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How to set up Automator Folder Actions?

I have set up and sucessfully tested a workflow which sends any file found in a particular folder to the "paperless" app, then moves all files to a different folder called "Archived attachments".


HOWEVER as a folder action, nothing happens when a file is put into the folder. The file just sits there in the folder.


To create a folder action I opened "new folder action" in Automator, then dragged and dropped the working workflow file into the workspace, then set "Folder Action recieves files and folders added to" the appropriate folder, let's call it "Attachments".


Just to complicate things, the files are placed into the "Attachments" folder using an applescript that captures all pdf mail attachments. This applescript works succesfully.


So, where could I be going wrong?


The working workflow "Attachments.workflow" consists of:

Get Specificed Finder Items

Make Sequential

Get Folder Contents

Open Finder Items

Get Folder Contwents

Label Finder Items

Get Folder Contents

New Dated Folder


The erronious Folder Action consists of:

Run Workflow (Attachments)


In folder actions setup:

"Enable Folder Actions" is ticked

"PDF Attachments" folder is ticked

"Attachments_folder.workflow" script is on.

Mac OS X (10.7.1)

Posted on May 8, 2012 1:30 AM

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15 replies

May 10, 2012 6:50 AM in response to gazpacho

Why are you running it as a workflow within a workflow? Why not just use the folder action workflow to do the work? I don't know if that is the problem, but it certainly can't be helping.

You also should not need a Get Specified Finder Items because the folder action already gets the added files. You are essentially running the workflow on the files twice, once when passed from the folder action and once from the Get Specified Finder Items.

May 10, 2012 6:31 PM in response to Barney-15E

Thanks Barney.

The "Articles" workflow works from within Automator.

The "Folder Action" does nothing.

I made a completely new folder action removing the "Get Specified Folders" action (Below). It still fails to do anything at all.


I cannot get "folder Actions" to work at all. I do not know what the problem is, but they do not work. The automator script works... so the problem lies somewhere else.

User uploaded file

May 10, 2012 6:46 PM in response to gazpacho

I'm confused. You showed two Automator actions with the same name, one was a folder action one wasn't.


Are you sure the correct Automator action (the one that is a folder action) is attached to the folder?

If when the Folders Action setup window is opened and you select Articles_Folder.workflow and then edit script are you getting the right workflow?


Assuming you do I would start off very simply. Try this:


User uploaded file


It will label green screen shot image files saved to the Desktop.


See if this works for you.

May 11, 2012 5:26 PM in response to Frank Caggiano

Sorry Frank. No joy. I set up just as you did, saved the Folder Action as "Screenshot test", checked "folder actions setup" to make sure it was activated, then took three screen shots (command|shift|3) to be sure... none of them were labelled green in Finder. Maybe it's a permissions issue.. or some kind of corruption although I have no idea how to review it.


User uploaded file

How to set up Automator Folder Actions?

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