Questions tagged [automator]
Automator is a Mac OS X utility that allows creation and execution of workflows that can be integrated with Mac OS X. This enables users to automate repetitive tasks to save time and effort.
61
questions with no upvoted or accepted answers
4
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1
answer
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Remove All Illegal Characters from All Filenames in a Given Folder and subfolders
I Know this was was basically answered and the automator with the shell script (Sanitize Filenames) works great, but I need it to also do all subfolders as well. And if possible trim the file name ...
3
votes
0
answers
3k
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Play video files in VLC media player from behind HTTP basic authentication URLs without a password
I regularly open HTTP URLs and play them directly in VLC media player, using the "Open Network..." option. Unfortunately, the URLs are behind HTTP basic authentication (they require a username and ...
2
votes
0
answers
174
views
Is there a way to activate/run script when disconnected from wifi hotspot?
This script works perfectly to reconnect the lost Wi-Fi signal/connection. Is there a way to auto-activate/run this script every time my Mac is disconnected from the Wi-Fi hotspot?
#!/bin/bash
...
2
votes
0
answers
111
views
Mac Automator Twitter Scrape Shell Script to Run Python Stopped Working
OS X El Capitan 10.11.6
I have Mac Calendar calling an Automator app to launch a shell script that opens a python file that scrapes a few Twitter handles and presents them to me as a web page. This ...
2
votes
1
answer
866
views
Adjust Mac OS X workflow to recursively scan directory
Hi the image below is a screenshot of a workflow i have set up to use Handbrake. The problem is that it only acts on AVI's that are in the root of Movies, it doesn't say, grab an AVI inside Movies->...
1
vote
0
answers
61
views
Open multiple files at once not after one another with Automator
I am trying to create an automator script to export selected Fotos and open them with Outlook to send via email. Outlook does not support the share sheet and that's why we have to take this detour.
My ...
1
vote
0
answers
74
views
Applescript cannot find file that exists
Big picture, I am trying to create an applescript that allows me to open files in neovim from Finder. Though I have found several resources for doing this, none work exactly as-is, so I have to do ...
1
vote
0
answers
299
views
How to select multiple events with keyboard in Apple Calendar?
In Apple Calendar, Shift/Cmd + Click can select multiple calendar events with a mouse.
How can I select multiple events with only the keyboard?
Apple's "Keyboard shortcuts in Calendar on Mac"...
1
vote
0
answers
195
views
AppleScript Quick Action Services Shortcut issue - MacOS Catalina
Running on: MacOS Catalina 10.15.5
I made a Quick Action in Automator and it works just fine. In fact, I've been using it for a few years. The code in the action itself is not the problem, nor is it ...
1
vote
0
answers
463
views
Convert a lot of docx files into pdf on macOS
After searching an answer for my question I write it here.
I have a lot of docx files and need to convert it to pdf. I have word 2019 installed on macOS Catalina. Is it possible to do somehow with ...
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
How do I get this simple ffmpeg command to work in Automator?
I'm having trouble getting a simple Automator shell script to work. I'm trying to get an ffmpeg command line to run a task on a file that is dropped onto the application icon.
This is what I've done:
...
1
vote
0
answers
110
views
Using untrusted app as the default way to open a file
I've turned a short shell script into an Application using Automator. The shell script converts a .dot file into a .png and opens the .png
Something like
dot -Tpng "$@" -o img.png
open img.png
I'm ...
1
vote
0
answers
499
views
Mac Automator - Service to resize/scale images using SIPS
I would like a service which scales selected images within Finder to X pixels (max length/width without upscaling if images are smaller than X). Image files can have all kinds of file extensions.
The ...
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Run a Python script with filename arguments as a MacOS Folder action
I would like to run a Python script as a Folder Action in Mac OS. The Python script takes the name and full path of a file as an argument. Ideally, I would like to right-click on a file in Finder to ...
1
vote
0
answers
273
views
How to get input with a custom dictation command
I'm trying to write a few scripts to allow me to write code via voice. However, I need a way to specify a way to capitalize a variable name. For example, I want to be able to say, "stud my super ...
1
vote
1
answer
866
views
OSX/launchctl: How do I open a specific website in a new instance of chrome in the foreground every morning?
Requirements:
Specific website
Every morning despite laptop being closed overnight
(launchctl can handle this)
Foreground - must come to my attention,
even if I have multiple spaces/desktops
...
1
vote
1
answer
651
views
Automator: rename files fixing the gaps in numbers 1,2,3,5,6 -> 1,2,3,4,5
I have a huge bunch of scanned files (before OCR) and I want the Automator (Yosemite) to fix the gaps in files numbers: some pages was duplicated and after deletion the duplication there are gaps in ...
1
vote
2
answers
241
views
How do I to modify Automator Service ditto command?
Using and Automator Service and an AppleScript that is redly available and exists on this thread of but a "GUI" around ditto. The solution works well, however, I am not getting the behavior I expected....
1
vote
0
answers
284
views
Automator in Mavericks freezes when creating or opening a Folder Action
Short version: On an older Mac, Automator hangs when trying to create a Folder Action.
I have an older Mac being used as a media server. It is a Core 2 Duo iMac with 3 GB of memory, running ...
1
vote
1
answer
3k
views
Opening Apps WIth Automator to a Specific Desktop - OSX
I do a live radio show, with many apps open (Traktor, Ableton, Nicecast, Caffene, RADR + Several web pages).
Sometimes I can be in a bit of a hurry so I have set up an Automator app in OSX to get me ...
1
vote
1
answer
533
views
OSX script to Check if ffmpeg process has stopped
I have a Automator Workflow that uses Videobox to convert flash videos for multiple devices but cannot tell when it finish a conversion,I know that it uses ffmpeg for its conversion as I can see it in ...
1
vote
1
answer
659
views
Where is "shell script" in Automator?
I am trying to add Sublime to right-click in Finder on Mountain Lion.
When I open Automator, I do not see any shell script as options.
Here is a video frame from the the tutorial:
and here is mine
...
1
vote
0
answers
69
views
in automator how can I make a hotkey to insert string
What I want to do seems simple, but all the automator docs cover different functionalities. I have a number of strings that I have to input repeatedly throughout the day and I want to make hotkeys to ...
1
vote
0
answers
189
views
Add a contact from an email address within email text
I came to Office/Outlook 2011 from Mac Mail, and now I find that I'm unable to do something that I need to do ALL THE TIME.
In Mail, if there was an email address within the text of an email message ...
1
vote
0
answers
144
views
How to create a shortcut or automate file in calling a contact in skype
What are the option in creating a quick access to dialing a contact in Skype? and How?
Example I want to bind a custom key in calling my friend, let say
"cmd" + "0"
or
cmd + "9"
. I'm on ...
1
vote
0
answers
370
views
Creating a shortcut in launcher to run a terminal command with more than one parameter as argument
How do you create a shortcut in launcher that lets you run a terminal command using more than one variable?
For example, how do you create a launcher shortcut that will prompt you for varA and varB ...
1
vote
1
answer
502
views
Extracting a value from a list of URL's inside a password protected area
I have a list of several hundred URL's, within one password protected account,
and having the following format:
https://somesite.com/somescript.php?nameA
https://somesite.com/somescript.php?nameB
...
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Mac OS: Automator-script for saving mails to auto-generated folders
I am looking into automator and need it to help me out with the following simple task:
I need to have the attachments of a number of messages, which are sorted in a folder in Mail, downloaded and ...
0
votes
0
answers
34
views
How get first filename and rename it to new file in Automator on macOS?
I cannot find how can I do this with Automator on macOS:
We are merging 2 or more PDF files into (new) one. New file should be named as first original file.
So I need:
Take name of first original ...
0
votes
0
answers
105
views
TERM environment variable not set when running shell script using automator (MAC)
In using mac sonoma. I tried to run my shell script via Automator app. There's a 'diskutil umount' command in the script that will give me this error :
TERM environment variable not set.
Usage: ...
0
votes
1
answer
117
views
How to pull first 6 characters from variable input using Shell Script
I am running a shell script in Mac automator. I no very little about this type of sripting. Basically just found something I could use from other sources.
How do I make this line
mkdir "$1_"$...
0
votes
1
answer
94
views
Automate copying new file in specific folder to clipboard
I'm using a macOS app to create GIFs (called GifFox) but the app does not offer a feature to auto-save to clipboard. However, I can define the location the GIF will be saved to. How can I create an ...
0
votes
0
answers
47
views
Im trying to make an action t filter my files by day to different folders , any idea: doesnt work
Please help, eed an action to select files like images, and videos basically to filter on different kind , and another action to filter by day.. cant make it worrk on automator, any advice ill ...
0
votes
0
answers
203
views
Automator to rename files with prompt
I was wondering how to create an automator shell script to rename files, while prompting with window (or terminal) to enter the new name. I have spend months trying to do this using bash script in ...
0
votes
0
answers
217
views
How do I disable the option + space full screen slideshow shortcut?
I want this shortcut to run an apple script to open a new iTerm window.
I can't when I use the shortcut in Keyboard > Shortcuts > Services it does not register, and I think it's because it's ...
0
votes
1
answer
51
views
OSX: How to launch an Application within a specific directory via Dock icon
I desperately want to open a new instance of MacVim by clicking on its icon in the dock such that it opens a wildcard list of files from my OneDrive directory.
One tip was to use Automator to run a ...
0
votes
1
answer
468
views
Keyboard shortcut for Service in OS X doesn't work outside of application focus
I have created a service for music application for next and previous track buttons on my keyboard.
Problem is when i click on music application and press the keyboard shortcut it works, but when I ...
0
votes
1
answer
547
views
Double click on file to run specific terminal command
Specifically, I have a bash script called nbopen that takes as argument a file of type .ipynb. I use it like this: nbopen mynotebook.ipynb to launch Jupyter Notebooks (a type of Python script) from ...
0
votes
0
answers
457
views
Automating a Data Entry Job in Excel with Automator or any other app
I have to complete labeling process in excel sheet with over 3000 rows. The excel sheet ( please see atttachment) has three columns, E1, E2, and Label. E1 and E2 are already type in and I need to ...
0
votes
1
answer
116
views
Use Automator for handling multiple file inputs through shell Cat command in OS X to combine videos
I'm trying to do a similar thing with video files with no luck. Tried:
for f in "$@"
do
cat "$f" > ~/Desktop/Test.mov
done
When I do this it just puts the last file selected in the file.
0
votes
1
answer
410
views
The action "Save as Adobe PDF" could not be loaded because it is not universal
I am trying to add the action "Save as Adobe PDF" to an automator workflow, but I get the error **The action "Save as Adobe PDF" could not be loaded because it is not universal. **. Automator is ...
0
votes
1
answer
421
views
Mac Automator using FFMPEG to generate thumbnails with shell script
I've added the following to the Run Shell Script Object
for f in "$@"
do
/usr/local/bin/ffmpeg -y -ss 3 -i "$f" -v quiet -vf select="eq(pict_type\,I)" -vframes 1 "$f.png"
done
the ffmpeg line works ...
0
votes
1
answer
443
views
How to play next iTunes' song in Automator
I'm on macOS High Sierra 10.13.3
and Automator version 2.8
I'm making my Automator script with setting specific iTunes playlist and to run it at specific time. But it always playing the same track. ...
0
votes
1
answer
589
views
Is there a way in macOS to automatically open a URL when another URL is opened?
Is there a way in macOS to automatically open a URL when another URL is opened?
Using Automator, macros, browser plugins or the alike to in the background "listen" for a URL to be opened and when it ...
0
votes
1
answer
370
views
How do I move an Automator app with embedded workflows to a new location?
I have created an automator app for batch resizing and renaming of images.
The process is like this:
Rename Finder Items
Run resize3x.workflow
Run resize2x.workflow
Run resize1x.workflow
Each ...
0
votes
1
answer
487
views
Add "Show in Finder" service to Services sub-menu in OS X
I'd like to create and add a service to the Services sub-menu under the Application menu for applications like Word, Pages etc., where the currently edited file is revealed in Finder.
The flow I want ...
0
votes
3
answers
5k
views
How to copy multiple files and move them to multiple folders using terminal for Mac
I have a folder on my Mac's desktop called Bthepics that has 9 images that I want to copy and move to about 500 folders at once. These 500 folders are located in a folder on my Mac's desktop called ...
0
votes
1
answer
448
views
save multiple tabs to chrome Pocket extenson
I use the Pocket extension to read pages offine on an Ipad, but it's tedious to click the icon for every page. Most of the time I open multiple tabs on one subject.
Does anyone have a piece of ...
0
votes
1
answer
133
views
How can I tell Automator to perform a certain action within a software?
I'm trying to create an Automator application to sync my iMac and MacBook. So far I managed to mount the MacBook and open the sync file in Chronosync.
Now all I need to do is have Automator actually ...
0
votes
1
answer
705
views
How can I start a server with Automator? (Mac)
I have a Minecraft Server (kill me, right?) and I have a bash script to go along with it. Basically, right now I do this:
Open Terminal
cd to /path/to/my/server/
bash start.sh
And voila. My ...