Auto Importing in Aperture

I don't use a Nikon (though that D800E has certainly sharpened my earlobes). It is easy to create a Folder Action on a Mac that will take any file put in the folder and make Aperture import it. This is how I shoot tethered with my Sony (which is not supported by Aperture for tethered shooting). My Sony software saves the RAW captures to a Finder folder I designate, and then the Folder Action makes Aperture import it. Note that this works only with recorded exposures. It is not "Live view".

Fairly simple. Open Automator select Folder Action from the list of templates add the action Import Photos.

You can either have the action ask for the folder each time or you can use the same folder each time by entering it in the top line.

You can et the Aperture values here or by selecting the Show this action when the workflow runs you can enter the values when you run the action.

You need to play around with it and set it up to suite you.

Adding to Frank's spot-on instructions: I settled on having a dedicated Finder folder on my system drive, and a dedicated Project in Aperture. This should give you a base to vary to your needs. The Finder folder is named "To Hot Upload to Aperture". It can be anywhere on your system. The Project is "_Hot Uploads". (The underscore forces it to the top of an alpha-sorted list.) My Sony software retains the setting of which Finder folder to put the images in. I set the Folder Action to delete the originals.

I take a picture. Camera sends image file to Sony software→Sony software puts file in "To Hot Upload to Aperture"→Folder Action forces Aperture to import file into Project "_Hot Uploads". In use I put the Sony software on one monitor and Aperture on another, with "_Hot Uploads" selected.

NB: Because you are importing this way, no metadata presets are applied.

When the session is over, I move all the Images into a newly created Project (I always put each Shoot in its own Project) and I run "Metadata→Batch Change" to apply my standard metadata preset (copyright and so forth). That leave both "To Hot Upload to Aperture" and "_Hot Uploads" empty, and ready for the next session.

Screenshot of Automator:

Message was edited by: Kirby Krieger -- screenshot added.

You named and saved the Automator action you created? Did Aperture start?

Here is an Automator action I just created that works as advertised:

If you right click on the folder you designated you will this menu

Select Folder Action setup in the services item. You'll see this:

The folder is on the left the action is on the right. Is your folder and action listed and joined?

You selected Folder Action from the Automator templates when you created the script? You named and saved the script before testing it?

Post a screenshot of Automator

Good I think once you save it it should work.

Glad to help, have fun, be careful Automator can be addictive and its a gateway language. Soon you'll find things you want to do but can't in Automatior so you'll need to learn Applescript and then its just a short trip to cocoa!

I am in the same situation as "mpalphotos". I have photos from my phone auto sync witha folder called kamran.s.siddiqi on my pictures folder. I want those images to auto import to aperture. I followed the instructions above but, I don't know how to run the script. Nothing happens. I attached two screen shots.