How to Make a Folder Action With Automator on a Mac
Apple's Automator is a user-friendly productivity tool that comes with all versions of OS X. Its purpose is to give the user the ability to automate repetitive tasks, thus increasing productivity and eliminating the need to use AppleScript. For example, photographers working with a large number of image files can create a Folder Action workflow in Automator which will automatically label, crop or otherwise manipulate each image file added to a specified folder.
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Instructions
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Launch Automator. By default, it is found in the Applications folder. Automator loads and its interface appears. You are presented with a selection of templates and prompted to select one.
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Click on the “Folder Action” icon and then click “Choose.” Automator loads the Folder Action template and displays a blank workflow window. The various actions that can be appended to the workflow are displayed on the left. At the top of the workflow window is a drop-down menu labeled “Choose Folder.”
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Open the “Choose Folder” drop-down menu and select “Other.” A Finder window appears.
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Locate the folder to which you want to apply folder actions in the Finder window. Click on it and then click “Choose.” The Finder window disappears and the drop-down menu at the top of Automator’s workflow window changes to reflect your choice. All actions added to the workflow will now affect this folder.
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Drag and drop Automator actions from the list on the left into the workflow window in the order you want them to occur. For example, if you want all files and folders added to the folder in question to have a Spotlight comment added to them and then archived, drag and drop the “Set Spotlight Comments for Finder Items” action into the workflow window and then drag and drop the “Create Archive” action into the workflow window. Automator offers dozens of possible actions and will always performs them in order from top to bottom as they appear in the workflow window.
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Fill in any required information in each action after it is dropped in the workflow window. For example, the “Set Spotlight Comments for Finder Items” action includes a field in which the desired Spotlight comment muct be entered. The “Create Archive” action includes a field in which the name of the resulting archive can be changed to something other than the original file name and a drop-down menu in which a new save location for the archive can be selected. If the actions’ parameters are not established, the workflow won’t work correctly.
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Open Automator’s “File” menu and select “Save As” when you are finished creating your workflow. A pop-up appears prompting you to name the workflow. Give the workflow a name and then click “Save.” Automator saves the workflow and, from this point onwards, will automatically apply the workflow you created to any files and folders added to the folder selected in step four.
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Tips & Warnings
Folder Actions can be turned off and on using the Configure Folder Actions application. This application is located at MacintoshHD/Library/Scripts/Folder Actions.
Resources
- Photo Credit Polka Dot/Polka Dot/Getty Images
