Possible to run Automator job before shutdown (automatically)?

Question

Subject says it all, really: I have an Autamator job that copies some files from one place to another.
I want to run this job automatically before the machine shuts down. Is this possible?

Answer 1

Yes. Just add it to the Automator workflow with the "Run AppleScript" action and save it as an application to put in your Dock, or the sidebar in a Finder window, or the toolbar in a Finder window.
If you don't want it to be too easy, then put it in a folder first. Then put the folder either in the Dock, or the sidebar or toolbar of the Finder window so you'll have to perform two clicks.
In the "Run AppleScript" action, you can delete everything in the text box since you don't need to process any items, and then add this:
tell application "System Events" to shut down
Note that "shut down" is two words. You can also use the words "restart", "sleep", or "log out". There will not be a confirmation dialog, excepting when applications ask to save unsaved documents (unless sleeping).
In the future, you can find this is out again with Script Editor somewhere in the Applications folder (or use Spotlight). You'll want to open the "System Events" scripting dictionary, and it's probably already in the "Library" window (check the Window menu, or Command-Shift-L). Use the search in the "System Events" dictionary window to find "shut down", or anything else.
Be careful about testing this script since it will immediately shutdown the computer without a confirmation dialog. Perhaps have an unsaved document opened while testing, such as another Automator workflow with any action added and unsaved, or a new TextEdit document with a some random text typed in (a single letter will do).