An Introduction To Using Mac Automator

macmost.com/e-2109 Learn the basics of using Automator on your Mac to create workflows. Automator is a useful productivity tool but it can be intimidating for non-programmers. Learn how to use Actions to build Workflows to get things done. This is a basic introduction for those who have never used Automator before.
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[@aydarmannanov4622]

This is probably the only channel which teaches you how to use the built-in functions and apps of your 2000 eur+ laptop, rather than explains you which additional software you should buy to increase your productivity. Amazing one!

[@lesapeur]

I've been watching your videos for about a month or so now. Among all the Apple "how to" and explanatory channels on KZbin, I think yours is the best. At least, it's the first one on which I want to make a public comment. Your pacing is good. Your timing is appropriate to the topic discussed. Your explanations are clear. Keep up the good work!

[@macmost]

Thanks!

[@alecvan7143]

absolutely

[@uddorangsby]

Agreed 🤝

[@turnerstechtalk7737]

Man - you are truly an asset to the Mac community!! Your videos are very well organized, crystal clear and easy to follow. Appreciate what you're doing!

[@parris50]

Just the right level of detail to get me started. I've been using macs for 13 years and never got into this great facility!

[@ruedistaehli]

Just the kick I needed to start with Automator. Thank you Gary!

[@beatritzeu4998]

You save my day. I learn to code in the university long time ago and i was fighting with the logic of automator for long time. Now i understand how it works! Thanks very much!

[@Ngodsfavor1]

OMG! You telling me this has been under my nose the entire time! Thank you for taking the time to create this video. I WILL be using this.

[@longdongsilver4719]

This is just as exciting as in that old time when I was learning Applesoft Basic. Absolutely fantastic!

[@fuoribondo]

The best lecture about using automator, I have found so far. Big kudos and thanks!

[@iantownsend751]

Thanks Gary. Great video. I created a couple of automator workflows some years ago but had forgotten how to do it. Your video has got me back on track to create new automations that I now need..

[@mrvfino]

Thank you very much for the simplified and straightforward tutorial! I'm an iOS / MacOS developer myself but sometimes I just gotta fall back to simple things from time to time. :)

[@redshop1234]

Thanks Gary for another fine tutorial! I had forgotten Automator even existed.

[@bibleredpill]

I’m so glad you used the example of reducing an image. I send a lot of images on social media and have to reduce them. This is perfect. Thanks

[@baakadawaabi]

Awesome. This was immensely helpful. Love your attitude: kind, easy-going, and knowledgable.

[@pedromartins1474]

I'm a new mac user, after decades of windows.This video is outstanding in form and content. Thank you!!!

[@sobrewe]

You nailed it man! Thanks for this video, already subscribed. I'm excited to explore your channel and become a SUPER POWERED mac user!

[@lauraeng2211]

Late comment! Very useful automation workflow. I have been studied python to try to automate my work document spending many hours and now I just know that my MacBook has this useful function. Thank you

[@utilitarian]

What a brilliant guide! Thank you for taking the time to explain this

[@pvdongen]

Thanks for the great work. You've added so much Apple Mac knowledge to my brains. My Mac's are more valuable than before and my productivity increased. Thank you very much and greetings from The netherlands.

[@wileyglass3324]

Extremely thorough, I'm trying to use it to turn down my computer volume after a certain time every night

[@ahmadissa8607]

You make it look so simple. 👍 Thank you for the so much info in sort time.

[@rudyatgmail7839]

Thank you. I've been trying to crack into Automator for some time. This tutorial opened the door for me. Great advice on how to get started by exploring the menu items, I approached it backwards (as you explained). I've been a Mac users since 1984 but don't have the discipline to be a programmer. I've been looking for an environment to noodle in since MacPascal. I'm now going to give Automator a serious try. I would welcome more lessons and would buy a course if they were like this tutorial. Many thanks.

[@macmost]

I've got a tutorial coming later this week you are going to really like.

[@tommugema2818]

Thanks for the idea. This is the kind of introduction I needed to get started with Automator

[@asathoor777]

This tutrial will save you for many hours of confusion. Great work here.

[@abdurrahimsajid]

Great job. You explain in very simple words. Thank you.

[@BiblicalBasics]

This video makes me interested to find out how to get (much) more from my Mac (& I consider myself experienced & competent).... thank you for putting this out!

[@psyhydeluo5833]

I am researching on visual script builder/ visual flow builder. This video is really helpful. Thank you Sir

[@Avonkarenb]

This is an amazing tutorial. I can't tell you what I learned. FANTASTIC> I often have a problem uploading files to my FB as because of size. Now I can run this so quickly to change them AWESOME thanks so much for this channel

[@dr7193]

I especially love your last line there.

[@chrismedina9163]

Thanks, man, I'm new to Mac... and this videos it's really helpful

[@Artistram3d1]

This is BRILLIANT! I have a few ideas to speed up my workflow doing digital graphics (having to convert large, hi-res photos to more manageable Photoshop .eps files). Hopefully, I can come up with something! Thank you so much!

[@dinsharma]

Great info for starting on Automator. Thank you so much

[@crazyj484]

This is so so powerful!!

[@homemixer]

Great tutorial, i didn't know my apple could do this great stuff....thank you Gary!!

[@william.james.]

Really quite good. I'm impressed. You did not waste my time. I subscribed.

[@peterbright6814]

Thanks Gary, very clear instructions. Much appreciated ;)

[@bradosborne9299]

Great information, thanks Gary. I think I may find what I am trying to do in here. New to MacOS, but this is promising.

[@philippedesaegher]

Yes, you are definitely the best. (I confess I have also tried others 😇) I’ve learned and discussed so much from your site.

[@joyalgeorge6897]

Thank you! this was very helpful.

[@justletmesigninokthx]

That is amazing functionality to have in an OS. Really great vid.

[@stevensonrf]

Gary! This was a very helpful video! Thanks!

[@nunosaraivaphotographer]

Thanks again! Hugs from Lisbon Portugal 🇵🇹

[@JoanneClegg]

Thanks! Perfect beginners tutorial

[@bonniehoke-scedrov4906]

Your video was so informative. Thank you so much!

[@ArgentineTango.PabloLudmila]

Amazing video. Thanks!

[@toma1610]

I will check this, because I‘ve been using a droplet of Photoshop to resize to email size (1200px, we can do it on 2023). Now, due to a the high demand of work, the pressure of finish quickly makes me look for ways to optimize the use of the mac.

[@kathydiamond6064]

thanks for the intro - liked and subscribed!

[@Erin-Thor]

Have you covered using the record function? I expected it to work like the record function in word, excel, etc., but it doesn’t seem to work for me. I edit data files to format for database input, and frequently these can be automated as you work with new files daily.

[@mikehill9806]

Brilliant! Thanks very much.

[@Rio-by1eh]

Thank you for you great intro

[@happyshadow]

Excellent video thank you 🙏

[@michaelmclaughlin912]

Thank you for this intro to Automator. Well done for a guy like me who needs explanation simplified. Question - can Automator be used to run a macro on Chrome perpetually?

[@molefonken]

So useful, thank you

[@Rio-by1eh]

I’ve always seen the power of Automator , but now more then ever I need to learn it...

[@scaperlee]

always wondered! thanks

[@myfro7552]

Great! Thank you! Only when I use the Apple Scale action, I wan to set the width, but it sets the high. How to fix this? :) Thanks!

[@toinevanderwielen9508]

Really helpfull. Thanks!

[@RT-hh3vl]

This is really useful, I can already think of a number of ways to speed up operations for me, like converting vids to mp4, resizing pics for youtube thumbs, just wondering about compressing vids too (using Handbrake)... but I'm gonna take your advice Gary and check out the lists first :)

[@thatretroninja]

Love your channel, could you make a video about using automator to grab an email to notes app. A simple one that could pull plain text at least. Thanks

[@BlessedForever888]

Thank you so much!

[@nnvasen-good-energy]

I totally agree with Iesapeur. I thought Automator was an old thing, not needed if I use Keyboard Maestro. I tried the examples with my new Mac mini M1. Very nice this Quick action|Service for me, to include not to heavy pictures on my website.

[@tinytess9475]

Hi Garry, I hope you'll be able to help me with this issue I'm having. I'm trying to create a 'text to audio file' but it's failing and keeps coming up with an error reading: 'The action "Text to Audio File" was not supplied with the required data'. I've been able to create one in the past on my MacBook Pro but nit in the last few months. Hope you'll be able to tell me what I'm doing wrong :)

[@yannisgoogleapps9249]

Great Video!

[@ladreamin5008]

I use Irfanview for windows to do a batch resize and rename, I wonder if I can convert PNGs to JPGs like this or is there an easier way thru preview or a 3rd party App

[@alienrefugee51]

I made an Automator application to eject/unmount any HDD's that I don't readily need, like backups and Bootcamp. I just added it to my login items and when I boot up, it will automatically unmount the volumes I don't need. Time saver and drive saver. The actions are, "Get specific Finder items" and "Eject Disk". You just add your drives to the Finder items action that you want to unmount.

[@abhikismusic]

Great Tut !

[@MrGuitarMix]

I'm switching from linux to mac. That's a good feature. I'll experiment a lot with it.

[@jorgepadron2426]

Excellent!

[@Assassin1959]

Excellent!!!

[@hibhaven]

Awesome - For Apple to create such a product, and for you to explain it so well. I have had Macs since 2006, and noticed Automator and always wondered how it could be used. But haven't used it even once. But this video inspires me to start using it. More than 'How' to use it, I am stuck on what all practical things can it be used for, Is there any list of such tasks readily available, or any such readily available Automator apps that can be downloaded (and probably customised). Thanks for this video and your channel.

[@macmost]

There's no library of Automator workflows, but many people share their stuff online if you search for it. But you can just explore in the app to see what else you can do. The best way to use it is to use it to build your own things. I have a mini course on Automator too, if you are interested in that: courses.macmost.com/courses/automator/

[@samstornc8744]

Hi...Thanks for all the cool videos. I was trying to use automator as a key stroke recording to automate some repetitive action I have to do on a website, but I can't get to actually work. Do you have video that would show record a set these type of actions? Thanks

[@macmost]

Try this instead: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ooHaqquCf9h0nbM

[@mistertamura6190]

cheers for this.

[@rickdeckard4213]

Another great video, but I think I will have to take a bit more time working on Automator to really get the gist of it all.

[@LIXIAOLUN9XZHANMA]

Thank you!

[@MarsorryIckuatuna]

I see you’ve got actions from Microsoft Office. I have Office installed too, but I don’t see any actions from it in Automator. What could be the reason for that?

[@SilkeSleijfer]

Thanks a lot this is really helpful! How did you hide the applications that fast at 9:20?

[@macmost]

Command+H is the keyboard shortcut for hiding the current app in most application. Look in the application menu to the left of the File menu and there is the hide command with the shortcut. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJummn55rpmIfqM

[@TheUnofficialMaker]

I have an item I need to order from Amazon but the status is "Don't know when item will be back in stock". Is it possible to create an Automation to check once a week to see if the item has become available?

[@samrust8020]

I love your videos. Can you make video for ScreenSharing and VNC please

[@ereh6759]

How do you make the recording go on w/o duplicating it for more than 8 hours?

[@diegonayalazo]

Thanks!

[@leso9780]

Thank you.

[@AjinkyaGokule]

I have a 2mb pdf file and it doesn't convert also 200 kbps files when compressed grows in size. I followed ur video as it is. can u help?

[@madd2377]

Hi, how would you make a simple Automator action to open a certain folder and attribute a shortcut to it? I need to be able to press certain hotkeys to open certain folders ! Thank you

[@macmost]

First, use Shortcuts for this, not Automator. Use a simple Shell script in Shortcuts like: open "/Users/username/Documents/something"

[@xaviergomez2175]

Hey Gary, Great video! I was wondering if you could help me out. I discovered automator a few weeks ago and was playing around with it. No idea what i did, but now everytime I try to save either a quicksilver video o Screenshot from my computer it opens up "Foxit PDF "and tríes to save it there as a "textedit" document. Ive tried searching the automator for any scripts I may have accidently made to delete them but havent found anything under "recently added" so no idea what it could be. Any help is appreciated.

[@macmost]

It sounds like this "Foxit PDF" app has simply taken over as the default app for some file types. Nothing to do with Automator. If you don't need it, I would delete it.

[@ChickensAndGardening]

Thanks for this. I have had a Mac desktop for 10 years but only now starting to look at Automator. I have a simple need: I want to insert today's date into a Pages document (I don't mean a field that changes every time I open the doc; just insert "Wed Sep 06, 2023" text by means of a keystroke (ideally). I don't see any particular Pages scripts in the list but the app does mention date/time variables so maybe that's the key? Thanks for any suggestions!

[@macmost]

You can do it much more easily with Shortcuts. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3zIkIira9mXf8k

[@lobzangchamba8197]

If I WERE live in the city where you live, I’d for sure come and be friend with you. but what could i do from far lhasa City in the himalayan mountains? I wish you have great health though! Man, you have taught me much! Thank you!

[@mehmd1913]

So how do you batch the photos? Do you enable select more files in the workflow/app/quick action or do you just multi select the image or file and it will automatically perform the action on multiple files.

[@macmost]

Depends on which type of Automator thing you make. An app can be used by dragging and dropping multiple photos onto the app. Or, you could have a service and select multiple files and trigger the service or Quick Action. Or you could have a file selection box at the start that selects multiple ones. It really depends on how you want to work it.

[@mehmd1913]

@@macmost ok. I saw the toggle option to select multiple files so I wasn’t sure if that had to be enabled in order to mult-select images.

[@devanesh5791]

thanks a lot from india!

[@aaltoskype]

Is it possible to plan a video capture of a specific web page? I tried to accomplish this through an applescript but after the correct setting of "New Screen Recording" I'm not able to let the script click on the "Record" button. Any suggestion?

[@macmost]

Plan a video capture of a web page? No, not really. Not sure why you would want to do that. To see what a site looks like at certain times of the day or something? Usually things like that are done with complex server-side processes used by archivists and such.

[@crawlinginfilm9683]

Apple should use consistent terminology, standardising on the term “Pictures” instead of “Images”, since the latter term is also used for .img files etc.

[@jozef_s]

Hi Gary, can you use the automator to generate the url of a particular apple note? I would like to connect two notes together (with url's) but I don't want to go through the share options button to get the url. Thank you. Great channel btw.

[@macmost]

Not that I can think of. The Share options would be the place to get it.

[@jozef_s]

@@macmost Thank you.

[@baselmidani3084]

hello, if I have a folder where there are screenshots and video screen recording, how can I get automator to autoselect the videos in that folder to resize my videos at once? thanks in advance

[@macmost]

Just create your Automator workflow to take in what if passed to it. Then just select the videos. You can sort by kind in the Finder or Open dialog if that helps.

[@slob5041]

Your channel rocks

[@ribierahmadalkeni8453]

Thanks you

[@josefhab8095]

Thanks Gary for this video. One qq please. I try to create a following workflow. When I receive an email from specific company with invoice attachment pdf - save the file (on HD) to specific folder - send a copy of this pdf to another person. Is this possible? Any experience? Cheers J ..Yes I can forward this email in Mail app using rules, but want to try it in Automator as I need to keep the copy of pdf document (invoice).

[@josefhab8095]

just an update from my side. Yes, It works (found it) and specific attachments went to HD on my Mac.

[@wevertonjaquesable]

excellent

[@sosadesigner8813]

Hi macmostvideo, where can I hire someone to create a basic application that copies and pastes texts from one application to another?

[@Drago.S]

Hi Gary, thanks for the videos about Automator, an application as powerful as the underestimated. Is there any way of using it with InDesign and Photoshop. If yes you can do a tutorial. Thanks

[@macmost]

I don't think Adobe provides any Automator actions for either of those. But I don't use InDesign. Looks like there is a package from a third-party for Photoshop, but I've never used it and have no idea if it even works in 2020.I'm not a graphics pro so I'm far from a Photoshop expert. Isn't there a way to automate things inside of Photoshop? (Yes: www.adobe.com/devnet/photoshop/scripting.html) That would be the more powerful option there.

[@pipingdogtooth]

@@macmost Thank you so much for replying and answering all of these questions. Some of the questions, I would not have thought to ask and your generosity with your knowledge is so greatly appreciated!!!

[@AzureBlox]

How do you turn it off? (not the button, it moves your mouse around so you can't click it)

[@philcam9493]

How can we use Automator to make the HomePod mini the default speaker for Mac mini? Thanks for the videos.

[@macmost]

I don't think you can. If you just switch to the HomePod mini normally, it should stay as your speaker. So not sure what you are looking for in terms of "default" functionality. There is no simple AppleScript or command line I can find that will switch the speaker.

[@philcam9493]

@@macmost HomePod returned. Ya know, flippin’ the effin usbC to lightning converter the 89th time restored sound to the 27” vintage led display. I’ve been shimmy, shimmy Cocoa Puffin that usbC plug for weeks in de-Nile between ports. Saving for a new Mac and possible 30” plus display. I only buy a new Mac every 6 to 7 years or until it is deprecated. . Thank you for everyone’s input ❤️