Screencast: Automator Plugins
Since Tiger was released it has seemed to me that Automator was one of the unsung heroes that shipped with the operating system. I’m guessing more people use it than we hear about, but just in case, I wanted to show off the use of Automator when saving workflows as plugins, rather than Automator Workflow Apps.
Automating Free Music (mov)
10 mins / 102mb
The ‘Free Music’ part has to do with the fun weekly mixes found at OutOf5.com, nothing shady, so don’t fear the reaper…
Oh, and if the audio is a wee bit quiet, my apologies - I had to use a different mic last night, in a different space than I normally record these things. Hopefully it’s not too bad, but it was a one time circumstance. But as always, feedback is welcome regardless.
UPDATE
Ali’s getting pushy 
and wanted the Automator Workflows I’ve already created. And here they are….Do your worst!
#1 Linder says:video links not working
#2 Linder says:scratch that! haha…
#3 Ali Karbassi says:Hey, why not upload the actual workflows for us to use and abuse?
#4 Ian Hay says:my favourite Automator is the kill and restart Quicksilver one, comes in handy when mucking about with new Applescripts and they hang QS up
#5 Nick Santilli says:There you go Ali! Have fun.
#6 Xander says:The audio is very quiet again, I have to turn my sound all the way up to hear it
#7 Joe says:Nick, this is fantastic, I always wanted to play with automator and this really helped. Any way to delete the folders left on the desktop as part of the action?
#8 Nick Santilli says:Joe - try something like this:
http://myskitch.com/nicks/abracadabra-20070627-181606.jpg
#9 Adam Turetzky says:Ugh, I hate to be the guy that does this (one seems to pop up in the comments of every Mac screencast LOL) but, what is the program that appears to be the CPU monitor in your menu bar? It doesn’t appear to be any type of setting I can mimic in MenuMeters with that grey backdrop?
#10 Nick Santilli says:@Adam T - iStat Menus. We talked about it the other day, here:
http://theappleblog.com/2007/06/23/exciting-software-updates/
main website, here: http://islayer.com/index.php?op=item&id=28
They FINALLY replaced Menu Meters for me after all these years. good stuff
#11 Ali Karbassi says:I know I’m pushy!
I actually spent some time and created an Automator workflow that goes out and downloads from FREE (truely free) music blogs. I’ll post it tomorrow.
#12 Adam Turetzky says:@Nick - Thanks! Somehow I missed the nuggets in that article!! Checking it out now!! Based on the appearance from the screencast it’s going to replace my longtime reliance on MenuMeters for at least that function.
#13 James says:Could we please have a link to the icon set that you are using for your folders
#14 Jono says:Automator is a great app. It’s up there with Quicksilver (almost) for me.
There’s so many things you can do with it. And with the new version in Leopard you can supposedly record any actions you do & put them in workflows.
Can’t wait.