Comments on: Automator Tutorial: Getting Started with the Mac OS X Automator

By: Keshav

Keshav — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:58:27 +0000

I use a web based software that downloads files to the downloads folder before we can print – hence I end up with multiple files named print.do and print-1.do and so on.
I would like to delete these files from the downloads folders prior to shutdown. Any suggestions on creating this workflow?
Thanks…

By: Ray

Ray — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 01:32:03 +0000

Is there a way to create a new folder and give it the name of today’s date using the variable Today’s Date? Cannot get it to work and get an error “the file 11 doesn’t exist.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:06:39 +0000

@alberto: Thanks for your comment – glad you found the tutorial helpful

By: alberto

alberto — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:51:32 +0000

Excellent no-frills tutorial. Thanks.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 03:22:13 +0000

@Christopher: I don’t think there’s an Automator action for that – you’d need to create it in AppleScript.

@Jason: I don’t understand your question. Why not just select the file and hit Command-O to open it?

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 17:11:58 +0000

How would I create an automator script to launch a file? I have files that I use on a regular basis buried in directories. I would much rather right click on the Finder window and launch them.

By: Christopher

Christopher — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 16:58:21 +0000

Hey Matt!

Nice tutorial. I would get my hands on this one when time permits. Is there a way for automator to say when I click on or press a couple of key combinations, a pop up box will appear wherein I can select a proforma document and paste it automatically into Pages?

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:09:48 +0000

@Valentin: Your “encryption and unlock software” will need to either support AppleScript or have a command-line interface for the lock/unlock commands. You’ll then be able to automate it via Automator (or a shell script).

Of course, storing the password in an AppleScript/shell script will sort of defeat the purpose of having an encrypted hard drive.

By: Valentin

Valentin — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 13:13:29 +0000

Hi, I have an Western Digital Harddrive with an encryption and unlock software on it.
I want to write an script, that automatically unlocks the drive each time it gets connected.
The script should detect, that the harddrive is attached, also directly on startup. The opens the Program “Unlock” on the harddrive, automatically type in the password and unlock the harddrive. Any ideas?

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 04:05:24 +0000

Matt,

Nice tutorial. I’m trying to figure out if what I would like to accomplish is even possible. I have access to a series of books for school, which I can print, but I have to do so chapter by chapter. With 20+ books to print, and upwards of 100 chapters per book, that’s just ridiculous.

So, I would like to create a workflow in which I could point Safari at a page, have it open individual chapter links, click on the “print” button on the webpage, then save as pdf in the print dialog box, direct it to deposit it in a folder and then string the pdfs together.

Possible? Suggestions for making it happen?