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I'd like to create an Automator workflow to batch convert Word documents to PDF. I found a discussion about it from 2011 here that included a couple of Applescripts to use via Automator, but both of the scripts throw errors when I try to use them in Automator.
Unfortunately Applescripting is not my forte; would anyone be willing to take a look at the scripts here, or maybe have one of your own that works?
Thank you!
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 10.15
Copying the script from those old posts has a lot of errors due to the site running strings together.
This version should work correctly when copied/pasted. I modified it slightly to tell word to Quit when done and removed the return which wasn't necessary.
If you don't want Word to quit, remove the "Quit" near the end of the script.
property theList : {"doc", "docx"}
on run {input, parameters}
tell application "Microsoft Word" to set theOldDefaultPath to get default file path file path type documents path
repeat with x in input
try
set theDoc to contents of x
tell application "Finder"
set theFilePath to container of theDoc as text
set ext to name extension of theDoc
if ext is in theList then
set theName to name of theDoc
copy length of theName to l
copy length of ext to exl
set n to l - exl - 1
copy characters 1 through n of theName as string to theFilename
set theFilename to theFilename & ".pdf"
tell application "Microsoft Word"
set default file path file path type documents path path theFilePath
open theDoc
set theActiveDoc to the active document
save as theActiveDoc file format format PDF file name theFilename
copy (POSIX path of (theFilePath & theFilename as string)) to end of output
closetheActiveDoc
end tell
end if
end tell
end try
end repeat
tell application "Microsoft Word"
set default file path file path type documents path path theOldDefaultPath
quit
end tell
end run
The entire script here replaces everything in the Run AppleScript Action in Automator.
I used an Application so I could drop files onto the App.
Might be best to add a Filter Finder Items to the top of the workflow to filter for docx and doc file types.
Copying the script from those old posts has a lot of errors due to the site running strings together.
This version should work correctly when copied/pasted. I modified it slightly to tell word to Quit when done and removed the return which wasn't necessary.
If you don't want Word to quit, remove the "Quit" near the end of the script.
property theList : {"doc", "docx"}
on run {input, parameters}
tell application "Microsoft Word" to set theOldDefaultPath to get default file path file path type documents path
repeat with x in input
try
set theDoc to contents of x
tell application "Finder"
set theFilePath to container of theDoc as text
set ext to name extension of theDoc
if ext is in theList then
set theName to name of theDoc
copy length of theName to l
copy length of ext to exl
set n to l - exl - 1
copy characters 1 through n of theName as string to theFilename
set theFilename to theFilename & ".pdf"
tell application "Microsoft Word"
set default file path file path type documents path path theFilePath
open theDoc
set theActiveDoc to the active document
save as theActiveDoc file format format PDF file name theFilename
copy (POSIX path of (theFilePath & theFilename as string)) to end of output
closetheActiveDoc
end tell
end if
end tell
end try
end repeat
tell application "Microsoft Word"
set default file path file path type documents path path theOldDefaultPath
quit
end tell
end run
The entire script here replaces everything in the Run AppleScript Action in Automator.
I used an Application so I could drop files onto the App.
Might be best to add a Filter Finder Items to the top of the workflow to filter for docx and doc file types.
This works like a charm! Thank you!
If the OP is actually on Catalina, then nine-year old AppleScript syntax that was developed (probably) for MS Word 2011 AppleScript dictionary compatibility — may have changed in present Microsoft 365 or Office 2019 for Mac Scripting Dictionary syntax. Let's hope it hasn't.
I also have a shell script that uses LibreOffice to convert Word documents to PDF, if the OP needs it.
Let's hope it hasn't.
Because, of course, I wouldn't have tested it.
I only checked Word 2019 dictionary, but I can't imagine it would not work with 2016. Maybe O365 would be different, but I don't think so.
Wasn't being critical, and Microsoft reserves the right to be inconsistent. 🧐
Wasn't being critical, and Microsoft reserves the right to be inconsistent. 🧐
It was valid. I should have pointed out what version I tested because I'm not certain about 365.
Batch Convert Word Docs to PDF
