move files out of subfolder into main folder

Well, it's relatively easy manually.

Open a separate Finder window for mainfolder A by COMMAND-clicking on the folder. Move this folder to the right of the other Finder window. Now navigate to subfolder 1 in the left Finder window and press COMMAND-A to select all the files in that subfolder. Drag the selected files to the right Finder window. This moves them all where you want them. Now repeat this for the files in the other subfolders. When you finish all the files will have been moved to mainfolder A.

I know this isn't the most elegant solution, but it may take a lot less time then it would take you to write a script or an automator action. Unless, of course, you want the programming experience.

I was referring to an Automator action. Getting the name of the parent folder can be tricky depending on exactly what you are wanting to do, and there is the issue of all the resulting empty folders, but I was thinking about something like the following:

1) Get Specified FInder Items (drag your folder to the window)
2) Get Folder Contents (Repeat for each subfolder found)
3) Move Finder Items (select the original folder) (Copy Finder Items to a selected folder can also be used)

It can certainly be AppleScripted:

set main_folder to (choose folder with prompt "Choose the main folder")
tell application "Finder"
set sub_folders to folders of main_folder
repeat with each_folder in sub_folders
move every file of each_folder to main_folder with replacing
end repeat
end tell


but PLEASE NOTE: if you have any duplicate file names, only the last will survive the move. I strongly suggest you try this on a test folder before you use it on you live data.

H

You could also just use the Finder > Get Folder Contents action (repeating for each subfolder found) and move them into the main (or another selected) folder.