Use Automator to filter out every third file?

Set up automator with a process to move the first file from the master folder to folder A

Then copy this process three times, changing process 2 to folder B and process 3 to folder C

Once there is no more files it should hang with a error, but regardless your deed is done.

I'll mess with it and see what I come up with. But likely you have more experience than I. 🙂

Automator won't select just one file without a specific name. I tried the unix wild card * and it doesn't work.

I think your going to need a Applescript or something like QuickKeys to record the three file movements, then assign it to a keyboard command and then just keep pressing it until it's done.

QuickKeys is payware, but I think they let you use it for a bit, I'll see if I can get it to work. 🙂

Edit: Ah, I already demo-ed out on QuickKeys, jesus I hate that. 😟

There was a free version of a program like QuickKeys, can't seem to find it.

Hate paying for something I hardly even use.

Basically QuickKeys can record your screen actions better than Automator or AppleScript.

You have the open Finder window of your files and three folders (a,b,c) and simply keep dragging the first file in the Finder window to each respective folder.

Then stop after the third one. Assign the action to a keyboard command and keep pressing that or the "run" button until all your files are transfered.

Good Luck. 🙂

There's a way to use a Finder window in icon view to accomplish this kind of task. See Martin Pace's explanation: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2671293 . It's a kludge, but it works.

I have a Trim Input Items action on my Automator homepage that trims or keeps items of the input list from the beginning, ending, or using an interval - it can be set to keep every 3rd item.

Ok, I found a this KeyBoard and Mouse Recorder

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/10932/keyboard-and-mouse-recorder

It has the ability to set 10 loops before you have to click the play button again. (or register it for more loops)

So you would have to be consistant and record a longer sequence perfectly, but once completed you can run that 10 times.

It moves just as slow as a human though and you lose your mouse obviously while it's working.

I've looked at batch renamers too and no go there either, very hard to rename every third file. 😟

Well I gave it a shot. 🙂

red_menace wrote:

I have a Trim Input Items action on my Automator homepage that trims or keeps items of the input list from the beginning, ending, or using an interval - it can be set to keep every 3rd item.

That's good, trying to figure it out now. 🙂

Is there a way to simply get Automater to move the first file in a folder regardless of name?

add the following apple script: paste it into your Automator workflow (utility: run apple script)

it accepts a folder and passes on the first file, regardless of its name

on run {input, parameters}

-- input must be a folder or a list of folders

-- result: the first item in the folder

tell application "Finder"

set myfolder to the the first item of the input

return the first item of the myfolder

end tell

end run

then (in Automator) add (from files and folders) "move Finder items" and select a destination.

Good luck

Leonie

You will probably want to sort the items in the folder by some criteria (such as name) to determine what really is "the first file in a folder". My Trim Input Items action doesn't look at what the input items are at all, it just keeps or trims the requested number of items - e.g. "Keep the first 1 items".

It more or less does what leonieDF's script does, but with a few more options and is packaged as a regular Automator action (it is AppleScript based) - the Xcode source files are included if you want to look at it.