Unelegant iCal plug-in: Is there another way.

Question

Hi folks,
Automator may be a little too over the top for what I'm trying to achieve, but in the absence of any experience of AppleScript, and after looking for a few hours without success, I ended up at the Automator forum.
A few days ago, I bought the excellent iSynCal, which synchronises several copies of iCal with each other (and with any iPods that are set to sync as well). Part of the processing of iSynCal requires each copy of iCal to be shut down whilst synchronising. Built into the app is local and network closure of associated copies of iCal to be synchronised. Also built-in is local reopening of iCal, but no re-opening of network versions.
I've set iSynCal to sync at midnight each night, which means that every day, I have to open iCal on both my iBook and my iMac, because iCal on each of them has been shut down. (It's a hard life, I know!)
So far, I've tried a couple of workarounds within Automator, but I have a few issues, and wondered if anyone can help with this apparently simple issue. I've tried:
1. Launch Application iCal - save as iCal plug-in. This works, but places a visible daily recurring event in iCal, which is ugly and confusing (perhaps I'm easily confused...).
2. Launch Application iCal - drag workflow file onto Automator Loop Utility. This also works, but has to do so on a loop, measured in seconds. I suppose (and haven't tried yet, so can't confirm) I could set an interval of 25,200 seconds, so I'm back up for seven each morning, but that would put me out of sync each ongoing day, as 7 into 24 doesn't go too kindly. If I set at 28,800 seconds, then I can't take my updated iPod with me to an early appointment, should I need to leave the house before eight am, and if I choose 21,600 seconds, then that's four processes a day, when one is all I need. (NB iCal must close each time iSynCal runs).
By the way, one of the iCal calendars is version 1.5.5, running on OSX 10.2.8, so this will need to be run remotely in Automator, should anyone be kind enough to think of any suggestions.
Thanks,
Matt

Answer 1

Hi Justin,
Thanks for your suggestion.
The issue is this: every day at midnight, iSynCal, running on my Cube closes my three versions of iCal (single user account per Mac) in oder to do its sync. It only then reopens the local iCal.
I want to reopen iCal on my iMac & iBook automatically each day, so I can use them. I don't want to have to stumble out of bed, remember to check my Macs, remember to launch iCal to see if I've got any alarms; I want iCal to be open at each Mac all the time, except at midnight, when it does its daily maintenance schedule.
I took a look at CronniX, but this is adding another application, which Automator ought to be able to handle without stuffing my calendars full of recurring system events, or which AppleScript can probably handle for me.
The trouble is, I don't know how to modify Automator or iCal to find a more sublime (Mac) way. Neither can I find how to get AppleScript to open iCal at a specific recurring time for me.
I'd like to find an AppleScript solution to this, as this gets around the OSX 10.2.8 limitation on my iMac (which of course won't run Automator natively). I posted here first, because I've found a way to restart iCal with Automator(but not remotely to my iMac, only by running Automator locally on my iBook).
I've now also posted at MacScripter, so would love to post the solution to that forum from this. If it comes the other way, then of course I'll share it here.
Any comments gratefully received.
Matt