HEY EJ

Q: Automator Issues

Hello.

 

The main problem I am having today is how to correctly make a "watch me do" script. When I click the record button and begin performing the task all seems well and the automator reads every click I make, but when I try to run the script it says "Application (name of the application) is not running when it is expected to" even though it is clearly running. I also want what is recorded to be looped a lot of times in a row (the more the better), so I am guessing that I would just have to add a "loop" script from my library to the slot after the main script and tell it that I want it repeated x amount of times, but I am still not sure.

 

Any help solving this problem would be greatly appreciated!

 

Thank you,

HEY EJ

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.4), Operating system = Unsure

Posted on Jul 20, 2016 2:18 PM

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Q: Automator Issues

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  • by red_menace,

    red_menace red_menace Jul 20, 2016 8:27 PM in response to HEY EJ
    Level 6 (15,526 points)
    Desktops
    Jul 20, 2016 8:27 PM in response to HEY EJ

    Automator's "Watch Me Do" action should really only be used if there is no other way to perform whatever it is you are trying to do.  It is a good idea, but rarely works in practice, because everything has to be exactly the same as when it was recorded, and even then it is a crap shoot.

     

    A better approach would be to use an AppleScript, so if you could explain in detail what your task is, perhaps one could be written.

  • by HEY EJ,

    HEY EJ HEY EJ Jul 21, 2016 7:22 PM in response to red_menace
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Mac OS X
    Jul 21, 2016 7:22 PM in response to red_menace

    Most of the things that I see automator is used for is just making tasks faster, such as creating headings on Microsoft word, but I'm trying to make it so that it will repeat the same act hundreds of times in a row. This is more of a fun thing that I wanted to do for a game I play, but it seems that this might not be the best software. Whenever I record the actions the game screen stays the exact same, but I do move the automator screen, but I wouldn't expect that to have an effect on how the script works? I'll try Applescript as a replacement for this.

    Thank you :[)