so the code below just keeps looping with 5 minutes still as an option, does not wait 5 mins either it just keeps looping what am I doing wrong with that counter? I am definately on the right track thanks to you SheeppOSU!!! :) The Jamf Helper Gui is displaying multiple times just not as intended.

def display_prompt():
    """Displays prompt to allow user to schedule update installation

    Args:
        None

    Returns:
        (int) defer_seconds: Number of seconds user wishes to defer policy
        OR
        None if an error occurs
    """

#counter to loop through display_prompt X amount of times.

    cmd = [JAMFHELPER,
           '-windowType', 'hud',
           '-title', GUI_WINDOW_TITLE,
           '-heading', GUI_HEADING,
           '-icon', GUI_ICON,
           '-description', GUI_MESSAGE,
           '-button1', GUI_BUTTON,
           '-showDelayOptions',
           ' '.join(GUI_DEFER_OPTIONS),
           '- ']
    error_values = ['2', '3', '239', '243', '250', '255']
    # Instead of returning an error code to stderr, jamfHelper always returns 0
    # and possibly returns an 'error value' to stdout. This makes it somewhat
    # spotty to check for some deferrment values including 0 for 'Start Now'.
    # The return value is an integer, so leading zeroes are dropped. Selecting
    # 'Start Now' should technically return '01'; instead, only '1' is returned
    # which matches the 'error value' for 'The Jamf Helper was unable to launch'
    # All we can do is make sure the subprocess doesn't raise an error, then
    # assume (yikes!) a return value of '1' equates to 'Start Now'
    try:
        proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                                stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
        out, err = proc.communicate()
        # Check that the return value does not represent an 'error value'
        if not out in error_values:
            # Special case for 'Start Now' which returns '1'
            if out == '1':
                return 0
            else:
                return int(out[:-1])
        else:
            return None
    except:
        # Catch possible CalledProcessError and OSError
        print "An error occurred when displaying the user prompt."
        return None

count = 0
while True:
    count += 1
    display_prompt()
    if str(count) in GUI_DEFER_OPTIONS:
        for x in range(1, loopTimes + 1):
            display_prompt()

[SheeppOSU]

it just keeps looping

That's because there is no break. You need to break it eventually. Here's an example of how it is uses -

import random

loopTimes = random.randint(1, 10)

while True:
    for x in range(1, loopTimes + 1):
        if x == loopTimes + 1:
            break #Breaks out of the while loop

Could implement break after something reaches a specific value

[kennethdean2010]

lol doh... of course. Thanks!!!

[kennethdean2010]

it just keeps looping

That's because there is no break. You need to break it eventually. Here's an example of how it is uses -

import random loopTimes = random.randint(1, 10) while True: for x in range(1, loopTimes + 1): if x == loopTimes + 1: break #Breaks out of the while loop

Could implement break after something reaches a specific value

Ok so how would place the counter into the code:

def display_prompt():
    """Displays prompt to allow user to schedule update installation

    Args:
        None

    Returns:
        (int) defer_seconds: Number of seconds user wishes to defer policy
        OR
        None if an error occurs
    """

#counter to loop through display_prompt X amount of times.

    cmd = [JAMFHELPER,
           '-windowType', 'hud',
           '-title', GUI_WINDOW_TITLE,
           '-heading', GUI_HEADING,
           '-icon', GUI_ICON,
           '-description', GUI_MESSAGE,
           '-button1', GUI_BUTTON,
           '-showDelayOptions',
           ' '.join(GUI_DEFER_OPTIONS),
           '- ']
    error_values = ['2', '3', '239', '243', '250', '255']
    # Instead of returning an error code to stderr, jamfHelper always returns 0
    # and possibly returns an 'error value' to stdout. This makes it somewhat
    # spotty to check for some deferrment values including 0 for 'Start Now'.
    # The return value is an integer, so leading zeroes are dropped. Selecting
    # 'Start Now' should technically return '01'; instead, only '1' is returned
    # which matches the 'error value' for 'The Jamf Helper was unable to launch'
    # All we can do is make sure the subprocess doesn't raise an error, then
    # assume (yikes!) a return value of '1' equates to 'Start Now'
    try:
        proc = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
                                stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
        out, err = proc.communicate()
        # Check that the return value does not represent an 'error value'
        if not out in error_values:
            # Special case for 'Start Now' which returns '1'
            if out == '1':
                return 0
            else:
                return int(out[:-1])
        else:
            return None
    except:
        # Catch possible CalledProcessError and OSError
        print "An error occurred when displaying the user prompt."
        count = 0
        return None
        count = 0
        while True:
            count += 1
            display_prompt()
            if str(count) in GUI_DEFER_OPTIONS:
                for x in range(1, loopTimes + 1):
                    def display_prompt()
                    break

Right now I have it below the def display_prompt() function with a break :) however it just does the update after I select the 5 min deferral option. It does not re-prompt with 2 4 & 8 hours + the Start Now option.

[SheeppOSU]

I don't know if you pasted it wrong or something but -
1. You have def where it seems you are trying to call the function
2. Since the while loop is in the display_prompt, it is not called and it will keep playing over and over if called

[kennethdean2010]

I don't know if you pasted it wrong or something but - 1. You have def where it seems you are trying to call the function 2. Since the while loop is in the display_prompt, it is not called and it will keep playing over and over if called

Actually, I wasn't using the updated code you sent me. With loopTimes = random.randint(1, 10). I am adding that outside the function and trying it now. I added import random at the top of my script. Thanks again man!!!