I have tried to find the answer to this question on Experts-Exchange.com, and with help from them, I have gotten closer. But it seems the most logical place for help is on this forum. Please note that I have very limited knowledge of the mac… I only use the itunes app. so please consider that in your answer.
I am running Leopard 10.5. Below is my last post to EE.
Vine is now in the list of login items as per your Method 2 to get an app to automatically start on booting.
When the mac starts, it does indeed put the round green vine icon in the dock, but it does not actually start it. To do that, I must click it. That causes the icon for the volume (the white box) to appear on the desk top, a white dot to appear beside the green icon (saying it’s running), and a screen to appear that says the server is running, which, when minimized becomes a screen icon under the dock divider bar.
It would seem all I have to do is click “Open on Login” on the green icon in the dock. I do that. But it doesn’t stick for the next re-start. Restart puts the green icon in the dock, but “open at login” is no longer checked (which is why it doesn’t start).
In summary, what we have done so far causes the Vine icon to appear in the dock on a boot, but does not actually start it.
If you want to see the complete discussion on EE, this is the link: