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I am trying to use Automator to query a file in a foldr, then create a folder based off of the filename, then move the file into the newly created folder. I am not as savvy as I thought that I was when it comes to Automator. Even thinking that Automator might not be the correct tool for the job. Each file has a different name or this would be a lot easier. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
So I found this Script:
tell application "Finder"
set current_folder to folder of front window
set x to (get the selection) as list
repeat with i from 1 to the count of x
set this_file to item i of x
if i is not 1 then
set previous_file to item (i - 1) of x
set prev_ext to cur_ext
set prev_name to new_name
else
set prev_name to ""
end if
set cur_ext to name extension of this_file
set new_name to text 1 thru -((length of cur_ext) + 2) of (name of this_file as text)
if new_name is not equal to prev_name then
set new_folder to makenewfolderwith properties {name:new_name} atcurrent_folder
movethis_filetonew_folder
else
movethis_filetonew_folder
end if
end repeat
end tell
But it only works if the file is selected in the finder window. How can it be modified to select the file/files in a folder to process them ?
So I found this Script:
tell application "Finder"
set current_folder to folder of front window
set x to (get the selection) as list
repeat with i from 1 to the count of x
set this_file to item i of x
if i is not 1 then
set previous_file to item (i - 1) of x
set prev_ext to cur_ext
set prev_name to new_name
else
set prev_name to ""
end if
set cur_ext to name extension of this_file
set new_name to text 1 thru -((length of cur_ext) + 2) of (name of this_file as text)
if new_name is not equal to prev_name then
set new_folder to makenewfolderwith properties {name:new_name} atcurrent_folder
movethis_filetonew_folder
else
movethis_filetonew_folder
end if
end repeat
end tell
But it only works if the file is selected in the finder window. How can it be modified to select the file/files in a folder to process them ?
You can use a Run AppleScript action to do the work, and feed items to it by using a service workflow, an Ask for Finder Items action, etc - for example:
1) Service receives selected files or folders in Finder
2) Get Folder Contents
3) Run AppleScript
onrun {input, parameters} -- create folders from file names and move
setoutputto {} -- this will be a list of the moved files
repeatwithanItemintheinput-- step through each item in the input
set {theContainer, theName, theExtension} to (getTheNamesfromanItem)
try
setdestinationto (makeNewFolderfortheNameattheContainer)
tellapplication"Finder"
moveanItemtodestination
settheendoftheoutputtotheresultasalias-- success
endtell
onerrorerrorMessage-- duplicate name, permissions, etc
logerrorMessage
# handle errors if desired - just skip for now
endtry
endrepeat
returntheoutput-- pass on the results to following actions
endrun
togetTheNamesfromsomeItem-- get a container, name, and extension from a file item
tellapplication"System Events"totelldisk item (someItemastext)
settheContainertothepathofthecontainer
set {theName, theExtension} to {name, name extension}
endtell
iftheExtensionisnot""then
settheNametotext1thru -((counttheExtension) + 2) oftheName-- just the name part
settheExtensionto"." & theExtension
endif
return {theContainer, theName, theExtension}
endgetTheNames
tomakeNewFolderfortheChildattheParent-- make a new child folder at the parent location if it doesn't already exist
settheParenttotheParentastext
iftheParentbegins with"/"thensettheParenttotheParentasPOSIX fileastext
try
return (theParent & theChild) asalias
onerrorerrorMessage-- no folder
logerrorMessage
tellapplication"Finder"tomakenewfolderattheParentwith properties {name:theChild}
returntheresultasalias
endtry
endmakeNewFolder
4) other actions as desired
This is a great start to get files into correct folder names. Though how could this be adapted so that it would run automatically ?
Instead of a regular workflow or Service, make the Automator workflow a Folder Action and attach it to the desired folder - items dropped into the attached folder will get passed to the workflow.
Sorry, I tried following your direction but, im afraid that I do not follow. I tried running this as an Apple Script and it fails. Advice ?
Your original request was to use Automator, so the script is designed to be used in an Automator Run AppleScript action (paste it over the action's default script). When creating a new Automator workflow, there are several different kinds of workflow templates available, including a Service (which gets its input from selected items) and a Folder Action (which gets its input from items dropped in an attached folder)
The script can be modified to run as a regular script from the AppleScript Editor, although it is easier to create services in Automator.
@red_menace: This apple script worked like a charm on my test, but I need something very much like this.
I have 4 different format files with same filename except from one (aaa LOW.jpg):
1) newspaper ad 15x35.ai
2) newspaper ad 15x35.pdf
3) newspaper ad 15x35 LOW.jpg
4) newspaper ad 15x35.jpg
What I want is to create a new folder in the same place where this files are, but using the Ai file (newspaper ad 15x35), then moving all 4 files into this new folder. This Ai file is my master file and the othe three files are the files sent to the printing house, so they are the same, but in different format.
Now, I may have sometimes around 50 master files (Ai) in the same project folder with their PDF and JPG files, being up to 200 files. In my head I want to select all this content, and wish the applescript-automator only grabs the Ai filenames and put 4 files into each folder. Resulting 50 folders (each named after the Ai master file) and every folder with 4 files moved into them.
My master files are usually named different because of the number on the filename, por example newspaper ad 15x35.ai, newspaper ad 13,5x25.ai, newspaper ad 32x29,08.ai
Is this possible?
Kind regards
The script I posted should move everything with the same name into the folder with that name (creating it as needed), with the exception of the file with the name that ends with "LOW". Does that file name always end with <space>LOW, and how are you choosing the items?
Yes, it always ends <space>LOW, because it is a low res jpg (72dpi-rgb), while the other one is a high res jpg (300 dpi-cmyk). I need to keep all this file together with the master file.
Since your file groups just have different extensions (the folder name doesn't use the extension), all you need to do is check for the one that has the "LOW" suffix - changing the run handler to the following should do it:
onrun {input, parameters} -- create folders from file names and move
setoutputto {} -- this will be a list of the moved files
repeatwithanItemintheinput-- step through each item in the input
set {theContainer, theName, theExtension} to (getTheNamesfromanItem)
try
# check for a suffix and strip it off for the folder name
iftheNameends with" LOW"then
setdestinationto (makeNewFolderfor (text1thru-5oftheName) attheContainer)
else
setdestinationto (makeNewFolderfortheNameattheContainer)
endif
tellapplication"Finder"
moveanItemtodestination
settheendoftheoutputtotheresultasalias-- success
endtell
onerrorerrorMessage-- duplicate name, permissions, etc
logerrorMessage
# handle errors if desired - just skip for now
endtry
endrepeat
returntheoutput-- pass on the results to following actions
endrun
Did you try the script I posted in your other thread ?
Yes, thank you. Still running tests 🙂
The first script perfectly makes a new folder and move all the files with the same name, but the files that ends with <space>LOW, they get a new folder for themselves.
Now I am trying the second script (for the LOW ending). Making a new services on its own sends me an error. If this is a complementary script, should I add this at the end of the first script? 😕
Just replace the run handler (on run ... end run) of the first script with the new one - all I did was add a check for the "LOW" suffix, but included the whole handler for context. What error are you getting (there should be only one run handler)?
I have replaced the second script, with no error on syntax, but now I have 2 folders. One containing three files with the same name. And the file named baja is now in a different folder but the name has an extra space.
I get this folders:
experiment
and
experiment<space>
In this last one is the file with LOW at the end
I think is about this line:
set destination to (makeNewFolder for (text 1 thru -5 of theName) at theContainer)
which sets a new folder for this LOW file, instead of just moving this LOW file into the same folder as the rest.
This is the updated script:
on run {input, parameters} -- create folders from file names and move
set output to {} -- this will be a list of the moved files
repeat with anItem in the input -- step through each item in the input
set {theContainer, theName, theExtension} to (getTheNames from anItem)
try
# check for a suffix and strip it off for the folder name
if theName ends with " LOW" then
set destination to (makeNewFolder for (text 1 thru -5 of theName) at theContainer)
else
set destination to (makeNewFolder for theName at theContainer)
end if
tell application "Finder"
move anItem to destination
set the end of the output to the result as alias -- success
end tell
on error errorMessage -- duplicate name, permissions, etc
log errorMessage
# handle errors if desired - just skip for now
end try
end repeat
return the output -- pass on the results to following actions
end repeat
return the output -- pass on the results to following actions
end run
to getTheNames from someItem -- get a container, name, and extension from a file item
tell application "System Events" to tell disk item (someItem as text)
set theContainer to the path of the container
set {theName, theExtension} to {name, name extension}
end tell
if theExtension is not "" then
set theName to text 1 thru -((count theExtension) + 2) of theName -- just the name part
set theExtension to "." & theExtension
end if
return {theContainer, theName, theExtension}
end getTheNames
to makeNewFolder for theChild at theParent -- make a new child folder at the parent location if it doesn't already exist
set theParent to theParent as text
if theParent begins with "/" then set theParent to theParent as POSIX file as text
try
return (theParent & theChild) as alias
on error errorMessage -- no folder
log errorMessage
tell application "Finder" to make new folder at theParent with properties {name:theChild}
return the result as alias
end try
end makeNewFolder
Automator: Create folder from filename
