Automator: Change BMP to JPEG files

Did you try running in Automator as a WorkFlow? Both ways work on my system. If you open the bmp in Preview, is a SaveAs successful in changing the type?

Well I spoke too soon. jpg to bmp works, but bmp to jpg gets the same error as you. Opening in Preview and SaveAs works for either conversion.

Message was edited by: xnav

Looks like a Snow bug, see the comments [here|http://www.maciverse.com/automator-tip-of-the-week-picture-file-conversio n.html]. It was working for one guy on Leopard, but Snow broke it!

Yep.

Use a batch in Graphic Converter.

AK

I am running into this same issue too, and it is giving my recommendation to buy a Mac to my father for its "ease of use while doing family pictures" a big "black eye". I am really bummed about this personally as a workflow or folder action is so much more elegant than having to open a program and you could have it import directly into iPhoto after it was done..... Oh well......

Anyone found a work around or other options to get this done?

Thanks,
Brad

Granted, Apple's own actions should work better than they do, but I don't think it's that much of a "big black eye" (maybe more like a fat lip), since Automator (like AppleScript) uses other applications and utilities to do it's thing. GraphicConverter is definitely an application worth having, and it does have an Automator action that converts to JPG (that works - in Snow Leopard).

Looks like the Preview "Change Type of Images" is perfect.

So why not just make a little AppleScript droplet that would have Preview.app do the job. It seems to be just a few GUI scripting steps away.

Just a few ways to make it work:
# Use the *Ask for Finder Items* action. This will present an open dialog box to choose files.
# Save a workflow having just the convert action as an application and using it as a droplet. Just drag and drop the files that need be converted onto the application icon.
# Use the command line utility sips since at the end of the day that is what's doing all the conversion anyway. E.g.

sips -s 'jpeg' /path/to/original/image --out /path/to/new/image
#//Need to at least change the extension for the output

This can be done from within Automator as well (I think) using the *Run Shell Script* action. [Manual Page for sips|http://developer.apple.com/mac/library/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManP ages/man1/sips.1.html]
I usually use the last method from within an AppleScript but I've also tested the other two methods and they work fine on my computer with 10.6.2.

Message was edited by: hungryjoe

even easier, write an applescript that gets Image Events to handle it:

tell application "Finder"
 set theFiles to every file of folder "path:to:image_folder" as alias list
end tell
repeat with thisFile in theFiles
 tell application "Image Events"
 try
 set theImage to open thisFile
 save theImage as JPEG in file "path:to:savefolder:newfilename.jpeg" with compression level medium
 end try
 end tell
end repeat

You're right, that's much simpler and faster.

Alright, maybe "black eye" was a little too much and I let my disappointment lead to some hyperbole.

At any rate the Applescript/shell script ideas sound like they will do the same thing. They are a little more in depth, but nothing overboard, and it makes for more fun/learning. I will give it a try tonight.

THANK YOU! for the suggestions and help.....

Here is a shell script to convert images from any format(s) to another using sips:

#!/bin/bash
if [ -z "$2" ]; then
 echo Usage: $0 new_format files ...
 exit 1
fi
format=$1
if [ ${#format} -gt 4 ]; then
 echo Invalid destination image format "$format"
 exit 1
fi
shift
mkdir -p converted
sips -s format $format "$@" --out converted

Example:

convert_img.sh jpeg *.png *.bmp

This will convert all .png and .bmp images to .jpg images and place in them in a directory called "converted". The correct extension is automatically added.

If you want to also delete the original images after conversion, add the following to the end of the sips line:

&& rm "$@"

Message was edited by: derickswan

I also get this error using the "change type of images" automator action, where i used it extensively with no problems on 10.3 to 10.5. Perhaps has to do with 10.6's 64 bit, either way this action is broken on 10.6.

I shall now go look for solutions.