Can you run Automator workflows automatically, on a timer?

Question

Level 1

4 points

Can you run Automator workflows automatically, on a timer?

I created a workflow for backing up important files, and it's working just great.

However, I'd like the additional ease of having the workflow run on its own--every twelve hours, perhaps, instead of running it manually myself.

I don't see any settings or help topics that say I can do this. Can anyone help?

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Automator

Posted on Feb 11, 2010 9:19 AM

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Answer 1

WBW

Level 4

1,265 points

Feb 11, 2010 10:38 AM in response to JD_Wright

Yes you can. It's done using iCal.
You can schedule them as recurring events as well.

Either save your workflow as an iCal event. Or use the "open file" or "Run script" as the "alarm" for your event.

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Answer 2

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Feb 11, 2010 10:39 AM in response to JD_Wright

the easiest is to make an ical alarm workflow and set ical to run it very day.
you can also save the workflow as an application and run it on a schedule you want using a launch daemon. you can create a launch daemon using Lingon.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/lingon/files/

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Answer 3

JD_Wright Author

Level 1

4 points

Feb 12, 2010 4:54 PM in response to WBW

I thought this solved my problem, but I need some more help.

I have set iCal to open my workflow on a schedule, but opening the workflow file doesn't make the program run. What I end up with is an opened Automator window waiting for me to press the run button.

I tried to select "run script" in iCal, but my workflow file is greyed out, as if it isn't a "script." (Not really sure what a script is here.)

Can someone give me just a little bit of a nudge over the finish line on this one?

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Answer 4

WBW

Level 4

1,265 points

Feb 12, 2010 5:03 PM in response to JD_Wright

You need to save it as Application. Then point the alarm to that App.
OR save it as iCal event. (You can do New > iCal Event, and copy faste everything from your original workflow into the new one.)

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Answer 5

V.K.

Level 9

56,192 points

Feb 12, 2010 5:44 PM in response to JD_Wright

JD_Wright wrote:
I thought this solved my problem, but I need some more help.

I have set iCal to open my workflow on a schedule, but opening the workflow file doesn't make the program run. What I end up with is an opened Automator window waiting for me to press the run button.

I tried to select "run script" in iCal, but my workflow file is greyed out, as if it isn't a "script." (Not really sure what a script is here.)

Can someone give me just a little bit of a nudge over the finish line on this one?

don't save it as a workflow. save it as an ical alarm. you have to decide on this at the beginning. when you start automator or choose to create a new flow it gives you a pulldown screen where you can choose what kind of workflow to make. choose ical alarm. then you can use it as an ical alarm and it will correctly run automatically wt the alarm time.

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