An application developed by Apple for Mac OS X that implements the creation of workflows.
13
votes
3answers
2k views
Can Mac App Store installs & upgrades be automated?
How can I script installing or upgrading apps from the Mac App Store? I'd prefer command line tools, but AppleScript or some other API would suffice.
Relevant puzzle pieces:
installer: note ...
13
votes
7answers
4k views
How can I sync my iTunes music library between two Macs for free?
I have a desktop system that I use as a server. I also have a MacBook Pro that is my main computer. I've done a lot of organization and cleanup of my music library and have it all on my MacBook Pro.
...
11
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 ...
10
votes
1answer
425 views
How to access a clicked URL in a URL handler application created in Automator
I'm currently trying to modify the default URL handling behavior in OS X. I would like, when clicking on any link outside of a web browser, to copy this URL to the pasteboard instead of opening it in ...
8
votes
5answers
2k views
how to quickly reboot from OSX to Windows and back
From Windows back to OSX is fairly easy. What I would like is a few less steps to get from OSX to Windows. Currently I launch system preferences -> startup disk - then select the bootcamp partition ...
8
votes
6answers
2k views
What are some useful ways to use Automator?
I've been using OS X for 3 generations of the OS already (Tiger --> Leopard --> SL) but haven't really ventured in using Automator much.
What are the best ways to use Automator? (Best uses, time ...
8
votes
6answers
12k views
How do I run a cron job on a Mac?
How can I make my Mac (running the most recent OS) do a task automatically once a day? For example, I'd like to have it automatically download a copy of this open source algebraic geometry textbook ...
7
votes
3answers
561 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 ...
7
votes
2answers
6k views
How can I get Automator to mount a network volume?
I am writing an Automator "script" that rsyncs media on my 10.6.3 MacBook Pro to my Ubuntu 10.10 HTPC. I can make Automator run my shell script for rsync commands, but I can't make Automator mount the ...
7
votes
4answers
1k views
Creating an automated HFS+ compressed folder
I would like to set up an automated way for archiving files in OS X Lion. By archiving I mean using HFS+ compression feature on a specific folder, and make every file that I move into this folder ...
6
votes
5answers
4k 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 -> ...
6
votes
4answers
3k views
Checking for folder/file changes using Automator?
Is there there a way to check a folder/file for changes (includes adding files, deleting files, changes in files,...). The 'Folder action' in Automator is only checking if any files are newly added.
6
votes
2answers
364 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
365 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, ...
5
votes
3answers
7k views
Can I change the application icon of an Automator script?
I have created a couple of automator scripts. I was curios if there is a way to change the application icon, on those scripts, to something other than the robot.
5
votes
1answer
311 views
How can I use an Applescript from within a program?
This question Is there a way to add all of the recipients of an email to a group/folder in contacts from Mail? seems to have an answer that would be useful for me, but I don't actually know how to use ...
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 ...
5
votes
3answers
146 views
How to customize Finder's Share menu?
Is there a way to add custom services to Finder's Share menu?
I have created an automator service to copy selected files to my Dropbox directory (similar to this).
I enabled this service in the ...
5
votes
3answers
665 views
Updating modifier key mappings through defaults command tool
I am trying to automate the inital setup of my macbook, that includes installing software and changing OS X configuration to my needs.
I have tried to update the modifier keys with defaults, the ...
4
votes
2answers
108 views
Is “Quit others” possible?
If one holds down Option and Control whilst clicking an icon in the Dock, the resulting menu contains a Hide Others command, such that only the clicked application is visible on screen. This is ...
4
votes
5answers
3k views
How do I print a selected email to PDF using Automator?
I can't for the life of me figure out how to print a selected email to PDF using Automator.
Example - iTunes invoice arrives as email text (not an attachment) and I want to save it as a PDF to a ...
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
802 views
How do I delete a Service?
If I created a service using Automator, how can I delete it if I no longer want it?
4
votes
5answers
830 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Is there an Automator action to create Keynote presentation from text file?
I need to import a text file (consisting of subtitles) into a Keynote presentation. I need to turn each subtitle into a single slide, interspersed with blank (black) slides. I'd like to create an ...
4
votes
1answer
456 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. ...
4
votes
1answer
1k views
Run Command Line Script from Finder's contextual menu
I have a shell script that deletes exif data from images.
I would like to right-click the folder with the images and execute the command from the context menu. How can I do this?
The Shell script ...
4
votes
2answers
879 views
How to execute a Folder Action or another Automator script when I make changes to a folder?
How to execute a Folder Action or another Automator script when I make changes to a folder?
And by changes I mean not just deleting or inserting new file, the most important for me is when the content ...
4
votes
1answer
678 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
295 views
Is there an AppleScript or Automator action to quickly edit Info for Video in iTunes?
I ripped the DVD set of a television series to my iMac. But now, the filenames are weird and there is no meta info.
In Automator, I see there is an action to edit Info for a song. That's great, but ...
4
votes
1answer
793 views
Can I write an Automator/AppleScript script to download all the iTunes app updates?
This is related to How can I tell iTunes to always download free updates
I would like to write a script to tell iTunes to download all the free app updates available, and have that script run ...
3
votes
5answers
431 views
Good/inspiring uses of automation on Mac OS X
I have been a mac user for quite a while now (about 5-6 years) and I would consider myself rather tech-savvy. That being said I have very little insight to the automation capabilities that have been ...
3
votes
2answers
662 views
Can I schedule a periodic file permissions repair?
Can I schedule a periodical file permissions repair? With Automator, maybe?
3
votes
2answers
808 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
145 views
Show all services on right click
Whenever you have more than 4 services, they are put in a dropdown option "Services" on right click instead of just being added to the right click menu itself.
Is this an option somewhere that can be ...
3
votes
2answers
912 views
Any way to trigger Folder Action when adding file to any subfolder?
I've created a Folder Action in Automator and applied it to a folder. But it only gets triggered when a file is added to the root of that folder, not to one of its subfolders.
Is there any way to get ...
3
votes
2answers
242 views
Never allow speakers sound during specific hours
I don't want my computer play any sound through it's own speaker during work hours in weekdays. But I want to be able to listen to music using my headphones.
I guess something can be done with ...
3
votes
2answers
762 views
Package command line tools into an automator script or app?
I'd like to know if there's a way I could package compiled command line tools together as part of an automator script or an app.
Let's say, for example, I want to use a command line tool called foo ...
3
votes
2answers
79 views
Have Voiceover read out just paragraph or sentence under cursor
I work with a disabled user who controls their iMac using keyboard and mouse input from their communication-aid. They have dyslexia and would like to use voiceover to read certain paragraphs or ...
3
votes
2answers
158 views
Have Automator add original path to Spotlight Comment for a file when moving to the trash
Is there a way to add the original path of a document as a Spotlight comment in Mountain Lion?
I have created an automator workflow that automatically adds the Timestamp and user when a file is moved ...
3
votes
1answer
144 views
How could one make an automator script to restore all hidden windows quickly?
The question is pretty self explanatory: How can one make an Automator script to restore all hidden windows at the same time?
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
559 views
OS X Automator send mail
I would like to create an Automator application that reads the address book and sends an email from the default email account with the content of the addr. book search result.
Everything works except ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Automator mac “Take Screenshot” issue
I need to automate a screenshot task, so I thought why not use automator? I found the "Take Screenshot" Action and started to play with it. The problem is is that is sets the file name and when the ...
3
votes
1answer
653 views
Trigger an Automator action with a sound
Is there any way to trigger an Automator action with a sound? I'd like to be able to record a sound and trigger an action every time my computer's microphone receives the sound.
3
votes
1answer
84 views
Are there more robust tools than Automator to extract text from multiple PDF?
There is an action in Automator that allows you to programmatically "Extract PDF Text", but it fails when fed a moderate amount of files (25 to 100). Worse, it fails without logging anything helpful ...
3
votes
3answers
980 views
Create a zip file using an Automator Service
I am trying to create a service in Automator in Mac OS X Mountain Lion. The command that I want to use is as follows:
zip zip-file.zip "$@"
And here is a screen capture of what I did:
It works. ...
3
votes
1answer
200 views
Can I make the Finder label a folder if it contains a file or folder of a specific name?
I'd love it if I could somehow make the Finder color-label all folders containing a .git directory so I could tell at a glance if the folder is a Git repo. Any ideas?
3
votes
1answer
300 views
Automator PDF text to Spoken Audio file: What's wrong with this script?
I have pages of PDF notes which I want converted to spoken audio to aid revision.
There are several suggested workflows online, but I'm still not getting the results I want.
I used this model from ...
3
votes
2answers
520 views
Ask for text, pass to terminal, in Automator
I am trying to create a simple Automator service to quickly change metadata on photos. I would like to be able to select x amount of files, run the service, and get a popup that asks for the f-number ...
