Snow Leopard 10.6.1 - Automator

Question

Hi,
I've created a workflow in Automator, trying to organize my Downloads folder.
It goes, "Filter Finder Items", and then, "Move Finder Items".
I've lined it up, so that the Filter Finder Items "code", takes any file extension with ".dmg" and then on the Move Finder Items part, it moves those extensions to my created "dmg(s)" folder, which is inside the Downloads folder.
However, when I "Run" the workflow in Autumator, it tells me I need to place "Get Specified Finder Items" at the beginning of my workflow, in order for it to run, or whatever.
However, then it finishes up, after I okay it, and it comes up as failed. The first part of the workflow, is checked off with green, and then the 2nd part, comes up as failed, in red.
What am I doing wrong here?
Thanks

Answer 1

Ckimba99 wrote:
Not sure if I completely understand. Although, I did what the above person told me to do, and it happened to work, and organize all my .dmg files into my new folder, within downloads.
What I want, is Automator to automatically organize these files, while I download, and use my computer. I don't want to have to trigger it to do so, I want it just to work in the background.
you did not explain that in your first post.
there are two ways to achieve this in principle.
Method one. you can save your workflow as a folder action. in this case the workflow has to be redone from scratch differently. when you first open automator or initiate a new workflow in automator it gives you a pulldown screen where you choose which kind of workflow you are making. choose "folder action". at the top set it to be attached to "Downloads". the wrokflow itself should be like this
1. filter finder items.
filter by extension dmg
2. move finder items.
save the folder action. Now, this is how it's done in principle but it won't work well in this case for several reasons. first, folder actions are still quite buggy and unreliable and often misfire even if configured correctly.
secondly, the way it's set up now the folder action will fire as soon as you start downloading a dmg, not waiting for the download to finish. therefore, the action will most likely fail. there are ways around this by using apple script but they don't work well either.
Therefore I suggest you forget that method altogether. instead, recreate the workflow I gave you originally as an ical alarm and set it to run once a day with ical.