Automator for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard Visual QuickStart Guide

by Waldie, Ben

• ISBN13: 9780321685834
• ISBN10: 0321685830
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-10
• Publisher: Peachpit Pr

Summary

The comprehensive guide to streamlining tasks with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Automator--Teaches Mac users how to set up complex, multistep chores to run automatically, with one click.-Covers the latest features of Automator, including task recording, creating plug-ins, and workflow variables.-Includes example workflows that demonstrate real-world situations. Automator for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide uses a combination of task-based instruction and strong visuals to teach intermediate Macintosh users how to automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks with the Automator application that is included with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Automator comes with many useful automated routines (called actions) preinstalled, for lots of popular applications, that do things like remove empty playlists from iTunes or add attachments to Mac Mail. The real power of Automator lies in mixing and matching these actions to have them do exactly the job you need them to, in a string of actions known as a workflow. Author Ben Waldie introduces readers to how Automator works, and then helps them assemble and use Automator workflows.

Author Biography

Ben Waldie, president of Automated Workflows, LLC (www.automatedworkflow.com), has developed professional AppleScript, Automator, and workflow, solutions for Mac-based businesses across the globe, including Adobe, Apple, CNN, and Microsoft. In addition to the first edition of this book, Ben is the author of AppleScripting the also hosts the "Mac Automation Made Simple" video podcast series (Peachpit Press) and is author of AppleScript training CDs for the Virtual Training Company. He is a frequent presenter at Macworld and other industry events.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
Getting Started	p. 1
About Workflows	p. 2
About Actions	p. 3
About Variables	p. 9
Which Applications Work with Automator?	p. 11
Getting to Know Automators Interface	p. 13
Building Simple Workflows	p. 29
Email Daily Birthday Greetings	p. 30
Add Spotlight Comments to Photos	p. 38
Email Photo Thumbnails	p. 47
Workflow Basics	p. 55
Planning a Workflow	p. 56
Creating a Workflow	p. 59
Running a Workflow within Automator	p. 61
Saving a Workflow	p. 64
Opening a Workflow	p. 66
Working with Actions	p. 69
Locating Actions to Do What You Want	p. 70
Inserting Actions into a Workflow	p. 73
Viewing an Action's Description	p. 76
Action Settings	p. 77
Action Options	p. 79
D eleting Actions	p. 82
Disabling Actions	p. 83
Moving Actions	p. 84
Copying Actions	p. 85
Renaming Actions	p. 87
Collapsing Actions	p. 88
Working with Input and Output Values	p. 89
Viewing Action Results as a Workflow Runs	p. 94
Types of Workflows	p. 97
Workflow Files	p. 98
Workflow Applications	p. 104
Services	p. 114
Folder Actions	p. 131
Print Plugins	p. 142
iCal Alarms	p. 149
Image Capture Plugins	p. 154
Converting Workflow Types	p. 159
Script Menu	p. 161
Recording Manual Events	p. 163
Enabling Recording	p. 164
Recording Manual Tasks	p. 166
Removing Recorded Events	p. 170
Preparing to Play Recorded Events	p. 171
Workflow Looping	p. 173
About Looping	p. 174
Basic Looping Workflows	p. 177
Advanced Looping Workflows	p. 183
Using Variables	p. 187
Types of Variables	p. 188
Adding Variables to Workflows	p. 190
Using Variables as Action Input	p. 192
Inserting Variables in Action Fields	p. 194
Storing and Retrieving Action Results	p. 197
Adjusting Variable Options	p. 200
Creating a Simple Variable Workflow	p. 201
Creating an Advanced Variable Workflow	p. 206
Troubleshooting	p. 211
Problems Running Workflows	p. 212
Problems Opening Workflows	p. 218
General Problems	p. 221
Customizing Automator	p. 223
Customizing the Toolbar	p. 224
Customizing the Workflow Window	p. 230
Grouping Actions	p. 234
Sharing Actions and Workflows	p. 239
Distributing Workflows	p. 240
Locating Action Files	p. 243
Importing Actions	p. 246
Printing a Workflow	p. 248
Automator Resources	p. 249
Automator's Help	p. 250
Automatons Example Workflows	p. 251
Websites	p. 252
Mailing Lists and Forums	p. 254
Sending Feedback to Apple	p. 257
Companion Website and Bonus Content	p. 258
Glossary	p. 259
Workflow Creation Step-by-Step Guide	p. 261
Index	p. 263
Workflow Startin Points
Processing Files and Folders
Processing Music and Audio
Processing Photos and Images
Processing Movies and Video
Processing Text
Processing Web Content
Building Advanced Workflows
Running AppleScript Commands
Running UNIX Commands
Using AppleScript Variables
Using UNIX Variables
Watch Me Do and AppleScript
AppIeScripting Automator
Developer-related Actions
Example Workflows
Backup Safari Data
Make Dated Subfolder
Clean Up Desktop
Developer Resources
Apple Developer Connection
Websites
Apple Mailing Lists
Third-party Mailing Lists and Forums
Books and Tutorials
Action Templates and Example Code
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