How can I use Automator to batch convert files of various formats into pdf files?

I am very much a novice. I need to convert approximately 10,000 documents into pdf format. (No, I'm not exaggerating.) I have searched and found various Applescripts that will do it for Word documents, but have even been unsuccessful using those. Each of my attempts ends up with some sort of error.
The documents are in mixed formats: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, OpenOffice (.odt), and .jpeg, I even have some Clarisworks/Appleworks files, but those I'm happy to deal with separately if need be.

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How can I get Automator to create a workflow for combining .jpgs into pdf?

I have a large folder with many subfolders, and each subfolder has many subfolders. Those last mentioned subfolders have many .jpgs inside which I want to make them into a pdf. The question is, how can I get automator to do this for me? I tried using the help but it only made things even more confusing, it didn't help at all. I also have an app for creating pdfs out of combining pngs, jpgs, gifs, etc. (Combine PDF).
The task of making hundreds of pdfs out of so many jpgs that I have, is there somehow a way I can get automator to do this for me? So far I haven't even found an example with understandable screenshots so that I can get into the correct way of making a workflow do what it is supposed to do correctly.
Please help...

Thank you for your reply, the workflow is opened fine, however I'm not sure how to then get this scripted workflow to do what I want to do? I'm a complete n00b when it comes to Automator, is there perhaps a tutorial for idiots that is known where I could read about starting out with Automator to understand it better?
Thank you

How can I use Automator to extract specific Data from a text file?

I have several hundred text files that contain a bunch of information. I only need six values from each file and ideally I need them as columns in an excel file.
How can I use Automator to extract specific Data from the text files and either create a new text file or excel file with the info? I have looked all over but can't find a solution. If anyone could please help I would be eternally grateful!!! If there is another, better solution than automator, please let me know!
Example of File Contents:
Link Time =
DD/MMM/YYYY
Random
Text
161 179
bytes of CODE    memory (+                68 range fill )
16 789
bytes of DATA    memory (+    59 absolute )
1 875
bytes of XDATA   memory (+ 1 855 absolute )
90 783
bytes of FARCODE memory
What I would like to have as a final file:
EXCEL COLUMN1
Column 2
Column3
Column4
Column5
Column6
MM/DD/YYYY
filename1
161179
16789
1875
90783
MM/DD/YYYY
filename2
xxxxxx
xxxxx
xxxx
xxxxx
MM/DD/YYYY
filename3
xxxxxx
xxxxx
xxxx
xxxxx
Is this possible? I can't imagine having to go through each and every file one by one. Please help!!!

Hello
You may try the following AppleScript script. It will ask you to choose a root folder where to start searching for *.map files and then create a CSV file named "out.csv" on desktop which you may import to Excel.
set f to (choose folder with prompt "Choose the root folder to start searching")'s POSIX path
if f ends with "/" then set f to f's text 1 thru -2
do shell script "/usr/bin/perl -CSDA -w <<'EOF' - " & f's quoted form & " > ~/Desktop/out.csv
use strict;
use open IN => ':crlf';
chdir $ARGV[0] or die qq($!);
local $/ = qq(\\0);
my @ff = map {chomp; $_} qx(find . -type f -iname '*.map' -print0);
local $/ = qq(\\n);
#     CSV spec
#     - record separator is CRLF
#     - field separator is comma
#     - every field is quoted
#     - text encoding is UTF-8
local $\\ = qq(\\015\\012);    # CRLF
local $, = qq(,);            # COMMA
# print column header row
my @dd = ('column 1', 'column 2', 'column 3', 'column 4', 'column 5', 'column 6');
print map { s/\"/\"\"/og; qq(\").$_.qq(\"); } @dd;
# print data row per each file
while (@ff) {
    my $f = shift @ff;    # file path
    if ( ! open(IN, '<', $f) ) {
        warn qq(Failed to open $f: $!);
        next;
    $f =~ s%^.*/%%og;    # file name
    @dd = ('', $f, '', '', '', '');
    while (<IN>) {
        chomp;
        $dd[0] = \"$2/$1/$3\" if m%Link Time\\s+=\\s+([0-9]{2})/([0-9]{2})/([0-9]{4})%o;
        ($dd[2] = $1) =~ s/ //g if m/([0-9 ]+)\\s+bytes of CODE\\s/o;
        ($dd[3] = $1) =~ s/ //g if m/([0-9 ]+)\\s+bytes of DATA\\s/o;
        ($dd[4] = $1) =~ s/ //g if m/([0-9 ]+)\\s+bytes of XDATA\\s/o;
        ($dd[5] = $1) =~ s/ //g if m/([0-9 ]+)\\s+bytes of FARCODE\\s/o;
        last unless grep { /^$/ } @dd;
    close IN;
    print map { s/\"/\"\"/og; qq(\").$_.qq(\"); } @dd;
EOF
Hope this may help,
H

I can't use thunderbird 31.2.0 to send attachement from a pdf file with Acrobat PRO XI

I can't use thunderbird 31.2.0 (Mozilla) to send attachement from a pdf file with Acrobat PRO XI. Each time, Acrobat replies (in french) : "il n'y a pas de client pour la messagerie par défaut". Thunderbird is indicated as "by default" in the list of programs of Windows.
Even if I type my e-mail address, etc. in the account of Acrobat, it doesn't change. Each time, I have to record a PDF file in a folder and return to Thunderbird to send it as attached. It is a too long process, compared with Windows XP with Acrobat Reader or Acrobat 5, I had before.
Would you please help me to explain the process. My OS is Windows 8.1.
Thank you

Thank you for your answer.
What i want to do : to send PDF files as attached documents in a message
generated by thunderbird by my e-mail address [email protected] or
another one I have.
When I introduce my e-mail address under Edit-Preferences-Email
Accounts, Acrobat ask the e-mail account, the password, the IMAP for
ingoing message (and I use POP) and SMTP for outgoing messages. Even I
introduce all the datas, it doesn't change, Acrobat is unable to send
the message. And the process is not convenient, because I need all my
outgoing messages be documented inside Thunderbird.
So, I repeat my request : how can I use thenderbird as program by
default from Acrobat or any other software ?
Thank you for your next message.
Jean-Luc Rongé
Le 21-10-14 14:24, ANAND8502 a écrit :
>
I can't use thunderbird 31.2.0 to send attachement from a pdf
file with Acrobat PRO XI
created by ANAND8502 <https://forums.adobe.com/people/ANAND8502> in
/Acrobat Installation & Update Issues/ - View the full discussion
<https://forums.adobe.com/message/6850947#6850947>

Can I use Visual Basic to covert form user data from multiple .pdf files to a single .csv file?

Can I use Visual Basic to covert form user data from multiple .pdf files to a single .csv file? If so, how?

You can automate Acrobat using IAC (InterApplication Communications), as documented in the Acrobat SDK. Your program could loop through a collection of PDFs, load them in Acrobat, extract the form data from each, and generate a CSV file that contains the data.
Acrobat can also do this with its "Merge Data Files into Spreadsheet" function, but this is a manual process.

How can I fix a document having a microsoft Word logo and a "PDF" file extention?

I am a subscriber to Adobe Create PDF. When I scan in documents from my HP 8600 all in one, it shows up in my computer with a pdf file extention, but with a microsoft WORD logo. I cannot simply open it with a double click and see a PDF adobe display. Instead I get a window generated from WORD that has garbage symbols and unreadable cybertext which I cannot convert. How can the be fixed?

Thanks, it worked.
In a message dated 12/9/2013 3:53:33 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
[email protected] writes:
Re: How can I fix a document having a microsoft Word logo and a "PDF" file
extention?
created by Gilad D (try67) (http://forums.adobe.com/people/try67) in
Adobe Reader - View the full discussion
(http://forums.adobe.com/message/5913330#5913330)

Can i use pandrive with iPad, i want to access word, excel, pdf files on iPad via pandrive

Can i use pandrive with iPad, i want to access word, excel, pdf files on iPad via pandrive

You cannot use pendriver.
Have a look at the following:
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/quickoffice-pro-hd-edit-office/id376212724?mt=8&l s=1
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/office2-hd/id364361728?mt=8&ls=1
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/documents-to-go-premium-office/id317107309?mt=8&l s=1
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/polaris-office/id513188658?mt=8&ls=1

How can I use automator to import a .csv file into a an excel file

I would still like all the import settings that I get if I am using excel to do the process, i.e. going in with the text format instead of the general format. That way my dates don't change

You'll need to use Applescript in Automator.
Note: File extension cannot be CSV (Excel will assume that the file is comma separated), so add an action to copy or rename with extension TXT.
(You can rename back at end of Workflow is needed)
The Applescript Action is:
on run {input, parameters}
     repeat with f in input
          tell application "Microsoft Excel"
               open text file filename (f as string) data type delimited field info {{1, text format}} other char "|" with use other
          end tell
      end repeat
      eturn input
end run
NOTE: This is formating the 1st col to text
If you need to format the second, then you need to:
open text file filename (f as string) data type delimited field info {{1, general format}, {2, text format}} other char "|" with use other
(You'll need to list the 1st col, 2nd col, etc until you get to the col to format as text). Formats are (from the Applescript Excel Library):
[field info list] : A list contain parse information for the individual columns of data.
Formats are general format, text format, MDY format, DMY format, YMD format, MYD format, DYM format, YDM format, skip column.
Or you can skip using Automator and just use an Applescript App (this is a droplet, just drop the files on the icon, or click to choose files):
on run
     set fs to choose file with prompt "Select one or more files to open:" default location alias (the path to desktop folder as text) with multiple selections allowed
     proceed(fs)
end run
on open fs
     proceed(fs)
end open
on proceed(fs)
     repeat with f in fs
          tell application "Microsoft Excel"
               open text file filename (f as string) data type delimited field info {{1, text format}} other char "|" with use other
           end tell
      end repeat
end proceed

How to use Automator to batch convert xls/xlsx files into tab OR pipe delimited text file.

If you have answer, please provide specific and detailed steps.
Situation 1:
Start:
150+ files in .xls OR .xlsx format
data contains many characters EXCEPT "Tab"
Process:
Use Automator to:
Select Files from Finder window
Convert selected files from xls/xlsx to TAB-DELIMITED file format
End:
150+ files in .txt format
files have identical names to those from "Start:"
data is TAB-DELIMITED
Situation 2:
Start:
150+ files in .xls OR .xlsx format
data contains many characters EXCEPT | (pipe, vertical bar)
Process:
Use Automator to:
Select Files from Finder window
Convert selected files from xls/xlsx to |-delimited file format
End:
150+ files in .txt format
files have identical names to those from "Start:"
data is "|"-delimited

If your post is addressed to my response then the answer is you have to write your own or search on-line to see if something exists to do what you want.
As you note there is no pre-built script for this.
regards
Message was edited by: Frank Caggiano - Are you certain there isn;t something in Excel to export as a tab delimited file?
This link Convert An Excel Spreadsheet To A Tab Delimited Text File seems to indicate that the function is in Excel already.

How can i use automator to change my browsers home page

Hello there,
I am a junior web developer currently using a macbook, i have wamp server installed on my machine for testing the code that i produce.
Currently i have 2 browsers on my machine firefox and safari. I would like to create a script that would change my homepage to localhost only when wamp server is running. I am guessing this can be done with automator but i just don't know how.
If anyone has any ideas that would be sweet!
Peace

If the files are in one folder, I'd change them with TextWrangler.
First, copy the folder with the 12-point files. Work on the copy folder.
Open TW
Search > Multi-File Search …
--Find: fs24 (i.e., an RTF code that indicates a 12-point font)
--Replace: fs48 (i.e., an RTF code that indicates a 24-point font)
--Search in: Other: (target the copy folder)
--Replace All
Follow the dialog to Find & Replace All Matches:
--Save to disk
(There's no need to use the options to Leave open, Confirm before saving, or Show results.)
--Proceed
Quick and dirty but ought to work unless you actually use the string "fs24" somewhere in a document--and if you do, you do still have the original 12-point files.

How can I use automator to open terminal change directory run a python script?

Hi all,
I dont really ever use automator - which may be my big problem - and I am trying to make an apllication that seems fairly simple in theroy. I want something that will lunch terminal, cd to the place where my python script lives and then run it. I have tried a number of suggested ways and can get the terminal to open and the directory to change but cant figure out how to run the script. This is my workflow if i did it manually each time
- open terminal
- type cd "the place where my file lives"
- type python uploadr.py -d
I can get terminal to open then cd to the right place but cant get the "python uploadr.py -d" to run without an error.
any help would be very appricated
thanks!!!
J

this is the script I got closest with - I know its something to do with breaking those two commands up but i just dont know how to do it
on run {input, parameters}
          tell application "Terminal"
activate
                    if (the (count of the window) = 0) or ¬
                              (the busy of window 1 = true) then
                              tell application "System Events"
keystroke "n" using command down
                              end tell
                    end if
                    do script "cd /Users/behole/Desktop/FlickrUpload/" & "python uploadr.py -d" in window 1
          end tell
          return input
end run
this is the error I get in terminal after I run it
Last login: Mon Jul 23 15:37:17 on ttys000
be-holes-MacBook-Pro:~ behole$ cd /Users/behole/Desktop/FlickrUpload/python uploadr.py -d
-bash: cd: /Users/behole/Desktop/FlickrUpload/python: No such file or directory
be-holes-MacBook-Pro:~ behole$

How can I use automator to copy and paste excel content to a new empty document?

Hi,
I would like to copy and paste the content from an excel file to another empty new document using automator, which I created a workflow like below
get specific finder item
open excel workbook
select cell from excel workbook (all content)
obtain selected content from workbook
copy to pasteboard the content of excel workbook
close the excel workbook
create new excel workbook
paste copyboard content to excel workbook
can anyone kindly suggest what's wrong with this workflow?
Thank you so much
Eddy
(i know this is a number place but I couldn't find any excel seciton sorry guys...)

now it only does one file at a time, whereas I would like to do multiple files simultaneously.
If you try a search for "loop Automator" and also "folder actions" you may find some usable pointers on how to do that. The first example on this page looks promising.
SG

How can a do a simple Batch convert?

Page 248 of the manual explains how to make Applescript droplets for batch processing:
You can also drag files or folders onto a droplet, making it easy to batch process files.
Great! I opened a single file in the Audio editor, applied my actions, and saved the result as AppleScript via File > Save as Applescript.
I drag and drop a few files to this app, and it processes, but then it asks me to save somewhere. This is understandable, since when performing the actions I didn't specify a save location, but I can't figure out where to specify this for when performing the steps or ultimately creating the Applescript. It's also annoying, because I don't want to have to do this for hundreds of files!
But it's a moot point - the Applescript app hangs and never does anything with the subsequent files. It only processes the first of the group.
What am I doing wrong here?
... going to try using Compressor... but it won't boot... again.

Compressor worked once I reinstalled it. Soundtrack Pro ought to be able to do this, or even send to compressor.
Crazy thought, the Soundtrack Pro manual should mention that you can use Compressor instead of providing instructions that don't really work.

How can I use Automator to extract information from the body of an email sent from a web form.. and the import it into Highrise?

I'm assuming that Automator is the way to go. I've never used it before but from research it seems to be the way to go. Also, I'm not good at programming at all.
Here's a typical email...
From:      [email protected]
     Subject:      Enquiry for Property ID: 408777039, 2 Grey Avenue, Manningham, SA 5086, Listing Agent
     Date:      18 September 2013 8:33:51 PM ACST
     To:      Joe Jope
     Reply-To: [email protected]
You have received a new lead from realestate.com.au for
Property id: 408587036
Property address: 2 Grey Avenue, Manningham, SA 5086
Property URL: www.realestate.com.au/404387039
User Details:
Name: John Bon Jovi
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0422645633
I would like to: buy this house
Comments: Please give me a call.
I have several hundred of these emails and I want to extract the information and then save it into my CRM which is Highrise (https://highrisehq.com). If it's too difficult to get it directly into Highrise then I'm aslo happy to extract the info into excel and the import into Highrise. However I do not want to have to run through that proceedure for every single email.
I'd really like some help on how to get Automator to do this for me. Or if not Automator.. any other suggestions?
Thanks.
John

Hello
You may try the following AppleScript script. It will ask you to choose a root folder where to start searching for *.map files and then create a CSV file named "out.csv" on desktop which you may import to Excel.
set f to (choose folder with prompt "Choose the root folder to start searching")'s POSIX path
if f ends with "/" then set f to f's text 1 thru -2
do shell script "/usr/bin/perl -CSDA -w <<'EOF' - " & f's quoted form & " > ~/Desktop/out.csv
use strict;
use open IN => ':crlf';
chdir $ARGV[0] or die qq($!);
local $/ = qq(\\0);
my @ff = map {chomp; $_} qx(find . -type f -iname '*.map' -print0);
local $/ = qq(\\n);
#     CSV spec
#     - record separator is CRLF
#     - field separator is comma
#     - every field is quoted
#     - text encoding is UTF-8
local $\\ = qq(\\015\\012);    # CRLF
local $, = qq(,);            # COMMA
# print column header row
my @dd = ('column 1', 'column 2', 'column 3', 'column 4', 'column 5', 'column 6');
print map { s/\"/\"\"/og; qq(\").$_.qq(\"); } @dd;
# print data row per each file
while (@ff) {
    my $f = shift @ff;    # file path
    if ( ! open(IN, '<', $f) ) {
        warn qq(Failed to open $f: $!);
        next;
    $f =~ s%^.*/%%og;    # file name
    @dd = ('', $f, '', '', '', '');
    while (<IN>) {
        chomp;
        $dd[0] = \"$2/$1/$3\" if m%Link Time\\s+=\\s+([0-9]{2})/([0-9]{2})/([0-9]{4})%o;
        ($dd[2] = $1) =~ s/ //g if m/([0-9 ]+)\\s+bytes of CODE\\s/o;
        ($dd[3] = $1) =~ s/ //g if m/([0-9 ]+)\\s+bytes of DATA\\s/o;
        ($dd[4] = $1) =~ s/ //g if m/([0-9 ]+)\\s+bytes of XDATA\\s/o;
        ($dd[5] = $1) =~ s/ //g if m/([0-9 ]+)\\s+bytes of FARCODE\\s/o;
        last unless grep { /^$/ } @dd;
    close IN;
    print map { s/\"/\"\"/og; qq(\").$_.qq(\"); } @dd;
EOF
Hope this may help,
H

How can I use Automator to search only in folders whose name contains a certain word?

I'm very new to Automator. What I am trying to accomplish is this:
I am using Transmit as my FTP client. I have mounted a server as a disk to my desktop. I am using Automator to try and search this server and open files whose path contains the word "mobile", then open files with the name "order.php" with my HTML editor. There are hundreds other files on this server that have the name "order.php", so I just want to target the ones found in paths with the name "mobile" applied.
Where I get stuck is the "search only in paths that contain the word 'mobile' ".
Please advise.
Thanks.

I'm very new to Automator. What I am trying to accomplish is this:
I am using Transmit as my FTP client. I have mounted a server as a disk to my desktop. I am using Automator to try and search this server and open files whose path contains the word "mobile", then open files with the name "order.php" with my HTML editor. There are hundreds other files on this server that have the name "order.php", so I just want to target the ones found in paths with the name "mobile" applied.
Where I get stuck is the "search only in paths that contain the word 'mobile' ".
Please advise.
Thanks.

How can I use Automator to batch convert files of various formats into pdf files?

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