Automator usage ideas

[Ceroc Addict]

While I'm waiting eagerly for Tiger to come out, I thought I'd start a thread for getting ideas on how Automator (hopefully) could be used.

A few that I've already thought of:

• Getting a Grab screen capture directly as a jpeg, without having to bother with the tiff file.
• Sending screen captures directly via email, without having to bother with manually saving the intermediate files to the local drive
• Quicker uploading of files (i.e. fewer manual steps) to a website via FTP

[Captain Code]

Automated backups to external drives. Can do it with a cron tab and script but who wants to do that

[MBHockey]

I can't wait to try out Automator! If only i was a premier ADC member (?).

[fryke]

Or an ADC Select member, which is cheaper. http://developer.apple.com/membership/?nav for more information.

[MBHockey]

Or an ADC Select member, which is cheaper. http://developer.apple.com/membership/?nav for more information.

Wow it's $500! I didn't think it would even be that much. I saw the premier one too, $3500! People actually pay for this stuff!?

It looks like you'd save a lot though, it's probably worth it, but i have no money

[ElDiabloConCaca]

If you're a higher edutcation student, you can get a membership to Apple's Developer section for free -- you won't get Tiger previews or any pre-release software, but you will have limited access to the resources available.

[Krevinek]

If you're a higher edutcation student, you can get a membership to Apple's Developer section for free -- you won't get Tiger previews or any pre-release software, but you will have limited access to the resources available.

Actually, anyone can get access for free...

What students get (for 99$ a year, not free) is monthly developer mailings with updated developer documentation, updated OS releases every ~6 months (and when a new version is released), and a one-time hardware discount. Practically a steal for the price... and worth the money.

Although, to get back on topic, one idea I have is creating a process to be a DivX Doctor for MPEG-4-compliant material... but not sure how I am supposed to achieve it in Quicktime...

[mindbend]

-folder droplets (e.g. if files are placed in this folder, send them via FTP to this address)

-parsing of XML data from Final Cut

-top to bottom processing of media (e.g. we have a client that sends us monthly photos to add to their website. We currently have to add them to the database, color correct them, create multiple-sized thumbnails and then post. This could be a one click process with Automator)

-check for file/folder revision dates, if they haven't been revised in a year, send an alert to archive

-check for file permissions, if file is not fully read/write by anyone, change it (I personally cannot stand OS X's hyper-secure permissions), it's a constant PITA for our workgroup

-automatically add certain media types to Portfolio media database

-automatically retrieve photos extracted from my digital camera (placed in the Photos directory) and put them in my photo archive. My camera does not mount for some reason, so I have to use iPhoto to get the photos out. I then have to manually move the photos and delete the Data/Originals/Thumbs folders (another task for Automator) for archival, since I use Portfolio and not iPhoto.


Those are just a few. It seems I always have a want for Automator, but don't have the skills to program in Applescript. Can't wait for it.