Use text as Automator variable to find files and sort them into subfolders

teobalsamo wrote:

Automator's commands 'Find Finder Items' and 'Filter Finder Items' don't work with variables because they don't accept them.

They do, but its not intuitive.

Need to "Set Value of Variable" after "Ask for Text" to set the variable.

Then, before "Find Finder Items", need to "Get Value of Variable", which is then passed to the next action "Find Finder Items (as you found out, you can't drag to variable into the search box):

In this example, I have a file named "test.txt" on my Desktop, and the Automator Workflow searches the Desktop:

Hello teobalsamo,

If you have not already done so, you may want to take a look at the Automator User Guide for Mac - Apple Support to see if it offers information on the search actions you're trying to achieve.

The "Do more with Automator" drop-down offers more information about variables, adding variables, workflows, and much more.

About variables in Automator on Mac - Apple Support

A variable is a named container that is used to temporarily store information to use when needed. Variables can contain all types of data, such as text, a reference to a file, or a list of object references. You can refer to the same variable from action to action or workflow to workflow, although the information within it may be different. For example, the date may change, although the variable Today’s Date remains the same.

You can add a variable to an action or to a workflow.

Some variables in Automator are constant values—for example, “Today’s date” or “My name.” Automator temporarily holds a value while a workflow runs.

Some actions may allow you to choose a declared variable from a pop-up menu. Other actions give you the option to create a new variable from a pop-up menu.

See Add variables to an action and Add variables to a workflow.

Best wishes!