Import and rename using Automator

Hello,
I am very new to Automator but I am trying to use it to build an import workflow for importing pictures from a camera. Here is the basic workflow (set up as a folder action on a folder called Pictures/Import/Camera):
1. Rename files sequentially 01.jpg, 02.jpg etc
2. Rename files with date so they become 01_2012-07-08.jpg, 02_2012-07-08.jpg, etc
3. Copy files to a network share
4. Copy files to another network share
5. Import pictures into iPhoto
In general the workflow functions as expected. I use Image Capture to pull photos from the camera and add them to the Camera folder. If I only have one photo it works perfectly. But when I tried with 10 photos, the first 6 worked as expected but 4 photos kept their original names from the camera, were not copied to the network shares, and did not get imported to iPhoto. When I tried again, same result. When I tried a third time, 8 photos made it and 2 remained untouched.
I have a theory that Image Capture batches the files over in chunks, say 6 at a time. So the first six go in sequential order. Then when the next batch starts, it starts at 01_ again and a filename conflict occurs. Could this be right? Any ideas how to get past this? The file rename action does not seem to allow for using minutes and seconds in the file name, which would help.
Feeling rather stuck......
Thanks!

Lion is supposed to wait a bit to avoid this kind of thing, but folder actions don't really work that well for this kind of workflow - the folder action has already been triggered by the time the workflow gets a shot at using whatever items have been passed to it. Depending on what you are doing with the original imported items (e.g. the folder is normally empty and imported items are removed after processing), you can add a Pause action and then get the current contents of the Camera folder and use that for the input - a script that looks at the size of the folder (to see when it stops changing) can also be used to minimize waiting around too long.

Similar Messages

Import and rename photos via Automator and ExifTool

Hiya,
Just finished my work on a Automator workflow in order to import and rename photos from a portable hard disk.
I had the problem that my portable hard disk (with integrated card-reader) was not recognised by Image Capture or Aperture. Therefore I couldn't import my photos straight away into Aperture.
Another problem I had was that Aperture doesn't rename photos while importing. Whereas other Automator actions offer this feature, they all didn't fulfill my requirements - yeah, I can be very fussy
That's why I started initially to write a Perl script based on ExifTool in order to copy and rename photos to my liking. Once this was done and very much in use, I started to put it into an Automator action with a little AppleScript around it.
Eventually, I initiated the entire Automator workflow with the Check For Disk action.
More information and the files needed can be found on my website http://photography.stephanjaeger.eu/2007/03/improve-your-digital-photography-wor kflow.html.
The only drawback of this script is that only one camera is supported. At the moment, I work on a solution to support several cameras.
The Perl script can used by itself, if you feel comfortable in using the Terminal.
I hope you find the information and the Automator action helpful.
Any feedback appreciated.
Best regards,
Stephan Jaeger
Mac Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8) 2.66 GHz, 4 GB RAM

Brian,
Thanks for giving it a try. Let me know how you get on!
If you have any problems, please don't hesitate to contact me.
By the way, you don't have to use an external hard disk. You could replace easily the first step in that workflow with an other action, such as defining a folder that should be monitored, or selecting manually a folder that contains photos.
I hope that I find some time over the week-end to make some changes to the script. I will set up as well a page on my web site with more details.
All the best,
Stephan

How do I get PSE10 to import and rename files in order?

When I place my CF card into the reader PSE opens and displays all the photos on the card the problem is they are out of order. I take volleyball photos and use the burst often The files are numbered properly by the camera but PSE seems to get them mixed up. When I import and renamer them PSE thakes them in the order they are shown and they are then renumbered out of order causind many shots to be out of order. I have never had this problem before. I have been using PSE 6 up thru 10 now and this is the first time I have had this happen. Last season I wasusing PSE9 and all my bursts sequences are in purfect order.
Am I missing something in the settings?

Hi,
The problem I have is with the PSE Organizer "Photo Downloader". When I
plug the CF card from my camera into the card reader on the computer the
"downloader" opens up and shows thumbnails of the files on the card. At
this point the files are out of order based on the file numbers applied
by the camera. I.e.: one sequence looks like this-
11,12,16,15,14,13,17,18; where 12 thru 16 were a burst. Another
sequence- 121,120,125,124,122,123; all one burst. As you can see they
are out of order. I tried leaving the card in the camera and the same
thing happens. If I view the photos in /on the camera they are in the
right order. What has been happening is that I rename and number the
files as I import them. When that happens the files get numbered in
sequence as to how they are seen in the "downloader"....this means in
the examples shown 16 would become 13; 15 becomes 14 ect. This ends up
mixing up any sequence of shots.
Once I have the RAW files imported I import them to Lightroom 4 to do
most of my processing. Here if I choose to arrange by time created I can
get them in the right order but because the files are rearranged into
the correct order and since I renamed them on importing the file numbers
are now out of order. After figuring out what the problem was I can now
import the files to lightroom without renaming > arrange by time or file
name> rename> and all seems to be OK. My question is I never had this
problem before and it was very nice to be able to rename the files at
import and be done with it.
I haven't had time to check into it but one thing I'm wondering is is
there a way to rename the files at import without changing the file
number? Is there a way to insert the date and text while keeping the
IMG_Number....i.e IMG001 becomes 2012 09 15_Volleyball_0001 keeping the
original file number and only inserting a date/name? This would solve
the whole problem as I could then arrange by file name and all would be
well.
Any ideas or help would be appreciated.

Validating CSV File BEFORE importing and moving using an SSIS package

I'm trying to come up with a process (I'm used to doing this kind of stuff in T-SQL) in SSIS to grab a collection of .csv files from a folder, validate them, then depending on if they pass validation, import them into my database and move them into an archive
folder. If the .csv does not pass validation, then it does not get imported, and instead gets placed into an error folder. The validation requirements is that the Column2 of my .csv contains a WKT text field and the file is considered valid if every record
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Column0 Column1 Column2
abcd efgh LINESTRING (-71.4555487 41.6079686, -71.4550113 41.6088851)
ijkl mnop LINESTRING (-70.0748669 48.6634506, -70.0499 48.6548479)
qrst uvwx LINESTRING (-70.3159285 48.4199802, -70.3168512 48.4187551)

FOr that what you can do is dump the records to staging table and use STisValid function
see
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb933890.aspx
finally take the count of failed ones and if cnt > 0 set boolean value as true/false. Then for true cases move data to final table and for false cases (invalid values), move it to error folder
So package will look like below
1. Data flow task to transfer data to staging
2. execute sql task to call a procedure which does validation on staging data and returns a bit result. Set it to SSIS variable using output variable from procedure
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@BooleanVariable == True
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4. Connect to file system task to archive the file. the precedence constraint option would be Expression And Constraint with expression as
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Please Mark This As Answer if it helps to solve the issue Visakh ---------------------------- http://visakhm.blogspot.com/ https://www.facebook.com/VmBlogs

Import and Rename - can you turn naming off?

I have been using Bridge to rename my files since there are so many choices. I usually put event_ then sequence 001 so the file name would show up like event_001. Lightroom has it's own naming convention that is not as modifiable as Bridge, or am I missing something? Is there a way to import images without using lightroom to rename?
Thanks!

I do it all the time. Are you referencing where they are? If you are copying or moving, under the naminf template just set it to the last one: Filename, just before edit....
Don
Don Ricklin, MacBook 1.83Ghz Duo 2 Core running 10.4.9 & Win XP, Pentax *ist D
http://donricklin.blogspot.com/

Unable to drag and drop mp4 movies into itunes but the file will import and play using home sharing

Strange problem with my brothers MacBook.
The movie files were converted to mp4 format ready to be played on an iphone and I imported them into my iTunes on an iMac with no problems.
Files were also saved onto a flash drive which I passed on to my brother.
My brother was unable to import files by drag and drop and also by "add to library", we even copied and pasted files from the flash drive to the desktop but that also didn't work.
Using "home sharing the movies imported and played with no problems.
Any ideas why this is happening?

This appears to be a long-standing bug:
https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=634720
and the accepted workaround is stated in comment 11.
Oddly, it's possible to do the reverse, i.e. drag multiple eml files from Explorer to a TB folder.

Trying to import and rename Raw files in an automated process

I have been managing for quite a while with Bridge and ACR but recently started playing with the demo of Lightroom and bought the software yesterday. There have been no problems key wording or processing existing Raw files etc. but I have become a bit unstuck on the process of importing new Raw files to the catalogue and I wondered if anybody can offer some advice on best practices. I am trying to maintain the formula I adopted after reading the DAM book.
My plan was to have Lightroom see the raw files as the card is mounted on my desktop and add them to the catalogue in a predesignated place, while automatically renaming them according to my standard file name format e.g Karyl_Raw_090402_V5F8581.dng, then adding copyright data and converting to DNG all at the same time.
I just ran a test with a small number of files and Lightroom was able to import the files complete with the copyright data stored in the IPTC section, which I had previously edited as a metadata preset, but it didn't rename them apart from adding the .dng suffix and they were all dumped in a subfolder within my user's picture folder on the Mac. In ACR I used to import the original .CR2 files, make any adjustments and then do a batch rename before copying to the final folder, which all worked. Obviously the hope is to make this all very automated and efficient so I'd be grateful for any pointers and good advice.
Thanks
Ashley

I seem to be getting there now and have discovered the renaming presets on the right hand side of the import panel. It's actually all working rather well but I'd like to find out more about the various IPTC fields to see if there is more information I should be adding.

Confused about import and workflow using existing filing system

Ok folks, I purchased Lightroom last week and I am still staring at an empty Library module. I have thousands of images but I seem to have been overcome by a case of anxiety/paralysis. Why, you ask? I can't determine an import strategy; here's why.
I maintain three versions of every photo: 1) Original RAW, 2)Processed Tif, and 3) a Screen/web-ready Jpg
Photos are sequencially numbered and maintained in folders as in the example below:
- Main folder, 00001-00048
-- 3 Sub-folders: RAW, Tif, Jpg,
--- Each sub-folder has a sub-folder containing 24 photos (e.g 00001-00024 and 00025-00048)
Method to my madness...
- Each Main folder/content fits nicely on a DVD
- 24 files to each sub-folder makes a nice printed 4 column, 6 row contact sheet and a 1024 x 768 contact sheet for the computer screen.
Obviously I do not want all 3 versions of every photo visible in the library but I do want access to all of them through LR. Can I import all three versions and stack them?
Also, I typically d/l my RAW files from a card reader to a d/l folder, preview and delete, process keepers via PS and save as Tif, batch rename picking up where I left off from the last batch, and finally resize/convert to Jpg and save copies. All files are then moved to numbered folders on a backup hard drive and burned to two DVDs.
Given the new/required import methodology, is this process of saving, renaming, moving to different folders, etc., still possible using LR, or do I have to reinvent the wheel?
Apologies for the lengthy post - appreciate any and all input. Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Jeff

> Can I import all three versions and stack them?
Well, you can only stack within a folder, not across the hierarchy. So they'll all need different names and to be in the same folder. But leaving them in their own folders should work, and there are ways to hide them, like making the RAWs red, the TIFFs green, and the JPEGs purple, or something like that. Then just filter for what you want.
Your downloading etc. system should still work in LR.

Import and rename - backup not renamed

When I import from card and tell LR to rename photos, even if DNG convert too, no problem with the rename going to the original COPY TO location. However, when I tell import to make a backup the images are NOT renamed. Is there any way to get the backed up images to be renamed in the same manner as the original COPY TO imported images.
Thanks
Dan

FWIW-
 It's something I'll never use, as I disllike the idea of backing up photos I've no use for. Mileage varies, tho, and it's a good system in some instances.
 
 
John "McPhotoman"
 color="#800000" size="2">~~ John McWilliams
 
 
 
 MacBookPro 2 Ghz Intel Core Duo, G-5 Dual 1.8;
 Canon DSLRs

Importing videos: rename uses correct date but sorted to incorrect date folder

Hello
I know there is an issue with importing photos directly from a device, that's not what's happening here.
I import photos from my camera's SD card and I rename them as they import. Photos and video are both renamed correctly, but only the photos are sorted correctly. The videos seem to sort based on the additional time zone adjustment, so mostly they end up in the folder for the next day (corresponding to an additional +12 hr, as though lightroom was adding the time zone correction to the local time rather than to the GMT time). In gallery view I need to sort by name in order to sort by capture time because the renaming is the only feature that reads the correct capture time. Sorting by capture time uses the capture time displayed in the metadata (in the right panel in the library module), which seems unrelated to the capture time. I think it might have somethign to do with the import time, but it doesn't match any of the properties in windows explorer.
For example:
I took a video at 2015-02-07 1509, and that time/date appears in it's name
It was taken in New Zealand in a +12 hr time zone (so GMT time 2015-02-07 0309, and if we apply the time zone correction to the local time it would be 2015-02-08 0309)
When is was auto-sorted during the import it ended up in the 2015-02-08 folder
The lightroom metadata capture time is listed as 2015-02-08 2158
The windows explorer date modified is 2015-02-08 1509 (the correct capture time)
The windows explorer date created and date accessed are 2015-02-08 11:27
Note that the camera has GPS and photos are GPS tagged, so they are linked to the time zone. As far as I can tell the videos are not GPS tagged (no GPS coordinates in properties in windows explorer).
I'd like for the metadata to show the correct capture time and for the videos to be sorted by that correct capture time. Lightroo obviosuly has the ability to read the capture time correctly, because it does so for the naming. I have no idea what's going on here and would be heaps grateful for help from the wonderful adobe forums community (you guys haven't let me down yet, you beat any customer support line I've ever tried).
PS: This is the first of a few issues I'm having with lightroom and capture time and videos, so if you like a challenge stay tuned as I post them all up. I'm still going through them but briefly:
- similar video-only issues with videos from another camera: I have to double check to see if the details are the same
- I'm having time zone issues with screenshots and saved snapchat photos from my iphone even when they are imported from a separate folder
- accessing the capture time of iphone screenshots/snapchat photos: they get renamed based on a capture time (either the correct or time zone offset, but always something meaningful and not a blank or random time) but lightroom won't display the capture time metadata when looking at only those images, making the time zone adjustment very difficult

LR's support for video metadata is incomplete and buggy. Add your vote and opinion to this thread: Lightroom: Metadata applied to videos in Lightroom isn't available in other applications.

PSE7 Newbie - Sorting and Renaming using the PSE Downloader

Somewhere along the lines of installing PSE7 and playing with Elements, whenever I plug a camera memory card reader into my computer, one of the options that now appears is a PSE Downloader option (I have always used Windows Explorer for that operation up until now).
I like the options of creating new folders and file names on importing, but have a couple of problems.
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As kind of a side question, is the original picture name (the DSC. . . .) saved with the picture, no matter what (i.e. buried somewhere in the EXIF information) or is the name gone forever if I rename the picture. And if it is still there, is there a way to get at it, easily.
What I am getting at here is if my wife has one name of the JPEG on her computer and we want to locate the same RAW picture on my computer, is there an easy way to do that. I am worried about being able to link these pictures together -- is there an easy way to do this.
Ron in Round Rock

http://www.johnrellis.com/psedbtool/photoshop-elements-faq.htm#_Move_your_photos_1

Help... Losing Camcorder quality when importing and exporting using iMovie

First off im sure other people have noticed the same problem as me, but heres the problem;
I have a Sony HD camcorder which uses there normal AVCHD format, which iMovie supports so i dont have any problem getting the footage on there, editing it and getting it off to wherever...
I did a test the other day and played footage back via HDMI directly from the Camcorder to the HDTV, and the quality is excellent, it is truly HD quality, however... if i play the same footage that has gone through iMovie... Exported to iTunes and then played and on HDTV via my Apple TV 3rd Gen (Over ethernet not wifi) the quality is no where near as good, it doesnt look HD at all, so somewhere along the line the quality is being completly lost, i want to use iMovie and iTunes to have my movies on the iPad etc and for convinience with the ATV, but whats the point in having a HD camcorder if somewhere along the Apple process this quality is clearly all being lost.
Is this going to be a case of i either have the convience and editing (iMovie, iTunes & ATV) or i have the quality and just play the oringal footage from the camcorder to the TV
Any help would be great, thanks

First off im sure other people have noticed the same problem as me, but heres the problem;
I have a Sony HD camcorder which uses there normal AVCHD format, which iMovie supports so i dont have any problem getting the footage on there, editing it and getting it off to wherever...
I did a test the other day and played footage back via HDMI directly from the Camcorder to the HDTV, and the quality is excellent, it is truly HD quality, however... if i play the same footage that has gone through iMovie... Exported to iTunes and then played and on HDTV via my Apple TV 3rd Gen (Over ethernet not wifi) the quality is no where near as good, it doesnt look HD at all, so somewhere along the line the quality is being completly lost, i want to use iMovie and iTunes to have my movies on the iPad etc and for convinience with the ATV, but whats the point in having a HD camcorder if somewhere along the Apple process this quality is clearly all being lost.
Is this going to be a case of i either have the convience and editing (iMovie, iTunes & ATV) or i have the quality and just play the oringal footage from the camcorder to the TV
Any help would be great, thanks

Regarding MDM Import and Syndication Server

Hi,
I have earlier worked in MDM Import Server.
Today, I successfully did MDM Syndication by
MDM Syndicator.
Now, the point is I need to do Import and Syndication
by MDM Import Server and MDM Syndication Server.
The MDM Version is 5.5.
Now, the point is under my installed directory:
F:\MDM SERVER\Server
in mds.ini file:
I need to give the following path:
Distribution Root Dir=F:\MDMSER~1\Server\Distributions\
I think other than these I don't have to do any configuration
in mdis.ini or mdss.ini.
Also, I have already inbound and outbound ports made and linked
to inbound and outbound maps.
Is there any more configuration needed?
Regards
Neha Singh

Hi Neha,
There are many configuration needed to complete the Automatic import and syndication using MDIS and MDSS.
Please go through the link below for the same:
Master Data Management Import Server and Master Data Management Syndication Server - Webinar Powerpoint
https://www.sdn.sap.com/irj/scn/go/portal/prtroot/docs/library/uuid/8973bcaf-0801-0010-b7a7-f6af6b1df00e
This will give you the complete steps to perform the same.
Hope it helps.
Thanks and Regards
Nitin Jain

I used automator to rename some pages files, and now they can't be opened

I used automator to remove some text from the filenames of a group of pages files, and now they can't be opened. What went wrong?

Did you by any chance remove the file type extension?
Walt

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}
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          tell application "Microsoft Excel"
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      eturn input
end run
NOTE: This is formating the 1st col to text
If you need to format the second, then you need to:
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(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
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     proceed(fs)
end run
on open fs
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end open
on proceed(fs)
     repeat with f in fs
          tell application "Microsoft Excel"
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end proceed

Import and rename using Automator

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