Automator timeout

Question

Level 1

0 points

Automator timeout

The OS10.5 forum has a specific Automator thread, so please admin, move this if you see fit...

I'm trying to run a simple automator script to append a character to a long list of file names (sometimes thousands). Sadly automator timesout quite quickly because the finder hangs. I can't get the finder to quit nicely via terminal and have been resorting to killall in terminal to reset the finder when this happens. But I have had no luck getting this automator script to really do this with lots of files. Am I missing something?

I do see that there is a wait command in applescript that would work, only I just can't figure out how to get scripts to run (I've been trying to learn bash for days and haven't even tackled applescripts).

Can anyone help, either with a workaround for the finder timingout or even just with the original problem itself? That is, I just simply want to append a character to thousands upon thousands of filenames. That should be *so simple* but I'm just stymied....

Thanks enormously for any thoughts...

Message was edited by: aliris19

MacBook Pro, 15", Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 31, 2010 2:40 AM

Reply

Answer 1

aliris19 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 31, 2010 3:31 AM in response to aliris19

Ooo - I think I found a workaround. Instead of using Get Selected Finder Items, use Get Specified Finder Items. This way you load the thousands of items into the automator before running the automator. Then it takes no time at all to make the changes. But the selecting process takes time and this is what gets timed out...

Reply

Answer 2

red_menace

Level 6

17,066 points

Oct 31, 2010 9:29 AM in response to aliris19

You can also set your workflow up as an application, and drag your selections onto it - the items will be passed to your workflow.

Reply

Answer 3

aliris19 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 31, 2010 11:48 AM in response to red_menace

Can you please give me somewhat detailed instructions as to how to do this? I tried and I've been trying to read how to, but seem to be missing key googling words in order to figure out how to do this ...

Thank you very much! ~with apologies for being so dopey about it....

Reply

Answer 4

red_menace

Level 6

17,066 points

Oct 31, 2010 2:25 PM in response to aliris19

In Leopard (from your signature(s), I am guessing at least one of your machines is running that), just save the workflow as an application, and in *Snow Leopard*, choose Automator's application template when creating your workflow. You do not need to add an action to get items, since they will be passed to your workflow when you drag and drop them onto your application.

Reply

Answer 5

aliris19 Author

Level 1

0 points

Oct 31, 2010 2:45 PM in response to red_menace

Thanks.

Sorry about the confusion as to what I'm running. I'm not quite sure how to globally update that info and I forget to manually. Another thing for the to-do list. I'm currently working on a new MBP with SL.

I couldn't ever quite figure out how to configure the automator but got it to work by selecting things and then pressing run. When I tried to save as... I gave it a name and stuck it in the desktop. Perhaps that's wrong and I never could find it again, much less figure out how to use it. I just, again, went back to the program and pressed run from there.

There must be some way to install an icon for this program and then highlight files that you drag over the icon? That's what I'm presuming from what you're saying. But I am definitely missing how to set it up. Your explanation sort of flies right by without any serious comprehension, I guess. Sorry!

For the time-being I'm through with automator I think, but I would love to figure out how to set this up properly if you've the time to respond correcting my thickness - that would be really appreciated.

Thanks!

Reply

Answer 6

red_menace

Level 6

17,066 points

Oct 31, 2010 3:34 PM in response to aliris19

You would need to remove the *Get Selected Finder Items* action from your workflow to keep from getting duplicate items, but you have the right idea. Save the application somewhere handy to get to (like the Desktop), then select your items and drag them to the application icon (be careful not to accidentally drop a lot of items on your Desktop). There will be an outline of the items you are dragging, although how easy they are to see depends on your desktop background.

Something else you can do if you just want to run the application to get the current selection, would be to add your application to the Finder's toolbar. To do this (assuming you have the toolbar shown), just drag your application to a spot in the toolbar and hold it there for a moment until the other items move aside.

You can create custom icons for your application, probably the easiest way would be via Get Info.

Reply

Answer 7

aliris19 Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 8, 2010 9:26 AM in response to red_menace

Thanks very much, Mr Menace! I have been distracted with my other disaster from trying this but it makes sense and I appreciate having another tip to add to my growing list of extraneous stuff I know know about apple and bash and terminal...

Reply