Automator and missing conditionals (e.g does not contain)

Question

Automator and missing conditionals (e.g does not contain)

I opened an Automator script I used all the time in Leopard and got a few warning about using the newer version of several actions. Fine. When I went to update them I noticed that they have less functionality than before. For instance, in Find Finder Items I need to find all files whose names contain 2009 and do not contain MAIN. "Does not contain" is no longer an option! What is the workaround or new way of doing negative assertions?

If this is no longer available then wow, what a serious regression in search functionality.

2.0 GHz MacBook C2D, 4G RAM, Intel GMA 950, Mac OS X (10.6)

Posted on Sep 4, 2009 9:25 AM

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Answer 1

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Sep 4, 2009 9:43 AM in response to Christopher Boerger

that looks to be a bug to me.
I don't see a rational explanation for the absence of this option. the only workaround i can think of would involves using running spotlight search from command line in a "run shell script" action. this is not acceptable IMO. they should just put the old option back. I suggest you file a bug report about it.
https://bugreport.apple.com

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Answer 2

JayB3

Level 1

0 points

Sep 10, 2009 2:39 PM in response to Christopher Boerger

I just ran into this problem as well. I have workflows using "Filter Finder Items" which specified a "Name" that "Does Not Contain". Now it's requiring me to replace the old Leopard action with the new Snow Leopard version. So I did but there is no option for "Does Not Contain". I have not found a work around for this but would appreciate any help or ideas.

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