Move files of certain size to a subfolder with Automator

Question

Level 1

5 points

Move files of certain size to a subfolder with Automator

Looked through the forums - haven't really been able to pin this down.

I have websites backup to a NAS into their own folder - two types - database only and full backup - both are zip files.

I have created sub-directories for the full backups. I want Automator to find files of 1MB or above and then move them (not copy) into the sub-folder. Fairly straightforward I would have thought. I am struggling to get automator to do this. I have attached a screenshot of my Automator app, I am sure this is just something I am missing.

It just does not work. I would expect to find that the zip files greater than 1MB should now be in the sub-folder - they are not.

Any suggestions, please?

Cheers,

Mike

Mac OS X (10.7.3), iMac Dec 2010 - dead HD after 18mth

Posted on Mar 19, 2013 3:08 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,342 points

Mar 19, 2013 3:57 AM in response to wmike1503

I don't know if this is the problem, but you don't need "Get Selected Finder Items." You've already selected the items you want to move. Get Selected Finder Items just gets the things that are currently selected in the Finder, and it has probably dropped all the things it "found and filtered" earlier.

Reply

Answer 2

wmike1503 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 19, 2013 4:00 AM in response to Barney-15E

Hi Barney,

Thanks for that.

I've tried with and without 'Get selected'. No difference - still does not woprk.

cheers,

Mike

Reply

Answer 3

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,342 points

Mar 19, 2013 4:04 AM in response to wmike1503

Step through it and see what you are getting for Results at each step.

And, why not just combine the Size criteria with the initial Find?

Reply

Answer 4

wmike1503 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 19, 2013 4:35 AM in response to Barney-15E

Hi Barney,

Yep - I started at that point.

I've simplified it to:

As you can see - the files are found OK - just not moved.

Cheers,

Mike

Reply

Answer 5

Barney-15E

Level 10

122,342 points

Mar 19, 2013 4:51 AM in response to wmike1503

Yeah. Not sure. Is there any permission issue? I would think that would throw an error, though.

Reply

Answer 6

pjdube

Level 3

835 points

Mar 19, 2013 9:55 AM in response to wmike1503

Have you tried the following workflow? I tested this and it works for me. I would rather start filtering finder items from the folder by grabbing the folder contents as shown below.

Reply

Answer 7

wmike1503 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 20, 2013 1:11 AM in response to pjdube

Hi PJ,

Doesn't work I'm afraid. Fails on a couple of counts. The 'ask for finder items' requires manual input each time the app is run. I have set this to run automatically via iCal.

The' 'move finder items' fails because it seems to be trying to move the sub-directory contained in the main folder. Folder structure is main/sub/ were main contains the zip files I want to move to the sub folder.

So if I again remove the first 'ask for finder items' step - the app finds the files of the correct size with no problem but then refuses to move them as required.

Cheers,

Mike

Reply

Answer 8

wmike1503 Author

Level 1

5 points

Mar 20, 2013 3:21 AM in response to wmike1503

Hi PJ,

Got this working as required. Made it very simple. I've created a folder action:

That does the job - no scheduling in iCal required. Just does it on the fly with no further input from me.

Now trying to get a similar action to move files to trash based on similar criteria. Can't get this to work as a folder action.

Thanks for advice.

Cheers,

Mike

Reply

Answer 9

pjdube

Level 3

835 points

Mar 20, 2013 9:15 AM in response to wmike1503

Mike,

Ok great. Good to know that you have that figured out.

In terms of this other folder action to move the files to the trash; is this is what you want to do after you run the above folder action on the same folder? I.e. you want to get rid of the remaining items? Or do you want a completely seperate folder action for a different folder to filter and move to the trash?

Regards,

Phil

Reply