Aug 28th 2020
Hands-On Mac 24
Writing Your Own Folder Actions with Automator
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Leo Laporte
An Easier Way to Create a Script
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Now it's time to really make folder actions sing with your own custom code. You can do this in Automator or Applescript (easier), or using a scripting language like shell, python, or Perl (advanced).
Follow these steps in order:
Create a script with Script Editor or another script application.
- 1. In that script, write a handler that conforms to the syntax documented here for the `[adding folder items to] ' folder action. Your handler can use the aliases that are passed to it to access the image files dropped on the folder.
- 2. Save the script as a compiled script or script bundle.
- 3. Put a copy of the script in `/Library/Scripts/Folder Action Scripts` or `~/Library/Scripts/Folder Action Scripts`.
- 4. Use the Folder Actions Setup application, located in `/Applications/AppleScript`, to:
- a. Enable folder actions for your image folder.
- b. Add a script to that folder, choosing the script you created
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