Looking to create a simple Automator workflow.

Alright. First off, understand I know NOTHING at ALL about actual coding, programming, Automator stuff, nothing at all.
I do know that Automator allows you to string together multiple actions as an app.
I also know that I have some very specific tasks I want to string together, and I ALSO know I want you guys' help with this.
1. Force Quit Minecraft.app (may not be open all the time) (MUST be force quit, cmnd+q won't work, I promise)
2. Double-Click app icon, which I need named "Snapshot Installer."
3. Locate filename minecraft.jar    inside the folder ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/bin.
4. Rename minecraft.jar   to backup.jar
5. Locate minecraft.jar    in downloads folder (not sure what to call that without violating my privacy)
6. Move minecraft.jar from downloads folder to ~/Library/Application Support/minecraft/bin
7. Display a banner window saying "You have sucessfully upgraded to the newest Snapshot."

Hello? can I get any help here?

Similar Messages

Automator workflow cannot be triggered.

Hello,
I created a few Automator workflows. they all work fine when I launch automator and click "run".
When I try to trigger the workflow via another software (like "Hazel" or Mail rules) it just doesn't run. I do see the little menubar icon rolling but nothing happens.
Any ideas what can cause it and how I can solve it?
Thank you,
Ofir

I tried using a Mail rule to launch an Automator workflow that had been saved as an application. That does not work. I think it is because the rule creator in Mail only gives you the option of running an Applescript.
Here's what I am going to test next but have not had time to yet. Perhaps you will get a chance before I do. Create the workflows using Automator as usual and save them as applications. Now create an Applescript that will run and launch the appropriate workflows.
Check out this article for an example of what I mean http://www.atpm.com/12.08/automator.shtml Look at the Tying Everything Together section. The items in quotation marks in that script are the titles of various Automator workflows.

Simple (you would think) Automator workflow

Hi all,
I have been using Mac for the last 3 years. I have a very good knowledge of computers in general, Unix/Linux in particular but I have never used Automator. I would like to create a very simple application in Automator: when I click on the application icon I want to see a form in which I type the name of a song and as a result I want to see a window that contains all the music files that match that name.
I have no problem in creating this as a unix shell script and I know I can use spotlight (the problem with spotlight is that everytime I have to type the search string, click on Show All, then refine the search by setting Kind=Music etc.)
So I thought it would be a piece of cake to do it in Automator.
I'm using the action "Find Finder Items" with "Name Contains" AND "Kind is Audio". If I run this in automator I get the results I want (if I click on the Results tab). However, when I save it as Application and then double click on it, I get the input window in which I can specify the name of the songs I'm looking for (so far so good) but then nothing appears, the application seems to terminate correctly but I am never presented with the results.
I have tried to add a "Reveal Finder Items" after the first action but that's not what I want as it opens one window for each file that matches my search and each window shows all files, with the one I'm looking for highlighted.
What I need is something similar to spotlight, I want a window to open, showing all files that match. I know I can add more actions and for example copy all files that match into a specific folder then open the folder, but that's a dirty way of solving my problem and a bit of an overkill. Aliases would be slightly better, but still not exactly what I want.
This is driving me crazy, you would think it should be a very easy thing to accomplish with Automator...
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
TIA
/Pippo

thanks, but it still doesn't do what I want.
1) not all my music is in iTunes, so I can't use the Find in iTunes action
2) adding a Choose from List (as you suggested) after the Find Finder Items now shows me a list of all matches, so that is an improvement, thanks, but I stil can't do anything with that. What I need is a Finder window with the result of the search so that I can simply QuickView the song (or copy it or whatever)
3) using the Finder search is similar to using spotlight, it doesn't do what I want, I don't want to have to type each time that I'm only looking for songs.
I just want an Automator workflow that:
1) asks for a file name
2) searches my computer for audio files that match the name
3) shows the result in a window where I can then work with the files.
it really bugs me that I can't make Automator perform such a simple workflow, I'm sure I'm missing some obvious action.
please help
TIA
/pippo

I have a new iMac and would like to buy a cheap version of Photoshop to create a simple flyer. If I look on ebay or similar, what version do I require?

I have a new iMac and would like to buy a cheap legal version of Photoshop to create a simple flyer. If I look on ebay or similar, what version do I require?
I understand that Photoshop 5 is not compatible?
I used to use CS5 at work which was very good, doing a little reserach it appears as if this suite has been replaced by a monthly 'cloud' charge which for me as a basic home user is unnecessary.
Appreciate any help.

Hello Simonlala;
Anyone that buys an iMac should not have to buy "cheap". it's like putting "retread tires" on a brand new Farrari! Ugh!
To find a cheap version of PS is to locate an obsolete version only? Software surplus business may have some or check the obituary columns to see if any Photographers or Gaphic Designers have left some things behind?
Some options...enroll in a community college Multimedia class and you will not only have access to Photoshop, you'll have access to much more software for the price of the course. It will also qualify you as a student and you can get a discounted rate on the Adobe Creative Cloud subscription as well.
If you are only making "simple flyers" would not MS Word or OpenOffice software do the job for you? There are applications for that purpose and Photoshop is not the only way to skin this cat! Or you can always buy a box of Crayola's and make a pamphlet that way?
And as a bonus, you may learn something from the course you enroll in.
I am a student and subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud...it's reasonable for my purposes for now.

Every time I sign into my Macbook, I get an error message from Automator; "The data couldn't be read because it has been corrupted.". I have never created an Automator workflow. How do I find out what Automator is trying to run and stop it?

Every time I sign into my Macbook, I get an error message from Automator; "The data couldn't be read because it has been corrupted.". I have never created an Automator workflow. How do I find out what Automator is trying to run and stop it?

Maybe it's set as a login item:
- System Preferences: Users and Groups:
- Highlight your user account in the left pane/list
- Click "Login" tab at the top.
See if you have an Automater action on the list
- Note, you can select it, then right-click, and can then select "Reveal in Finder". That way you might have an idea what installed it.

How to I create an Automator workflow to batch convert Quicktime movies to

I want to know the best way to create a Automator workflow to batch convert movies in Quicktime Pro using H.264 compression and save as a .mov file?
Thanks in advance for reading and replying to my post,
Sebastian

You might find something in this database.
Automator Actions Database

Creating a Simple document Approval workflow in SPD

Hi
Having configured workflow manager 1.0 I have attempted to create the simplest approval workflow.
on my document library I set content approval , content type management and versioning. I have left out check in and checkout to speed up my testing
Create a single stage workflowin SPD2013 associated with my Document Library
I upload my document set the various properties as defined in my custom content type
Document "Approval Status" states "Draft"
I (optionally) checkin and Publish a major version of the document, "Approval Status" is "Pending"
I manually trigger the my w/f setting myself as the approver
I want pass my Task Outcome to the Approval Status property in my current item - I am just not sure how to do this without setting the item back to draft
I am just not sure of the syntax - could anyone help?
Daniel

Now if I was building a SharePoint 2010 workflow .... I seem to have richer support for content approval
....... Was there beauty contest for the 2010 actions!!!!!!!!
Freelance consultant

Need help creating an AUTOMATOR workflow.

Sorry if this is the wrong area, but I couldn't find an Automator specific category.
I currently have a folder containing a bunch of avi's that I wish to convert for watching on an Apple TV.
I currently use Visual Hub, but find that I occasionally get a bad encode from it.
I was hoping to set up an automator workflow that does the following:
1. Whenever an avi appears in a specified folder it converts is using Quicktime's Apple TV Export feature.
2. Moves the new file to another specified folder.
3. Add's it to iTunes.
4. Deletes the original.
If someone could help me out in writing the workflow, that would be awesome.
Or even if you know of an already existing automator workflow that did this would be cool.
Thanks.

Open Automator.
Choose Folder Action for the type of workflow.
Set the folder you want to watch in the top gray bar (Folder Action receives files and folders added to)
Click on Movies in the Library panel
Drag Export Movie action to the right workflow panel
Choose the output type and location. I wouldn't delete files until I know they work.
Save the workflow.
Now, just drag .avi's to the folder you chose in the first step. You will see the gear run in the menu and when it stops, the new converted files will be in the folder you chose in the Export Movie action.

Create Automator workflow/AppleScript to automatically move files within NAS

Running iMac / Macbook Air (OS 10.9.5), having the Macs connected wireless to the same network as a Seagate Central (NAS). On the Seagate Central and the iMac I have specified a couple of folders which are bidirectional synced via "Sync folders pro", e.g. pictures/movies folders. As a family, we have several iPhones (4S and 5S) with dedicated folders on the Seagate Central / iMac. Having the Seagate Media app on the iPhones, we are able to upload (and thereby free iPhone memory) pictures/movies directly onto the Seagate Central (pictures/movies which then are synced back onto the iMac). However, when uploading pictures/movies from the iPhone to the Seagate central (via Seagate Media app), it is not possible to define a target directory, and the pictures are therefore uploaded to a dedicated directory. I therefore search for some workflow/script to automatically (when new pictures/movies are uploaded, or at a daily basis);
- Search for pictures/movies within a specific NAS folder
- Move the pictures/movies to another specific NAS folder
- Delete all other files/folders within the NAS folder being searched
New to Automator / scripting, so I hope you bear with me even if the questions are dumb.
Is it possible to make the NAS recognize a workflow/script without starting the iMac and/or MBA?

Ok, so I made it a bit further, now having the following Automator Workflow (iCal)
1. Get requested clients (check for ignore input from this action)
- afp://192.168.1.86/Public
2. Connect to client
- I end up with a mounted disc (Public folder). Note that I end up at the same folder even if using afp://192.168.1.86/Public/iPhone/Photos in step 1.
3. Get specified Finder items (check for ignore input from this action - to avoid having the Public folder itself following the workflow)
- Choose the subfolder Public/iPhone/Photos
4. Get folder content
5. Filter Finder items
- Did not get any results by using arguments as "kind is picture" and/or "kind is movie"
- Ended up using arguments as "name contains jpg", "name contains mov" etc
6. Move Finder items
- Destination folder: Public/Pictures/iPhone
- I now successfully managed to transfer the pictures and movies from one NAS folder to another
*** I now want to continue the workflow to delete all other Folders/Files on Public/iPhone/Photos ***
7. Get specified Finder items (check for ignore input from this action - to have no existing input for the remaining workflow)
- Choose the subfolder Public/iPhone/Photos
8. Get folder content
- Results no showing a folder and a file
9. Move Finder items to trash
However, I´m encountering a couple of problems with this workflow;
Note1: If there are no pictures/movies to move (no output from #5 going into #6), the workflow will stop. Any suggestions on how to skip step #6 and go to #7 if there are no pictures/movies to move? Applescript within Automator? Setting up the workflow as iCal (regular basis), so would be nice if the workflow just completes without errors (i.e. still goes on with deleting other files on the folder, even if there are no pictures/movies to move).
Note2: Step #9 result in a error "Finder could not move the specified items to trash". Has this something to do with a folder and some other file being attempted deleted from a NAS folder? Any suggestions for how to cope with this problem?

Select old files in automator workflow

I am new to automator and wanted to create a simple workflow that would delete old files (4 weeks old) in my downloads directory, but I can not see how to select old files using the find files action? Is this possible? I tried to use the before selector but it only seems to let you use a hardcoded date, can you paramertise it? (Appreciate I can do this by running a script and using something like the find command but wanted to see if this is possible in automator?)
thanks
Andy

I just tested the following workflow and I think it gets where you want to go. Open Automator and click on the Files and Folders section of the Library. I used the following actions:Find Finder Items
and Delete Files. Drop them into Automator in that order.
Configure the Find Finder Items Action using the drop down menus. Set "Where" to the location of your Downloads folder. Set whose so that "Date Modified" is "This Month" In the Delete Files action decide whether you want a confirmation dialog to appear.
I recommend testing it in Automator without the Dele action in place until you are sure the parameters are only deleting files you want to get rid of. (Look at the results section of the first action for the names of the files it finds). After the delete action is in place this workflow can be saved as as application or as a plug in for either iCal or Finder. As Part of iCal it could easily be set to run on a specific day each month.
use at your own risk. this has had limited testing.

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.

Cannot manually select Automator workflows in iCal

I know That the Way, Apple intends that we create an Automator workflow as an iCal alarm is to create a new iCal alarm in Automator, and once you save it it automatically creates a new event in iCal. Unfortunately, that's not the way I want to work… I already have dozens of iCal alarms configured, and I'm trying to prep them for Mountain Lion: the currently open AppleScript's but all of my Apple scripts need to be converted to Automator workflows for Mountain Lion. So I was hoping to quickly duplicate previous iCal workflows, then reselect them from within existing events in iCal. Sadly, all of my iCal Automator workflows appear as greyed out in my File Open dialog when attempting to select a new file to run within my iCal alert.
I don't want to have to delete all of my iCal alarms and start over creating them anew. Perhaps I am missing something simple?

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-4082
http://www.macworld.com/article/1165641/how_increased_mac_security_measures_will _impact_applescript.html
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4139323?start=0&tstart=0
according to the first link I can save the applecript as an application. It doesn't answer why my automator workflows are greyed out when I try to select them, but maybe I'll just try saving as applications... sounds simpler.

Automator workflow no longer works on 10.7

Hi. I've been using an Automator workflow for years: it opens iTunes, looks for a specific radio station, sets iTunes volume, sets Computer volume, starts iTunes playing and runs a small Applescript script to close the folder if it was open.
This has been running for years. Upgraded to 10.7 and it stopped working. It seems to launch, but nothing happens.
I recreated the same workflow, and I can run it: it states that every step is "Completed". But it really doesn't work!!!
What should I try next? (Windows 8???)

Hi Frank. Thanks for the response.
(Mentioning Windows 8 was a joke, as I'm sure you know! ;-)
Here's what the workflow looks like; you'll note the "all green" log at the bottom!
By the way, when I run it, iTunes does launch; but it doesn't play anything. And there IS a WCPE entry; it's a radio station that is in the list of radio stations/Classical and that entry has also been copied to one of my playlists.
The workflow was created as an application and it's run when I power up the Mac.
Thanks for your interest and advice!

Automator Workflow to export Numbers documents in PDF format

Does anyone know of any automator workflow to export Numbers documents in PDF format? I tried this program: Convert to PDF 1.2
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/automator/converttopdf_mauriziominelli.htm l
But it gives an error.

Reading carefully is often useful.
The description of the tool which you tried clearly states :
*About Convert to PDF*
*_Convert all of your text files to PDF_. This action uses the underlying cups printing system ability to convert files, it’s a simple front end to the command line tool cupsfilter.*
As far as I know, but maybe you don't, *_a Numbers document isn't a text file._*
I already posted a script exporting Numbers documents as PDF.
Here is an enhanced version which apply only to Numbers '09 (or maybe higher) :
--[SCRIPT save2Numbers&PDF.app]
Enregistrer le script en tant que Script : save2Numbers&PDF.scpt
déplacer le fichier créé dans le dossier
<VolumeDeDémarrage>:Users:<votreCompte>:Library:Scripts:Applications:Numbers:
Il vous faudra peut-être créer le dossier Numbers et peut-être même le dossier Applications.
aller au menu Scripts , choisir Numbers puis choisir save2Numbers&PDF
Le script enregistre le document au format natif de Numbers
et l'enregistre dans un fichier PDF.
S'il existe déjà un PDF homonyme, il est renommé en lui ajoutant une chaîne
construite sur sa date de modification.
--=====
L'aide du Finder explique:
L'Utilitaire AppleScript permet d'activer le Menu des scripts :
Ouvrez l'Utilitaire AppleScript situé dans le dossier Applications/AppleScript.
Cochez la case "Afficher le menu des scripts dans la barre de menus".
+++++++
Save the script
as a Script: save2Numbers&PDF.scpt
Move the newly created file into the folder:
<startup Volume>:Users:<yourAccount>:Library:Scripts:Applications:Numbers:
Maybe you would have to create the folder Numbers and even the folder Applications by yourself.
go to the Scripts Menu, choose Numbers, then choose save2Numbers&PDF
The script saves the document in the native Numbers format and saves it in a .pdf file
If such a .pdf already exists, it is renamed with a stamp matching its modification date.
--=====
The Finder's Help explains:
To make the Script menu appear:
Open the AppleScript utility located in Applications/AppleScript.
Select the "Show Script Menu in menu bar" checkbox
--=====
Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France)
modifié 2010/08/17
property closeIt : true
(* true = closes the saved document
false = doesn't close it *)
property theApp : "Numbers"
property theExt : "numbers"
--=====
on run
tell application theApp
activate
set le_document to front document
if modified of le_document then save le_document
delay 0.2
set thePath to path of document 1
end tell -- theapp
set {xPath, xExt} to my saveAs(thePath)
if closeIt then tell application theApp to close document 1 saving no
end run
--=====
on saveAs(p)
local extension_export, type_export, nomde_loriginal, dossierde_loriginal, nomde_lexport, cheminde_lexport
set {extension_export, type_export} to {"pdf", "LSDocumentTypePDF"}
set {nomde_loriginal, dossierde_loriginal} to my quelNomEtDossier(p)
if nomde_loriginal ends with theExt then
• replace the original extension by the xExt one *)
set nomde_lexport to (text 1 thru -(1 + (length of theExt)) of nomde_loriginal) & extension_export
else
• add the xExt extension name *)
set nomde_lexport to nomde_loriginal & "." & extension_export
end if
set cheminde_lexport to dossierde_loriginal & nomde_lexport
• CAUTION, When saving, Numbers doesn't take care of an existing document.
It replaces it by the new one. *)
tell application "System Events"
if exists (file cheminde_lexport) then
Playing safety, we rename the existing file by inserting a modificationdatetime stamp *)
set name of file cheminde_lexport to (text 1 thru -(2 + (length of extension_export)) of nomde_lexport) & my horoDateur(modification date of file cheminde_lexport) & "." & extension_export
end if
end tell -- System Events
• save as type_export document *)
tell application "Numbers" to save document nomde_loriginal as type_export in cheminde_lexport
return {cheminde_lexport, extension_export}
end saveAs
-- =====
on quelNomEtDossier(f)
local nom, dossier
tell application "System Events" to tell file (f as Unicode text)
set nom to name (* Unicode text *)
set dossier to path of container (* Unicode HFS path *)
end tell -- to System Events
return {nom, dossier}
end quelNomEtDossier
--=====
• Build a stamp from the modification date_time
on horoDateur(datedemodification)
local les_secondes
set les_secondes to time of datedemodification
return ("_" & year of datedemodification & text -2 thru -1 of ("0" & (month of datedemodification as integer)) & text -2 thru -1 of ("0" & day of datedemodification) & "_" & text -2 thru -1 of ("0" & les_secondes div 3600) & text -2 thru -1 of ("0" & (les_secondes mod 3600) div 60) & text -2 thru -1 of ("0" & les_secondes mod 60))
(* Here, the stamp is "YYYYMMDDhhmmss" *)
end horoDateur
--=====
--[/SCRIPT]
Yvan KOENIG (VALLAURIS, France) mardi 17 août 2010 18:16:27

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

Looking to create a simple Automator workflow.

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