Automator workflow to include/exclude startup items?

Anyone know of an Automator workflow (or third-party app) that can easily include/exclude a startup item?
I sometimes want an app to be a startup item and sometimes don't. So it would be convenient if I could just run a script to include/exclude it.
Not critical... just for convenience sake.
Any ideas?
Thanks.

Can you give us an example of some of the things you would like to do this with? I used to, for example use login items to mount the drive with my iTunes music. I stopped doing it that way and now mount the drive when iTunes launches. Depending upon whats being done perhaps a series of Automator actions could be used to create specific stings for specific tasks.

Similar Messages

Workflow to zip specific folder also includes all desktop items

Hello,
I have built an Automator workflow that selects a specific folder ("Mail") in my user account's Library folder, creates an archive file of that folder on the desktop.
However, when I unzip the archive file, I find that all items on the desktop also have been included in the zip file.
What needs to be done to the workflow so that it zips only the selected folder, excluding all of the desktop items from the zip archive file?
Many thanks in advance

There's no cut and paste in the Finder on Macs as there is in Windows. You can copy and paste, but most people just drag and drop a file to move it from one place to another.
In any open or save file dialog window, click the small triangle next to the filename to expand the window and show a mini-Finder with the sidebar, allowing you to easily change the location you're looking at or navigate into subfolders.
Matt

How to include Sap Work item in email by FSCM workflow WS01700044

Hi,
In FSCM Dispute Management, we have a requirment to include the sap work item in the email being sent by the workflow - WS01700044.
The underlying task in it is TS01707928. This Task sends an email to the outlook as well as work item to SAP inbox.
We want to include Sap Work item in email being sent to the outlook.
This will help the users to process the workitem directly from the email instead of going to SAP Inbox to process the work items.
Please suggest the possible ways.
Thank you.
Amar

Hi,
For you kind of requirment you have to use tcode SWNCONFIG.
Through SWNCONFIG you can sent workitems to external email id.(exa. lotus notus/ outlook)
Regards,
Gurprit Bhatia

How to include sap work item in the email sent by workflow - WS01700044

Hi,
In FSCM Dispute Management, we have a requirment to include the sap work item in the email being sent by the workflow - WS01700044.
The underlying task in it is TS01707928. This Task sends an email to the outlook as well as work item to SAP inbox.
We want to include Sap Work item in email being sent to the outlook.
This will help the users to process the workitem directly from the email instead of going to SAP Inbox to process the work items.
Please suggest the possible ways.
Thank you.
Vijay

Sadly, I believe this will require a bit of development to make it happen. The project I'm on now...we are finding that to get it to do what we want it to do, a development to customize the email message to include all the case fields is required.
D

Include subfolders in an automator workflow?

<Thanks HD for showing me the way in>
I created an automator workflow to backup one of the folders on my desktop.
The problem is, if I add a file to one of the subfolders automator does not backup the folder contents. The workflow works only if I add an item to the folder in the top of the heirarchy. What should I do?
the applescript generated by automator is
on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving added_items
tell application "Macintosh HD:Users:myUserName:Library:Workflows:Applications:Folder Actions:Backup2Tiger.app"
open added_items
end tell
end adding folder items to

Hi,
You'd have to attach the action to the subfolder as well. Control-click on the sub-folder, choose Attach a Folder Action from popup menu, and then navigate to your folder action.
It might be possible to modify the folder action so that it attaches itself to any folder dropped onto the original. I'll have a play with it this evening.
Cheers,
H

Old Toad's automator workflow to backup Library6.iPhoto database

Dear Old Toad,
I just today downloaded your workflow to backup the iPhoto database file, and am having problems making it work.
When I run it, either from the dock or the script menu, it launches Automator but then closes without doing anything. I don't get a confirmation screen, and no copy of the database is created.
So I opened it in Automator to see if editing it would help, even though my library is already named iPhoto Library and stored in user/pictures. When I dragged it onto the Automator window, there was only 1 action (Get Specified Finder Items) instead of the 4 that show up in the ReadMe. When I dragged it onto the Automator app to open it, I got nothing.
I downloaded it via Firefox 3.0.1 and got a 1.1MB zip, and I tried downloading it twice in case it had corrupted in the download, but no change with the second try. Downloaded from here:
http://web.mac.com/toad.hall/ToadsCellar/ToadsCellar.html
Running OS 10.4.11, iPhoto 7.1.5, on a G4.
Something else I can try?
Thanks,
Daiya
Message was edited by: Daiya

Yes. Run the application like you would use the Save command in other applications, often. Running it again will overwrite the current backup copy with a new backup that will include all changes you've made to your library, new pictures, deletions, slideshows, books, etc.
I suggested keeping it in the dock so you can quickly run it after any changes you've made to the library. Being in the Dock makes it more convenient than having to go into the Application folder and launching it from there.
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto (iPhoto.Library for iPhoto 5 and earlier) database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger or later), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 6 and 7 libraries and Tiger and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.
Note: There now an Automator backup application for iPhoto 5 that will work with Tiger or Leopard.

Automator Workflow

Hi
I have created a workflow for automator to send me an email for birthdays coming up in the next 2 weeks, if i save this as an app it runs fine
But when is put an event into iCal to alarm and open either the automator workflow or application, it doesnt work
I am at a loss as to why ?
Any clues ! (Its on OSX Snow Leopard 10.6 and iWork 09)
Regards
Dave

Unless I am mistaken that first action is actually Find Address Book Items in disguise. Once dropped in place the name changes to either Find People or Find Groups depending upon whether it is set to groups or people. That seems to be the step that is causing problems for me. When I remove it the new workflow sends.
Here's what I have right now although it does not give me the option of searching two months ahead like one of my previous workflows did. I added a blank line after Stop If iInput is Empty just to make it easier to read.
Find People with Birthdays
Send Birthday Greetings
Send Outgoing Messages
Stop If Input Is Empty
Find People With Birthdays
Get Contact Information
New Mail Message
Send Outgoing Messages
The block of steps that includes Stop If Input Is Empty sends a birthday greeting to people having a birthday. The second block sends me a confirmation email with the contact information of the people who were sent greetings. If you want to see what the original workflow looks like check out http://www.atpm.com/12.08/automator.shtml

Setting up system wide EQ via Automator workflow

hello,
many people might have tried to set up a system wide eq, which is not as easy on mac as maybe windows. now i figured it out by using soundflower and AU lab - i'm sure there are threads about this already.
so when i'm say watching a movie late at night and dont want to disturb the neighbours i plug in the hdmi cable of the telly. then i need to go through the rigmarole of changing the sound preferences, starting soundflower and AU lab and load an AU lab preset that i made including the EQ settings, that cancel out the annoingly loud bass frequencies. how do i automate this workflow with automator? better yet could it be triggered by hooking up the hdmi cable? in reverse i need a workflow that changes the settings back for when the laptop stands alone.
obviously i've tried recording what i do, but automator somehow cant handle the part of getting into system preferences. and i also dont find options in automator for various system preferences menu items.
can someone please please give me a tip how to make it work. id be really happy!
thank you!!

"does anyone have any idea how to get into the system preferences in automator? "
Yes:
Launch Application > System Preferences
But realize that getting into a particular preference pane and clicking buttons via Automator will likely require an AppleScript solution. Watch Me Do does work, but the action is quite finicky and often misunderstood. WMD doesn't track and target buttons or icons. It targets screen location. If items on your screen move--sometimes by as little as a pixel--WMD will fail. No fault of WMD; it's just the way the action functions.
You may want to repost your question in the AppleScript subforum: https://discussions.apple.com/community/mac_os/mac_os_x_technologies

Start automator workflow upon launch of application

I'm brand new to automator, I don't know why I never used it before because it seems like a powerful tool!
Is it possible to have a workflow triggered only when a certain application is launched? I have a workflow that I saved as an application, and I added it to startup items. But I need it to start after the application is launched and I don't want to add the application to startup too.
Thanks for the help!

Wait, before I forget..... I actually have two different actions on two different finder items. Is there a way to make the workflow do them one after the other? So, I would need it to open the application, run one workflow, then run the other. I was assuming that the workflows needed to be two different ones since the actions are on two different folders, if I can tie those together too, that would be great. Sorry, like I said, I'm new to automator!
Message was edited by: sterlingfive

Getting an automator script to execute at startup

Hello everyone,
How do I get an automator script/app/workflow to execute at startup? Other than by adding the app to the user startup items?
Thanks a million,
Cecile

I'd guess that there is an app out there that would run something at startup...
You probably want to look at this thread.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=312721&tstart=15
I don't understand why you wouldn't just put it in the startup list, but these may take care of it.

Automator Workflow Fails with Cryptic Error Message

I'm updating an Automator workflow for OS X Lion that I initally developed and used, without issue, in OS X Tiger. The workflow asks for a name, creates a folder for the name, takes a digital image with a Nikon D50 connected to the computer, and saves the image to the new folder. This aspect of the workflow works fine.
I then have a prompt asking if we should take another. If the user says "yes," the script should take another image and save it to the folder. This is where I run into an issue. When I attempt to add another "Take a Picture Action" into the workflow, I get the cryptic (at least to me) error message in the attached screenshot.
Here's the text:
"Cannot update for observer <AMWorkflow 0x400458ac0> for the key path "parameters.name" from <TakePicture 0x403e3b0a0>, most likely because the value for the key "parameters" has changed without an appropriate KVO notification being sent. Check the KVO-compliance of the TakePicture class."
The language of this error would seem to indicate a bug. Any thoughts on a fix or the means to report to Apple?

The subject of this post is a bit misleading. The workflow wasn't failing while I was running it, but rather when I was editing it and trying to include another 'Take a Picture' action in the same workflow.
The workaround I found was to use a 'Loop' action on the 'Take a Picture' action. It's a bit more elegant and doesn't require multiple 'Take a Picture' actions in the same workflow.
Nonetheless, what does this error message mean?

How to apply multiple automator workflows to one file

Hi everyone,
I've set up a few workflow applications to automate the process of making packshots from PDF files. The way those roughly work is they create a temporary copy in a folder, open a Photoshop droplet that executes all the actions on the file, and then save the finished product in a "finished" folder.
However, we frequently need to deliver multiple packshots made from the same file. I was asked to make one automator app that allowed us to drop the PDF version on it, resulting in the multiple types of packshots in the "finished" folder, together with the original PDF.
The way I have this set up right now is as follows:
1) Copy the original PDF file to the "finished" folder
2) Execute the first automator app
3) Execute the second automator app
This seems simple enough, and does work in 10.6.8. When I try it on a different computer in our studio though, with 10.7 installed, I get various errors:
- Sometimes it says an error occured within one of the automator apps, while the app works fine when running it seperately (on all computers).
- Sometimes it says something like "An error occurred while converting the data" when moving on from the first application to the second application
- Sometimes I'll get an error message in the log, saying:
*** -[_NSArrayl objectAtIndex:]: index 0 beyond bounds for empty array
What I got from this is that it's actually not getting the right input it requires (or not getting any input, since it's an empty array). However, the previous task is set to "return the task input" (our systems are Dutch so excuse me for any discrepancies in translations please), and the resulting output that I get seems to be what I want the next automator application to use. Below is a screenshot of the error message:
What I've tried:
- I read somewhere that the newer versions of Automator require the action "Retrieve selected finder items" between them. I've tried using this in various ways (between all other actions/tasks, only before the second application to be run and before both applications to be run), but with no success. The problem I have with these is that, during the applications, it moves the files around, thus apparently selecting those folders as well.
- Building an entirely new workflow on the newer system
- Using "Start application" instead of "Execute Automator workflow". This results in Automator saying that it did execute the workflow while nothing happened.
- Using "Ignore input" for the second application. This also results in Automator saying that it executed the workflow while nothing happened.
So right now, I'm pretty stumped as to how to get this combination of apps to work in 10.7. Any solutions or workarounds are most welcome.
Thanks in advance!

Yes, angelanna. You can merge or split your video file via FCP sequence.
ahaah, maybe I think angelanna would like to get the resulting file with MTS format because he mentioned “No need to be compressed”. Are you asking for this, angelanna?
If so, a simple MTS files managing and editing tool is needed. Maybe you can have a try the Mac version of Aunsoft Final Mate for managing HD camcorder footages. I just downloaded its free trial version and it offers a simple way of garping footages directly from camcorder. And also it provides a attractive feature to join flawlessly and split accurately native MTS files for video file output with original MTS format.
Maybe this is the tool cwhich an help you out, angelanna.
Enjoy your video.

Is there any way to remove my hard drive with backup files in it from the exclude these items from backups???

I currently have a MacBook Air and a 1TB external hard drive, and I run my iPhoto Library from the EHD and as well have TM backup my computer to that same HD. The problem I have is that I don't have a backup of that HD which has all my photos and other media, so If the HD takes a crap I can be in big trouble.
So what I did is I purchased a new HD (My Cloud from WD) to back up my EHD. While setting everything up I ran into this
TM included the EHD in the "Exclude these items from backup" list and I can't touch them, and I tried everything. I later found this
The last sentence of #3 states why I can't.... Since the EHD has a backup file in it, it is excluded.
So..... Does anybody have any idea of a way around this? Would I have to restart everything and set it up different? Or just have a better and easier way of doing this?? I'll appreciate any help and suggestions.

What you need, is a dedicated image restauration filter that recognized the regular frequency pattern superimposed onto the prints. You can do this in advanced Image processing packages that let you compute the fourier transform of the image and then suppress or attanuate the frequency bands of the artefact with a band-stop filter.
But neither Aperture nor PhotoShop have this kind of filter. In Aperture and Photoshop you can only soften the effect by blurring and then exporting a smaller version of the image.
The algorithm that your scanner uses is probably the best that can be done, even if the resolution is only 100 dpi.
Do you still have the negatives? Scanning the negatives at a high resolution may give you better results.
Regards
Léonie

After reformatting my 1 Tb WD ext drive and tinkering with the "exclude these items" list, I now get the following error message from Time Machine:Are you sure you want to back up to the same device your original data is on? the WD disk has mounted??

After reformatting my 1 Tb WD ext drive and tinkering with the "exclude these items" list, I now get the following error message from Time Machine: "Are you sure you want to back up to the same device your original data is on?" I've reformatted in Disk Utilities...not sure what I did wrong. Any help would be appreciated.

Not sure what you mean by "booted" from it.
If the Mac OS is installed on the external drive, then it's possible to start up from it, just as you do from your internal drive. Please open the Startup Disk preference pane in System Preferences, and verify that your internal drive is selected as the startup disk.
Assuming that's the case, then it may be that your TM settings have been corrupted. Turn off TM, then move or delete the file /Library/Preferences/com.apple.TimeMachine.plist. Turn TM back on, recreate your settings, and try again.

Getting File Name in Automator workflow - combine PDF

I am using Automator to combine 2 PDF files.
I would like to inherit one of the file names in the new PDF and append a standard text to the front of the file name.
I am not sure how to do this. I can combine the PDFs the way I would like, but I am not sure how to plick the file name.
my workflow is as follows.
Folder Action targets folder where 1st PDF is added(I want this FILE NAME).
Ger Specified finder item selects 2nd PDF to be combined.
Sort Finder Items makes sure the new PDF pages are ordered properly.
Combine PDF Pages combines the pages.
Move Finder Items saves the files where i want it.
Name single item is whre i thought to add my standard text plus the variable of FILE NAME.
Open File in mail to set up my email.
Anyone can help with this?
thanks,
Aaron

Here is an automator workflow that does something similar so I believe you can adapt to your needs. This workflow is setup as a service workflow. It will combine PDFs in the order in which they are selected/clicked via the Shift key. The default name of the combined output file will be the name of the first file clicked. Automator can be activated by CTRL clicking any of the selected PDFs.
1. Service receives PDF files in Finder
2. Automator Action: Run AppleScript
on run {input, parameters}
          display dialog "Files will be combined in the order selected via the Shift key" as text
          return input
end run
3.. Automator Action: Trim input items
keep the first one
you will need to download and install this autotmator action from here:
http://www.menace-enterprises.com/Files/Automator/Actions/Trim%20Input%20Items.d mg
4. Automator Action: Run AppleScript
(* Note & Definitions
This Applescript extracts the basename of the first selected file without its .pdf extension
"path_basename_ext" is full path and name, e.g. User/desktop/file.pdf
"NmExt" is filename with extension, e.g. file.pdf
"baseName" is the base filename without extension, e.g. file
"Ext" is the file's extension, e.g. pdf
on run {input, parameters}
          set path_basename_ext to input
          tell (info for path_basename_ext) to set {NmExt, Ext} to {name, name extension}
          set baseName to text 1 thru ((get offset of "." & Ext in NmExt) - 1) of NmExt
baseName
          return baseName
end run
5. Automator Action: Set Value of Variable
define baseName as the variable
6. Automator Action: Get selected finder items
Options: check ignore input
7. Automator Action: Combine PDF pages
choose Combine by appending
8. Automator Action: Move Finder Items
choose To: Desktop
Options: check show this action when workflow runs
9. Name Single Items
choose Basename only to: baseName
Options: check show this action when workflow runs
10. Open Finder Items

Automator workflow to include/exclude startup items?

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for