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.

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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 ...
Tim Moseley's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
3k views

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 ...
tjmcewan's user avatar
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2 votes
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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 ...
user5154841's user avatar
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 ...
Woolwit's user avatar
  • 51
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->...
benhowdle89's user avatar
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 ...
Luis's user avatar
  • 11
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 ...
Catyre's user avatar
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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"...
Pup's user avatar
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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 ...
postsoundmixer's user avatar
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 ...
ddic3pri's user avatar
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: ...
Mastaxx's user avatar
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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 ...
Increasingly Idiotic's user avatar
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 ...
Christian Ellehammer's user avatar
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 ...
user678732's user avatar
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 ...
Tyler Crompton's user avatar
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 ...
barrrista's user avatar
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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 ...
Ilan's user avatar
  • 258
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....
Craig Lindsey's user avatar
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 ...
john's user avatar
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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 ...
square_eyes's user avatar
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 ...
user2033505's user avatar
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 ...
mplungjan's user avatar
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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 ...
shamus's user avatar
  • 11
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 ...
Mikey_S's user avatar
  • 11
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 ...
Pennf0lio's user avatar
  • 1,443
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 ...
ina's user avatar
  • 517
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 ...
user111780's user avatar
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 ...
zkwsk's user avatar
  • 195
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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 ...
tacud's user avatar
  • 1
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: ...
andio's user avatar
  • 293
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 "$1_"$...
Denise's user avatar
  • 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 ...
Moritz W's user avatar
  • 111
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 ...
alberto burciaga's user avatar
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 ...
Emmanuel Goldstein's user avatar
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 ...
BlkPengu's user avatar
  • 140
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 ...
Otheus's user avatar
  • 396
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 ...
Mohammad_Hosseini's user avatar
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 ...
Ulf Aslak's user avatar
  • 101
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 ...
chikitin's user avatar
  • 131
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.
PuzzleHead555's user avatar
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 ...
firedrillsergeant's user avatar
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 ...
D.J.'s user avatar
  • 1
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. ...
whitesiroi's user avatar
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 ...
Roberth Johansson's user avatar
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 ...
James P's user avatar
  • 61
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 ...
Ajit's user avatar
  • 1
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 ...
Matt's user avatar
  • 1
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 ...
Richard's user avatar
  • 175
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 ...
user avatar
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 ...
Rob Alsod's user avatar
  • 101