Does automator still work in macOS 12?

I followed instructions here: https://www.orbitsit.co.uk/2013/06/combining-pdfs-using-automator/

but it doesn’t work. The resulting error is:

The action “Combine PDF Pages” encountered an error: “The operation couldn’t be completed. Command line tool returned error 127.: 127”

I'm running macOS 12.6.9.

Is it possible to automate this task, both to join/combine and to split pdf files? If Automator doesn't work any more, is there a replacement?

TIA

pqb

MacBook Pro 15″, OS X 10.11

Posted on Oct 19, 2023 8:56 AM

Top-ranking reply

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,254 points

Posted on Oct 21, 2023 7:57 AM

Apple removed all Python 2.7.* distribution from Monterey 12.3 onward and forgot that the Automator Combine PDF action depended upon the availability of an Apple System Python 2 by using a Python Script in that action. This cannot be fixed by installing Python from Python.org.

Apple includes a Quick Action with Monterey named Create PDF. In the Finder, you press and hold the ⌘-key while clicking the PDFs in the order of preferred combination. Right-click the first of this selection and from the Quick Actions submenu, choose Create PDF. A new PDF will be created using the name of the first selected PDF and since it already exists, Finder will append a 2 to the base PDF filename. You then rename it.

The Create PDF Quick Action has no PDF split capability. If you still need that, there are alternatives.

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24 replies

MartinR

Level 7

24,167 points

Oct 21, 2023 9:08 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for the reminder. I forgot about the Python thing. In my example I was running Automator on macOS Catalina, so of course it ran fine.

VikingOSX

Level 10

123,254 points

Oct 21, 2023 9:26 AM in response to MartinR

I also have an AppleScript/Objective-C script that splits a PDF into sequentially numbered PDF pages.

Oct 23, 2023 8:51 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks. I’ll try it and eventually will upgrade to Sonoma. (Waiting for the next incremental version)

pqb

Oct 25, 2023 3:13 AM in response to Peter Blackburn

Thank you very much, Luis. This works in Monterey.

pqb

Oct 25, 2023 4:07 AM in response to Peter Blackburn

Just tried it with a 92-page document, and it numbers the individual pages sequentially, but I am aware I may be missing something important.

pqb

Oct 30, 2023 10:31 AM in response to VikingOSX

No, I hadn't. The ideal would be for the new pdfs to appear in the same folder as the original file. Could you tell me what to add to the code to do that?

Many thanks

pqb

Oct 31, 2023 1:53 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you for looking at this. I guess a folder on the desktop or in another location with a short cut in the side bar is the way to go.

pqb

Oct 31, 2023 5:28 AM in response to Peter Blackburn

...but this still gives an error; this time "Exit code: 1".

The mystery continues.

pqb

Oct 31, 2023 5:29 AM in response to Peter Blackburn

Just checked the folder, and it contains only the first page.

pqb

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Does automator still work in macOS 12?