How do you edit an automator service?

Question

Level 1

9 points

How do you edit an automator service?

New to automator - How do I edit a previously created automator service?

I just created a service (Finder context menu) and it works fine, but I don't know where the code is stored or how to access it. I'd like to try a tweak.

Is this the right place for such a question?

thanks much,
Deac

iMac 27" , MBA 13", Mac OS X (10.6.6)

Posted on Mar 30, 2011 4:57 PM

Reply

Answer 1

red_menace

Level 6

17,066 points

Mar 30, 2011 5:35 PM in response to DeacL

Automator Services are usually stored in your user's ~/Library/Services folder. You can open it from there, or from the Automator template selection dialog by choosing to "Open an Existing Workflow..." of type Service.

Reply

Answer 2

DeacL Author

Level 1

9 points

Apr 2, 2011 11:39 AM in response to red_menace

Great, thanks much.

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 22, 2013 4:53 PM in response to red_menace

my services folder is empty

whats up with that ?

Reply

Answer 4

red_menace

Level 6

17,066 points

Mar 22, 2013 5:03 PM in response to mikesomething

There are a few basic services provided by the system, but the user services folder starts out empty. Services are added by you via Automator or other applications.

Reply

Answer 5

Mar 22, 2013 5:08 PM in response to red_menace

sorry i donr follow

i was hoping to edit an automator file, specifically the "displays webpages" action

i want to modify the urls before i navigate to them

like,

1) get link urls

2) filter

3) modify

4) navigate

is it possible to ?

Reply

Answer 6

red_menace

Level 6

17,066 points

Mar 22, 2013 5:26 PM in response to mikesomething

An Automator action is not the same thing as a Service workflow. An Automator action performs a specific task with the input items, and actions are strung together to make a workflow. An action is (usually) a compiled bundle, so without the sources you will not be able to modify them (system files and code signing not withstanding).

You can use other actions or scripts to change the URLs.

Reply