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Automator Action Packs galore
In my newsreader today I saw an 'iPhoto Action Pack' from Automator World that adds a handy action for workflows involving iPhoto: "Find iPhoto Item Path". While debating whether that was TUAW-worthy, my newsreader became bombarded with more headlines like System Action Pack, TextEdit Action Pack, Preview Action Pack... until I finally decided to post a roundup to cover them all in one fell swoop. So here you go kids, a whole batch of Automator Actions that add some missing abilities to everyone's favorite (or the only?) OS automation utiliity: System Action Pack iPhoto Action Pack Filemaker Pro Action Pack TextEdit Action Pack QuarkXPress Action Pack Preview Action Pack Photoshop Action Pack InDesign Action Pack These actions, to my knowledge, are provided free from Automated Workflows, LLC.[UPDATE: Automator World's admin stopped by to let us know that some of these action packs are actually demos of retail versions of these products offered by Automated Workflows, LLC.]
WidgetKiller: stop Dashboard dead in its tracks
WidgetKiller, as its oh-so-deceptive name might betray, is a simple Automator action with one purpose in life: turning on and off Dashboard. If you've been counting every bit and megabyte of RAM that your widgets quietly eat up, this action is for you.WidgetKiller is free and available from Apple's Dashboard downloads section.
Photoshop Automator Action Pack 2.2
Ben Long has released a v2.2 update to his most excellent set of Photoshop Automator Actions, a collection of over 70 workflow-enhancing actions for automating everything from switching color modes to cropping images and even archiving them to a disc. New in v2.2 is Intel Mac compatibility (some actions simply wouldn't work) and two new actions - Filter by File Type and Assign Custom Profile. Of course, there are the obligatory bug fixes and enhancements, so check out Ben's announcement post for details on this excellent action pack, and scroll down quite for details of this specific v2.2 release.Photoshop Automator Actions are donationware and available from Ben Long at Complete Digital Photography.
Backup files automatically with Transmit
Backups are very important. This is something that you learn once, and never forget again (usually as you try to explain why your wedding pictures no longer exist). The fine folks over at StrongSpace, a service that offers online storage, have posted a nice tutorial that goes through the process of using iCal, Transmit, and Automator to automate backups of files to an FTP server.Don't be fooled, this will work with any online storage that Transmit can connect to, though it is best suited for backup of smaller files (such as AddressBook entries). I wouldn't recommend this as your only backup strategy, but it is good for certain files.
Access iPhoto and iTunes libraries with a simple Automator action
You could also file this under "fantastic Automator actions that Apple should've advertised when Tiger was being released."A post at macosxhints has discovered a simple Automator action you can use to open panel containing your entire iPhoto or iTunes library (pictured), complete with albums/playlists, DnD and even search abilities. This is for all those times you groan at having to start iPhoto just to grab an image or two. Bonus points for the iTunes library action: songs are playable from this panel.Check out the macosxhints post for the drop-dead simple 3-step process (it's really only two steps) for creating this handy panel.
Book: Discovering Automator
Discovering Automator is a new book from Hanaan Rosenthal that delves into the many facets of making your Mac do more work in less time for you with the power of Mac OS X Tiger's Automator. From Automator World's description, Discovering Automator details "the ins-and-outs of Automator: basic workflow construction, deployment, debugging and advanced topics such as creating shell scripts, Applescripts and plug-ins." The book also comes with over 70 Automator actions, including many requested actions for Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.Discovering Automator sells for $14.99 at Amazon.com, but if you'd like a taste, you can download both a sample chapter and the table of contents at Hanaan's site.[via Automator World]
Apple Design Awards 2006 now accepting entries
"Show off your latest feat of programming genius," says the Apple Developer Connection email announcing the call for entries to their 11th annual Design Awards. Recognizing "technical excellence and outstanding achievement in developing Mac OS X software," there are eight award categories into which developers can submit their apps: Best Mac OS X Developer Tool, Best Use of Mac OS X Graphics, Best Widget, Automator Workflow, User Experience, Game, Scientific Computing Solution and Student Product.As far as what winning developers receive for all their hard work, Apple's going all out this year. Each category winner receives two 15-inch MacBook Pros, two 23-inch Cinema Displays, an ADC Premiere Membership, a WWDC 2006 E-ticket, and an exhibitor space at Macworld 2007. The Student category winner will receive one 15-inch MacBook Pro, one 23-inch Cinema Display, one 60GB iPod, an ADC Student Membership, and a WWDC 2006 Student E-ticket. Does anyone else find it odd the non-student members don't receive an iPod? And how about the lack of PowerMac prizes?The entry deadline is June 16th, and the winners will be honored at WWDC in August.
iWeb Optimizer - easily shrink oversized images
iWeb Optimizer is a simple Automator app that allows you to easily compress PNG images inside your iWeb site into JPG files, but it maintains the same file name so it doesn't break any of your links or images. Simply drag and drop the site folder that iWeb creates (be it in your iDisk or an exported directory you specified) onto iWeb Optimizer and let it work its magic. The handy little utility will also parse all your subdirectories, making sure no PNG is safe from a little JPG compression.iWeb Optimizer is free and available from Automator World.
Proxi reaches version .20
Last week, we told you about the public beta of Proxi, the automation tool from Griffin Technologies. It's a piece of software along the lines of Automator and QuicKeys that lets you create routines to complete complex or repetitive tasks. Today, Griffin has released version .20 of the public beta. Changes include: Store Value task and extra value added AppleScript task now supports compiled AppleScripts "Save As Blueprint"added to trigger popup menu Launch Application task now shows icon of app to be launched as a badge A number of bugs have been addressed as well. The final version is scheduled for a May release, and will be free. Proxi requires Mac OS 10.4 or later.
Automator and Remote Desktop 3
As you may know, the US online Apple Store went down briefly this morning, and returned to reveal Apple Remote Desktop 3 (RD3). As we pointed out, this is a major update with a slew of changes. Automator World is pointing to a page at Apple's site that details the Automator-specific changes to RD3. Available actions include: Choose remote computer (sort of a no-brainer) Copy items to computers (nice) Execute new UNIX task (again, nice) Restart computers Send text message There's more, of course. I've already begged the finance department at my day job to let me order this. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Griffin releases Proxi beta
Earlier today, Griffin technology released a public beta of Proxi, their latest piece of software for Mac OS X. By using "triggers" and "tasks," Proxi will let you automate complicated routines, much like Automator or QuicKeys. There are included triggers for many of Griffin's products, of course, like the PowerMate, AirClick and AirShark, but Proxi doesn't limit you to Griffin hardware; iTunes, iChat, Mail, Skype and more are all fodder for Proxi.You can share "blueprints" (think "workflows") that you've created with other users. Check out the Proxi wiki for more information on that. I've only played around with the beta briefly, but it looks like fun. It's simple enough to allow non-programmers to create satisfying and useful routines.The final version will be out in May, and will be free. No specific system requirements were given.
Make a Delivery Automator app
I haven't tested this yet, but Make a Delivery sounds like a handy little Automator action that will create a .dmg file from the Finder items you have selected, then attach that .dmg to an email. One quirky thing, however, is that you have to move a resource folder into your Applications directory; it isn't just an action that you can use or turn into a right-click Finder plugin.In any case, if you prefer an easy way to create .dmg's for emailing (instead of zip archives), Make a Delivery might be just what you need.
Backup files to Backpack with Automator
Non Stop Mac has put together an ingenious how-to on creating an Automator action to backup files to Backpack. It's a simple process that uses the genius of Backpack's page-specific email addresses to email files that are sitting in a specific folder. Head over and check out their post for the full details, as it really isn't difficult to create a system for keeping your stuff backed up, online and accessible. However, don't forget: free Backpack accounts (to my knowledge) don't allow for hosting files or images.I actually have an amendment to offer up for Non Stop Mac's Backpack backup process. While I haven't tested this out yet, it should work in theory: instead of saving this system out as an Automator action, I bet you could save it as a folder action, then simply attach it to a folder of stuff you want to back up. In a sense, this might be a basic, one-way iDisk: you could (theoretically) save items to this folder, which would then automatically be emailed to Backpack. If you try any of this out, feel free to share your thoughts on the experience.[via Backpack blog]
Automator actions for Photoshop CS/CS2
David Chartier, at The Unofficial Photoshop Weblog, recommends a set of Automator actions for Photoshop CS and CS2 that you shouldn't miss if you're into Photoshop or digital photography. Version 2.0 of Ben Long's Photoshop Action Pack includes scores of actions for controlling Photoshop functions and automating photography and graphics production workflows from your Mac.These Automator actions are potentially more powerful than regular Photoshop actions because Automator can control functions outside, as well as inside Photoshop. For example, you can use them to manipulate a batch of images and then automatically upload the images to a server or archive them to a DVD. Version 2.0 of the Photoshop Action Pack includes 22 all new actions, additional features for existing actions, and an important bug fix related to batch processing.You can download the Photoshop Action Pack for Photoshop CS or CS2 from the Complete Digital Photography site. While you're at the site, notice that Long is also the author of two books, Complete Digital Photography and Getting Started with Camera Raw (both of which are on my bookshelf), as well as numerous articles. If you do download this donationware, Long would appreciate a Paypal donation.
Automator action for encrypting/decrypting files
Interested in beefing up security on some of your files or folders, but wary of the consequences if FileVault takes on a mind of its own? This Encrypt and Decrypt Files Automator action might be right up your alley, as it allows you to perform these actions with an algorithm and password. Perfect for fitting into the workflows of even the most security-conscious Mac OS X Tiger users.The action is free and can be had over at Automator World.
AppleScript Pro sessions edge closer to NYC
AppleScript Pro Sessions is a week long conference and workshop event that very thoroughly covers working with Applescript. Scheduled sessions include: Starting Out With AppleScript AppleScript and Applications Scripting InDesign Graphics, Images and PDF Data, the OS, AppleScript Studio and AutomatorSeveral bonus sessions are also available. The event will take place at the Marriott Courtyard Secaucus Meadowlands (now only six miles from Manhattan!), and registration is currently open. You can get the full details here.My AppleScript skills are so rudimentary, I should really attend something like this. I've often thought, "I should write a script for that," but never seem to get around to it. [Via Automator World]
Automator action: Export movies to iTunes/iPod
Since the 5G iPod landed, an army of scripts and mini-apps have answered the call for a simple, painless way for getting video into iTunes and ready for your favorite little music video player. Since I'm always up for more options, here's an Automator action that accomplishes the same task for Tiger users. You can select a group of files, run the action (it's meant to be installed as a Finder plugin), and it will use QuickTime to export the video and add it right into iTunes for you.While I haven't tested this out yet, I'm excited about being able to do with with an Automator action as it opens up the possibility of adding more steps to your workflow, such as batch renaming files, or anything else Automator can do. Plus, just like one of the reigning favorites - iSquint - the Export Movies to iTunes action is free.
Cocktail 3.7 adds Intel compatibility
The popular utility Cocktail has been updated to version 3.7 today. This version adds updated Automator support and improves compatibility with Intel-based Macs and Mac OS 10.4.4. The rollout of all of these new universal binaries is giving me déjà vu. It feels like the transition from OS 9 to OS X all over again. This is a free update for registered users. A single user license is $14.95US. Cocktail 3.6.5 requires Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server 10.4 (or later). Cocktail 3.5.4 (Panther Edition) requires Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server 10.3 - 10.3.9, and Cocktail 3.5 (Jaguar Edition) requires Mac OS X or Mac OS X Server 10.2 - 10.2.8.
Maintenance 3.2, now with non-Tiger goodness
It's no secret that we TUAW bloggers love Maintenance, the Automator app that runs a whole slew of maintenance and cleanup tasks. Some of these tasks are designed to be automatically run late at night by OS X, but unless you leave your Mac running 24/7 or you're crazy like me and you're simply up till all hours of the morning, you probably shut down or sleep your Mac and these tasks never see the light of day. Maintenance is great for taking care of these OS X cleanup tasks and can also run other operations such as permissions and preferences repairs - all from a slick little Automator action.But wait, what's that? You aren't using Tiger yet? Well fret no more! With the latest update to version 3.2, Maintenance now includes a good ol' fashioned applescript for non-Tiger users. I'm sure this works on Panther, and kinda sure it could work on Jaguar too, but I can't find any documentation that specifies. If anyone knows for sure, please enlighten the rest of us.Once again though, I highly recommend using this action as it's quick, unobtrusive, easy to use and pretty comprehensive in covering the key OS X cleanup tasks that have to be run.
Automator - Yay or Nay?
A post yesterday at MacSlash asking how useful Automator really is inspired me to bring the question to the TUAW audience: do you use Automator? Do you find it useful or useless? I know plenty of workflows make their way through the TUAW postings, and I'm personally a huge Automator fan and user for some of my daily work, but I'm wondering about the rest of you. Have you already deleted the application, or are there workflows with a reserved space in your startup items? Sound off in the comments.
