Using Automator Folder Actions

I have an automator folder action that runs to take any pdf file dumped in to the folder, send to the printer and then delete it.
How do I make this run on a server that I'm not logged in to (effectively as a service), so that if a pdf file is generated somewhere on the network (maybe even a PHP script on a web site hosted on this server) and copied to this folder it still auto prints to the network printer?

I'm using a hot folder to import to Aperture as well, and also had the same problems when I try to configure it.
I solve it by creating an action in Automator that will copy all the images from the memory card to a temp folder when a card is inserted in the card reader. At the end of the action all the files inside the temp folder are moved to the actual hot folder, as you said this is almost instant so works perfectly.
So basicly the workaround is the following:
Card inserted - Image capture starts and copy all the images to a temp folder - Images then move to Aperture's hot folder - Aperture gets all the images.

Similar Messages

  • Automator Folder Action Not Running

    I have created a simple automator folder action that helps me to keep my downloads folder organized.    I want to move various files with certain file exensions to specific folder.
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    Any ideas on helping me with automator folder actions?
    Thank you,
    Jerold

    What does Finder -> select folder -> Control-Click -> Services -> Folder Actions Setup say about your existing folder action?
    Are folder actions enabled in the setup window?
    Is your folder action attached to your folder?
    For diagnostics, create a very simple Automator folder action (such as "Ask for Confirmation"; it does not need to make sense, it just needs to be something that you can use to verify the folder action occurred), and attach that to any folder. If that works, build up to making your PDF action work.

  • Automator Folder Action

    I have an Automator Folder action attached to my Downloads folder which moves any .jpg file to another folder where I normally place my images. It works for a while (automatically moving the .jpg files whenever a file is placed in the Downloads folder) and then stops fopr no apparent reason. On occassion when I logoff and on or restart, the action will work for a limited time.
    I don't have much experience with Automator and even less with Applescript. Any help will be much appreciated.
    I use an iMac with OS X 10.9.2.
    Thanks.

    Sorry... this is not an answer to your problem. More like an addition to your question.
    How do you attach an Automator Workflow as a folder action?
    I've made a Workflow to copy all files from an iTunes' playlist to a USB device, I want it to automatically run whenever I plug in the USB device. I've left-clicked the icon for the USB device and then "attach folder action", but I don't see any script to run an Automator Workflow.

  • Apple Script to automatically apply automator folder action workflows

    Hello
         I'm trying to get an applescript to automatically apply an automator folder action workflow to a folder..
         Getting applescript to apply a scpt file to a folder as a folder action is straight forward. However, it seems that scpt files are different than automator folder action workflows..
         Normally I would just script the folder action in apple script, but this is for someone that can handle automator, but not apple script coding. This whole scripting is to solve the issue of subdirectories being creating and then files or subfolders being created there after. So we need to try to get automator folder actions to propagate though..  easy enough with applescript..
    Any help would be appreciated...

    Here is the code that I needed to happen...  Maybe I just missed something in automator... but this applescript properly applies itself to subfolders, which then allows me to apply specific scripts based on folder names and locations. Also if the subfolders already exist.. the scirpt also is applied to those.
    on adding folder items to this_folder
      createlist(this_folder)
    end adding folder items to
    on createlist(item_list)
              set ActionScript to " REMOVED FOR PUBLIC DISPLAY:ApplyScriptSubfolders.scpt"
              set the the_items to list folder item_list without invisibles
              set item_list to item_list as string
                   repeat with i from 1 to number of items in the the_items
                     set the_item to item i of the the_items
                                       set the_item to (item_list & the_item) as alias
                                       set this_info to info for the_item
                                       if folder of this_info is true then
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                                                                          display dialog "Attching script to " & the_item as text  --
                                     attach action to folder (the_item as text) using ActionScript
                                                           end tell
                                my createlist(the_item)
                                       end if
                   end repeat
    end createlist
    I appreciate your help.. if you now know what has to happen and have a shorter way of doing so, please do so..
    Thank you again,

  • ITunes 10.5 breaks automator folder action

    Just like itunes10 did
    osx 10.6.8
    itunes 10.5
    automator folder action with itunes tasks no longer works after 10.5 update.
    Is it the version check again?

    Unfortunately, it seems that this is a cross-platform problem between iTunes 10.5 and all NAS disks. Shared libraries on network drives worked fine under 10.4.1, but now there is just an endless loading cycle with no error message or time-out. There is a bit more about it in this thread.
    Martin

  • Automator Folder Actions - Use filename as subject in email

    I regularly email .pdf atttachments to my head office. These are hand-written sales orders which are scanned in. The scanner software gives each file a sequential filename (eg. OrderNo_110612).
    I have set up a Folder Action in Automator to create a new email and send the file as an attachment when it is added to the folder.
    Get Selected Finder Items
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    I would really like to add the filename to the subject of the email. Is there a script I can run within the 'Run Shell Script' action that will extract the filename and can then be used as a variable in the subject field? This would allow both myself and head office to easily find the email at a later date should the need arise.
    Any help would be gratefully received. I am not a programmer, although I understand the principle of variables etc..
    I am using OS X Lion 10.7.2
    Any help would be really gratefully received.
    Many thanks

    sorry, spaced.
    on run {input, parameters}
              tell application "System Events"
                        return name of first item of input
              end tell
    end run
    P.s. this only work for the first filename.  if you want the names of multiple attachments it needs to be revised a bit.

  • How to set up Automator Folder Actions?

    I have set up and sucessfully tested a workflow which sends any file found in a particular folder to the "paperless" app, then moves all files to a different folder called "Archived attachments".
    HOWEVER as a folder action,  nothing happens when a file is put into the folder. The file just sits there in the folder.
    To create a folder action I opened  "new folder action" in Automator, then dragged and dropped the working workflow file into the workspace, then set "Folder Action recieves files and folders added to" the appropriate folder, let's call it "Attachments".
    Just to complicate things, the files are placed into the "Attachments" folder using an applescript that captures all pdf mail attachments. This applescript works succesfully.
    So, where could I be going wrong?
    The working workflow "Attachments.workflow" consists of:
    Get Specificed Finder Items
    Make Sequential
    Get Folder Contents
    Open Finder Items
    Get Folder Contwents
    Label Finder Items
    Get Folder Contents
    New Dated Folder
    The erronious Folder Action consists of:
    Run Workflow (Attachments)
    In folder actions setup:
    "Enable Folder Actions" is ticked
    "PDF Attachments" folder is ticked
    "Attachments_folder.workflow" script is on.

    I'm confused. You showed two Automator actions with the same name, one was a folder action one wasn't.
    Are you sure the correct Automator action (the one that is a folder action) is attached to the folder?
    If when the Folders Action setup window is opened and you select Articles_Folder.workflow and then edit script are you getting the right workflow?
    Assuming you do I would start off very simply. Try this:
    It will label green screen shot image files saved to the Desktop.
    See if this works for you.

  • Automator Folder Actions Broken in SLS

    I may be the only person that wants to use Automator in Snow Leopard Server. However, I've found that Automator can be a great match with a server to automate tasks when shared files come in from other users.
    The problem I am having is that the Folder Actions Trigger does not work. I can setup the Folder Actions under the contextual menu but nothing fires.
    If I set this up the same way in Snow Leopard Desktop Version Folder Actions work as they should and triggers when a file is placed in the monitored folder.
    Please tell me I'm not the only person that wants to use automator and folder actions? Anyone else having trouble with Folder Actions/Automator in Snow Leopard Server?

    The update is only good for Mac's listed in this About the Performance update.
    DALE

  • Automator Folder Action: File Name = Spotlight Comment?

    Hey guys,
    I'm trying to have automator add the original filename of a file as spotlight comment when it is added to a certain folder. I can only use the "Set Spotlight Comments for Finder Items" in folder actions to add a specified comment, but nothing else. Is it possible to grab the file name via applescript?
    The idea behind this is to preserve the original file names of all downloaded files before they get renamed.
    Thanks,
    V

    Thanks for your reply, I now have your action installed and it does get the filenames, but I still can't add them to the spotlight comment text box. Looks like I didn't think this through properly.

  • Automator folder action won't run entire folder contents

    Hi,
    Ok, I think I'm pretty well versed in Automator and getting things to work. But this is just escaping me.
    I've made a simple Photoshop Droplet (done this before). Open Automator, built a workflow for getting a folders contents and then opening the contents with the Droplet.
    Saved this as a folder action,...
    But when I drag multiple items to the folder, it only runs the very first item and stops,...
    If I drag one by one into the folder it will work fine,....
    I'm going to have to be dragging multiples all the time, it's a waste of time to do one by one,...
    I'm totally missing something here,.... please help!!
    I'd also like to move the contents of the folder, once the Droplet has run, to the trash
    But first I have to get this darn thing to run on the entire folders contents,.....
    Workflows I've tried:
    1 - Open finder Items (open in my Droplet) works one at a time
    2 - Get Specified Finder Items (point to my folder)
    Get Folder Contents
    Open finder Items (open in my Droplet) again, works one at a time
    Thanks!!
    Christopher

    Hi Curly, and a warm welcome to the forums!
    I don't know much about Automator, and this may be of no help, but...
    It's either just picking up/passing one variable, when it either needs an array of variables, or needs to loop back for the next one.

  • Quicktime export using applescript/folder actions

    I have about 500Gig of encoded H264 footage.
    I want to be able to "bulk" change video properties on all of the video so that when I view it in front row it isn't letter boxed.
    I can do this manually, save as a .MOV and all is fine.
    anyone tried something like this as an applescript?
    I have scripted eyetv quite a bit so I`m quite familiar with applescript, just being lazy I suppose!
    any help greatly received !
    * looking in the quicktime applescript library *
    Steve

    The nature of your question implies that you're unfamiliar with Folder Actions...
    I'd like to skip them or write the AppleScript in a way that handles this.
    By their very nature, Folder Actions are passed a list of newly-added files. Your Folder Action script should look something like:
    on adding folder items to my_folder after receiving the_files
      -- your code goes here
    end adding folder items to
    where, in this case, the_files is a list of the newly-added files. It won't include pre-existing files, so all you need to do is iterate through the_files and you're set. Something like:
    on adding folder items to my_folder after receiving the_files
              tell application "iPhoto"
                        repeat with each_photo in the_files
                                  try
                                            import each_photo to album "Europe 2012"
                                  end try
                        end repeat
              end tell
    end adding folder items to
    The only caveat here that I can think of is the fact it's a DropBox folder, so there might be some odd latency in the files appearing in the directory, but I don't use Dropbox to know.
    Note that in the above I import each photo independently, via a repeat loop. This might not be necessary, and you might be able to pass the entire the_files variable to the import command to have all the images imported in one go - I haven't tried that, though.

  • Help with creating Automator Folder Action

    Hi
    I want to create a folder action to empty my Caches from my both System and User Library files. I want a little help in creating the workflow. I tried to create a workflow, but the problem is it was asking for the system password when I selected the Library cache folder from my System. How can I create a workflow and save it as a plugin for my everyday action...
    thanks in advance..

    HI,
    Not sure if Automator can do that but AppleScript might. Post here for help.
    (Applications/Utilities)
    http://discussions.apple.com/forum.jspa?forumID=724
    Carolyn

  • How to transfer automator folder actions

    I have set up quite a few automator actions for folders. e.g. rename all files by date when moved to Receipt folder.
    How do I migrate these actions to a new Mac? I don't want to have to manually set them up again.

    By default, automator saves folder actions as .workflows in the following folder:
    /Users/yourusername/Library/Workflows/Applications/Folder Actions/
    From the finder menu, select Go > Go the Folder...
    ~/Library/Workflows/Applications/Folder Actions/
    Copy and paste the bolded path. Your folder actions are contained here. Simply copy these workflows and upon migration, you can restore them in the same path.

  • Turning Raw into JPG (using automated batch action)

    I have finally decided to try and learn a bit more... this is all motivated by me not being happy with White Balance and the results I get... I want more vibrant colours and natural skin tones...
    Anyways I have decided to start shooting in RAW... but dont know how I get them into JPG format ??? I know I need to use Photoshop/Batch... but not sure exactly what...
    When I open a RAW image it appears in Photoshop (CS3) and allows me to really manipulate the colours... but how do I then SAVE those changes and create a action so I can automate batch the pics...
    Cause we shoot large sets of images (like 100-200 per set) it's important that I can automate batch them... way too slow to do each image individually...
    Any help would be greatly appreciated... do I make the changes in Photoshop then batch them in Bridge ? Please think of me as a absolute newbie who needs a step by step instruction lol

    Ok here's a step to step of what I want to do...
    I want to open the RAW image... I take it I do that in Photoshop ? I say that cause when I double click a RAW image thats where it automatically opens...
    After I done that I want to play around with the image... ajust exposure/colours ect... The programe that the RAW image opens in is perfect to do that, I believe it's opened in Camara Raw 4.0...
    But here is the tricky bit... what I really want to be able to do is then create a action/automated batch so that I can make the same changed (automated) to all the images from that set... not have to do them individually... and at the same time change the images into JPG's
    So thats the bit I guess how and what do I use to do that ?

  • Problem moving files using applescript/folder action setup.

    I'm wanting files to move to certain folders depending on what the first letter of the file name. Here is what I have so far. If the file starts with TF715SH it should move to Serenity:Color Images for Monthly:T
    property dialog_timeout : 30 -- set the amount of time before dialogs auto-answer.
    on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving added_items
        try
            tell application "Finder"
                repeat with this_item in added_items
                    if this_item starts with "M" then
                        move this_item to "Serenity:Color Images for Monthly:M:" with replacing
                    end if
                    if this_item starts with "N" then
                        move this_item to "Serenity:Color Images for Monthly:N:" with replacing
                    end if
                    if this_item starts with "T" then
                        move this_item to "Serenity:Color Images for Monthly:T:" with replacing
                    end if
                end repeat
            end tell
        end try
    end adding folder items to

    Hi,
    Because the class of this_item is a alias wich contains the full path of the file :
    You need to get the file name, also you must use the term "folder" before the string "Serenity:Color Images for Monthly:M:", otherwise the Finder will return an error.
    if (name of this_item) starts with "M" then
          move this_item to folder "Serenity:Color Images for Monthly:M:" with replacing
    end if
    Here's another way to do this :
    on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving added_items
          tell application "Finder"
                set colorImgFolder to folder "Serenity:Color Images for Monthly:"
                repeat with this_item in added_items
                      set c to first character of (get name of this_item)
                      considering case -- case sensitive
                            if c is in "MNT" then move this_item to folder c of colorImgFolder with replacing
                      end considering
                end repeat
          end tell
    end adding folder items to

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