automator
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Trigger an Automator workflow by plugging in a digital camera
While cruising around Automatorworld this afternoon, I discovered this great tip for triggering an Automator workflow just by plugging a digital camera into your Mac. Once you've created your workflow, save it as an application. Next, launch the Image Capture application, and navigate to its preferences. Select the workflow application you just created under “When a camera is connected, open:” and you're all set. The next time you plug in your camera, your workflow will run.A simple trick, but you could do some cool stuff with it. Like renaming images or moving copies to a burn folder or archive disk before transferring to iPhoto. I have a Powerbook and an iMac at home - keeping the two libraries in sync is a pain, and sharing those massive libraries over Airport I've found to be just short of agonizing. Now I'm thinking of creating a workflow that will logon to the iMac from the Powerbook, transfer the new photos to a designated folder and then upload to iPhoto on the Powerbook. Then all I need to do is drag the destination folder into iPhoto when I'm sitting at the iMac. Easy! After all, isn't that what computers are for? To make our lives easier?
David Pogue podcast looks at Automator
In his latest podcast, Mac author David Pogue takes a look at Automator. In the course of the four and-a-half minute podcast David discusses Automator's basic functions, the drag-and-drop interface and some potential usages (stand alone workflows, plug-ins and iCal events). He also briefly compares Automator and Applescript, and mentions Apple's Automator webpage and Automatorworld.com as good online resources (Scott took a look at Automatorworld a little while ago).I've got a small collection of Automator plug-ins that I use regularly. One to resize images I call "Width to 150," one to send files to my folder on our fileserver at work that I call "To Recently Imported" and finally one that makes email attachments of selected files, called "Attach." What are you doing with Automator? Let us know.
Filemaker releases Automator actions
Finally! I have been waiting for this for a while now. Earlier this week FileMaker released a set of Automator actions, allowing users to create a workflow of FileMaker scripts that can be run right from the desktop. Among the fifteen included actions are Find FileMaker Pro Items, Close Database, Get IDs of Current Records, Get Record Data and Go to Layout. These actions, when used as part of a workflow, execute the corresponding FileMaker script steps or database operations in an open FileMaker database. Sweet.As with the FileMaker Dashboard widget, this is a technological preview, so bear that in mind. But I'm having fun with it so far.[Via Automatorworld]
Upload to FTP, an Automator action
I like the Automator, and I like to FTP things (I just do, ok?). If only there was a way I could combine my two passions into one uber-passion.Luckily for me Peter Dekkers has got me covered. He is the creator of Upload to FTP, which is a pretty sweet Automator Action. You set some parameters, use it in a workflow, and it just works. The only time there is a UI (outside of creating your workflow) is when there is a problem with connecting to the FTP server.Simple and sweet, just like yours truly.
Automator actions: Attach Applescripts
Automator Actions for PreFab UI Actions allows you to attach AppleScripts to any application, which can be triggered automatically when the user performs an action in the target application, such as opening a window or choosing a menu item. Pretty cool.Note that this action requires the purchase of PreFab UI Actions, a plugin that allows for the attachment of Applescripts.
Copy View Source Automator Action
If you are into web design or blogging, this little Automator Action may be of interest to you: Copy View Source Automator Action from DES Productions simply copies the HTML source of the current web page in Safari as text. Very simple and very cool.
