An application developed by Apple for Mac OS X that implements the creation of workflows.
3
votes
2answers
463 views
How do I combine these two shell commands into a Service?
I run the following two commands on markdown files to get a nicely formatted PDF.
pandoc file.md -o file.html --css=markdown.css
prince file.html file.pdf
rm file.html
How would I automate this? ...
2
votes
1answer
993 views
Automator: pass-through input
I have an "ask for finder items" step in my Automator workflow, which produces a list of files selected by the user.
I then use these files as an input for a second step.
At that point I need to ...
0
votes
1answer
87 views
How can I make a keyboard configuration become default when I hook it up?
At work, I have a MacBook Pro and a RHEL workstation that share a HP keyboard and mouse via a KVM switch. I do most of my work on the Mac so I prefer to change the modifier keys so they command and ...
1
vote
1answer
160 views
Automator Service that does predefined simple calculations
I'm working as a salesman and what I need to do a lot of times a day is calculating the price +VAT and -VAT which is 19% here in Germany. I found some calculation automator script but wasn't able to ...
2
votes
1answer
349 views
How can I generate dynamic keynote presentations?
I'd like to build a series of Keynote presentations that contain some dynamic elements. By that I mean some elements are "compiled" in later. For example if I have a code sample on a slide, I want to ...
0
votes
1answer
68 views
Can I drag a document window to an email message to attach it?
I realize that I can drag files from Finder and drop them in a mail message in Mail.app to attach them. What I would like to do is drag an active document window from another application, say Preview, ...
1
vote
2answers
441 views
Automatically delete temporary ~/Library/Application Support folders
I have a flash drive which I carry around everywhere which has a few standalone applications which I use everywhere installed on it. However, the majority of these leave Application Support folders ...
2
votes
3answers
190 views
How can I run a PHP script by dropping file on icon?
I have a php script that takes a filename as an argument. When I run it from a terminal window I type
./my_script.php file_to_process.txt
It works great!
What I would like to be able to do is to ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Unreliable Folder Action
I have a folder on my Computer, "Markdown Source" with a folder action applied to it through Automator. The folder action applies a shell script, and then writes output to a different folder, ...
1
vote
1answer
146 views
Automator and Batch Adding Keywords to Images?
Is there a way to use automator (or something else) to batch add keywords to photos selected in finder?
1
vote
1answer
258 views
Automator sequential file rename with variable padding
I want to rename selected files in the finder sequentially. To do this I have created an Automator workflow.
In the Automator workflow you can specify how many digits long you want the rename to be ...
1
vote
1answer
160 views
Looking for workflow or script for saving Kindle documents
I'm using a Kindle DX (3G, no WiFi) for reading documents saved from the web with Readability. Because Amazon charges a conversion cost for these documents I'm forwarding the documents to my ...
2
votes
1answer
159 views
Script that Automatically Does Something Every Day
I'm looking for a way to automatically run a shell script or command every time interval. I'm running a server and I want to backup some folders every day. I don't want to use time machine because the ...
2
votes
0answers
455 views
Run Shell Script action outputs the result as NSAppleEventDescriptor
I'm trying to save the output of a command in a variable, i.e:
Run Shell Script
Set Value of Variable
This has suddenly stopped working because the output from the shell script is no longer plain ...
2
votes
3answers
883 views
How to create an Automator “Mail Service” to compose the body of email from the content of a file?
I would like to create a "Mail Service" with Mac Automator to create a New Message that automagically fills the body with the content of ascii file ~/Documents/MailBody.txt
I can select the file with ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Software to record and playback mouse movement/clicks and keyboard presses?
I was wondering if there was any software out there that could record mouse/keyboard input and allow you to play back the input that was made?
I've tried using Automator but for some reason it's not ...
2
votes
1answer
4k views
How to create a simple keyboard macro with Automator?
How can I use the built in tool, Automator (rather than a 3rd party app), to create a simple keyboard macro?
For example, I want it to press command-shift-left, then command-U, then right, etc.
I ...
5
votes
3answers
360 views
How can I keep settings consistent between Macs?
I use multiple Macs (OS X Lion). There are a lot of settings, apps, and files I'd like to keep synced up between them. Files are the easiest of the lot -- Dropbox + symlinks, Mercurial repositories, ...
2
votes
2answers
215 views
How do I automatically open a subfolder on a SD card when mounted?
My camera has a complicated path to the video files, and I'm constantly plugging it in, and then digging to get the videos. I just want find to automatically popup to the specified subfolder when the ...
2
votes
1answer
794 views
How can I make an automator service always show up?
I have an AppleScript that adds the subject of a selected email in Mail to my task manager.
I have put this AppleScript in an Automator service so I can hotkey it.
Only problem is this: Lion insists ...
1
vote
1answer
607 views
How can I schedule sending the day’s iCal events via email?
I followed this tutorial on creating a workflow using Automator that will email the events of the day from iCal to an email address.
I would like this to be executed every morning at, say 4am, so it ...
4
votes
5answers
785 views
How can I remove leading/trailing whitespace from filenames in Automator?
My wife tediously renames files all the time when storing on her backup external storage, so I investigated using automator to do this for her. I now have an automator folder where she just drops the ...
1
vote
1answer
101 views
Is there a way to automate restarting with a different boot disk?
I have Lion and Snow Leopard installed on my machine, and I switch between them all the time (I develop for compatibility on both platforms). Going into System Preferences and selecting the startup ...
2
votes
1answer
513 views
Run bash command with current URL as parameter from Firefox and/or safari
I'd like to be able, without much hassle, add a video to my Miro Download-queue.
From bash I can do this by entering
open -a Miro.app http://vimeo.com/24398084
Now I'd like to do this from within ...
10
votes
3answers
5k views
Possible to run scripts on sleep and wake?
MacBook Pro 2010 running OS X Lion.
Is it possible to run scripts on sleep and wake events?
My specific application is that I've got Dropbox-synced Truecrypt volumes that I regularly use on both my ...
1
vote
1answer
304 views
Why doesn't Automator service appear in iTunes?
I'm trying to write an Automator service for iTunes so that I can immediately open a file from iTunes in VLC, so I don't have to do (show in finder, launch with other application, vlc).
I go to ...
3
votes
1answer
328 views
How can I remove the File Quarantine warning for a file associated with an Automator script?
To download torrents, I have changed from running Transmission on my Mac to running it on a NAS. As a next step, I want the Mac to automatically start the torrent download on the NAS by moving the ...
1
vote
2answers
591 views
Record / playback keystrokes
There are 3rd party apps but I'm not interested in those. I'm a web developer and during testing I find myself entering login credentials over and over again. If I could quickly "play" these ...
4
votes
1answer
654 views
Remove services from context menus (but leave them in the app's Services menu)
I created a few services with Automator and it seems OS X automatically adds these to the context menu of files/folders that they apply to. Is it possible to remove the services from the context menu ...
6
votes
3answers
539 views
Lock screen with LaunchBar
I extensively use Launchbar and have almost all my daily productivity items working through it.
Since I use my personal MacBook at work, I do not have use a screen saver password, however, when at ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Firing up Terminal from an Automator Workflow?
I quite often use the python -m SimpleHTTPServer command in the Terminal to fire up a webserver for testing apps. Having just learned the basics of the Automator, I figured this would be a great use ...
4
votes
1answer
452 views
How can I automatically download multiple sites through Coda?
I have several sites in Coda that I would like to automatically re-download when I tell it to. The sites are collaboratively managed, and I'd like to download a fresh copy of the sites automatically. ...
1
vote
1answer
367 views
Getting Automator to work with aliases vs. symbolic links on SMB shares
I would like to get automator to mount a volume in a shared SMB server and get all subfolders symlinked within my Documents folder.
I thought I could do that easily by creating Finder's so called ...
0
votes
1answer
568 views
Fastest way to migrate an application between Mac's?
after using the Migration Assistant each time arrives a new OSX or i buy a new MacBookPro, its time to tidy up my work machine,
Since upgrading my current MBP(mid2009 2.8GHz 4GB DDR3) to Lion many ...
6
votes
2answers
358 views
Is Automator suitable for complex folder based workflows?
I have a rather puzzling scenario for you, one that I would like to solve with Automator:
We're a startup that creates HD music video content that is streamed online; we've got a custom-programmed ...
1
vote
1answer
157 views
1
vote
1answer
99 views
When I delete “Watch Me Do” from Automator, does it get deleted forever?
Is Automator's "Watch Me Do" action permanently deleted when it is removed from the action sequence?
2
votes
1answer
581 views
Where are Automator's “Watch Me Do” files saved?
Where are Automator's "Watch Me Do" files being saved?
5
votes
5answers
3k views
Create global shortcut to run command line applications
What steps do I need to run a command line program via a global shortcut?
I setup Automator to create a new Run Shell Script and tried to assign a shortcut in System Preferences -> Keyboard -> ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
What are the storage locations of the various types of Automator workflows
The purpose of this question is to create a reference for the various default storage locations where Automator stores the files it creates and saves.
I've found a few from searching, but have yet ...
0
votes
2answers
423 views
Automator simulation of the mouse and keyboard
My problem: "watch me do" in automator only recognizes for cocoa buttons and doesn't work for apps like games with interfaces drawn my rendering engines.
Desired solution: an Automator action(s) that ...
0
votes
1answer
272 views
Persistent Automator Applications?
I have an Application created with Automator. Since the application starts a service in the background, I'd like to keep the application open even after the end of the workflow is reached. When the ...
3
votes
2answers
757 views
Is Automator intended to create distributable stand-alone apps?
I have a series of executables which I would like to wrap into a stand-alone .app. A bit like ffmpegx does for the executables contained under its /Resources folder.
I've noticed that Automator allows ...
1
vote
2answers
151 views
Adding contextual menu item to zero out files?
I want to be able to easily zero-out (make the filesize 0, not fill the existing filesize with 0s) files from the Finder by selecting files from within Finder and selecting an action from the right ...
5
votes
3answers
3k views
Converting WAV to MP3 using LAME and Automator
I'd like to convert many WAV files to MP3 files using LAME and Automator. I need a script that I could right click a folder and convert all the WAV files inside the folder to MP3 files. I've been able ...
2
votes
1answer
329 views
Always show service in contextual menu
Sometimes when I create a service in Automator, I want it to always appear in the Finder contextual menu, not just when I have a selected a file or folder.
The services are always either pure ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Automatically sync folder contents in the background
Since Lion still won't allow me to search the SMB volumes I need, I'm planning on syncing them to a local folder that will be indexed by Spotlight. What's the best way to sync folders automatically in ...
3
votes
1answer
409 views
How can I launch an Automator workflow upon import in iPhoto?
I use iPhoto to import images from my iDevices and the photos go to the iPhoto library folder.
When I import from my DSLR, I place photos in a folder I organize myself by date and events.
I would like ...
1
vote
2answers
261 views
I'm using git+notational velocity and want to know how to commit after I exit the program
What I'm looking to accomplish is have something trigger a git add *.txt and git commit -m "Automated Commit `date`' when I close Notational Velocity. I'm guessing I could probably accomplish this ...
0
votes
1answer
62 views
Getting Applications location in Automator
How do I get the directory where the app created in automator resides?
Example:
Create App using automator
Save to ~/Documents/Automator
Run automator app, which does something in it's directory
