How to rename Automator actions in Services contextual menu?

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Level 1

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How to rename Automator actions in Services contextual menu?

I have a couple of Automator actions in the Finder services contextual menu and would like to rename them as they are quite similarly named. I have found the saved services in my Library > Services folder and renamed them there, but that doesn't seem to have effect on how the names appear in the Services contextual menu.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

MBP C2D 17", Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Nov 1, 2010 4:03 AM

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Answer 1

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red_menace

Level 6

17,066 points

Nov 1, 2010 8:04 PM in response to 'T.

The name used the contextual menu is set in the Info.plist file inside the workflow's bundle. You can edit the plist if you have an editor that can handle those types of files (e.g. the *Property List Editor.app* from the Developer Tools), but probably the easiest way would be to just resave the workflow - you don't have to recreate the workflow, just open it and *Save As...* the new name.

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Answer 2

'T. Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 1, 2010 4:18 AM in response to Barney-15E

I tried restarting the Finder, but that didn't do much good. I'll try logging out and back in and see if that helps.

I'll report back.

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Answer 3

'T. Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 1, 2010 11:32 PM in response to red_menace

Thanks. "Save as" did the trick.

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Answer 4

'T. Author

Level 1

7 points

Nov 1, 2010 4:13 PM in response to 'T.

Well, I tried restarting and that didn't help at all. The names in the Services Contextual Menu have not changed.

Any ideas anyone? The only thing I can think of is that I might have to recreate the actions again and save them under the names I want to give them. A real pain.

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Answer 5

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,420 points

Nov 1, 2010 4:12 AM in response to 'T.

Did you log out and back in or restart after changing the name? I'm not sure if that is it, but I would think you have to force a re-scan of the Services and that's the only way I know of.

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