editing an Automator app

I mentioned the approach that I have been using for years (including on Big Sur) to edit prior applications, and it always works for me. The application icons between an Automator and AppleScript saved application are unmistakable. In the latter case, you would launch Script Editor, and with the file chooser, select the application to open it for editing — where you edit the script code within the application itself.

Launch Automator, and if that Automator application appears in your Open Recent list, open it from there, and you can ignore the file chooser. Otherwise, open your Automator application in Automator, and save it again on completion of the edits.

Use the following AppleScript to determine if your application was created by Automator, or Script Editor.

use scripting additions

set theApp to POSIX path of (choose file of type {"com.apple.application-bundle"} default location (path to desktop)) as text
set build_root to theApp & "/Contents/Info.plist"

set app_type to (do shell script "/usr/libexec/plistbuddy -c \"print :CFBundleIdentifier\" " & build_root)
if app_type contains "automator" then
	display alert "Automator application bundle" message "Open in Automator to edit." giving up after 10
else if app_tupe contains "ScriptEditor" then
	display alert "Script Editor application bundle" message "Open in Script Editor to edit." giving up after 10
end if
return

Tested on macOS 11.1.

ScriptEditor is in /Applications/Utilities.

Or better yet just press command-space and start typing Script, then press enter to launch.

An Automator app looks like this:

and a AppleScript app looks like this:

For either open the appropriate app and use the File ➙ Open menu option to choose the app to edit.

You are welcome.