Automator (software)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Automator | |
 |
|
 |
|
| Developer: | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Latest release: | 1.0.3 (68) / January 10, 2006 |
| OS: | Mac OS 10.4 |
| Use: | Automation |
| License: | Proprietary |
| Website: | [1] |
Automator is an application developed by Apple for Mac OS X that implements point-and-click (or drag-and-drop) creation of workflows for automating repetitive tasks. Automator enables the repetition of tasks across a wide variety of programs, including the Finder, the Safari web browser, iCal, Address Book and others. It can also work with third-party applications such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop.
Contents |
[edit] Ease of use
Although Automator uses AppleScript and/or Cocoa, it requires no expertise in these languages whatsoever. However, the concept would be familiar to those used to Unix pipelines: the output of the last action becomes the input of the next (though the user can optionally choose for an action to ignore the input from the previous action). Unlike Unix pipelines, however, Automator workflows are sequential: each action is completed before the next action in the workflow begins.
[edit] How to use it
Automator comes with a library of many Actions (file renaming, finding linked images, creating a new mail message, etc.), all of which act as individual steps in a Workflow document. A Workflow document then can be used to carry out repetitive tasks. A user can also save these Workflows so that it can be used over and over again, whenever it is needed. Unix command line scripts and AppleScripts can also be invoked as Actions. The actions are linked together in a Workflow. The Workflow can be saved as an application, Workflow file or a contextual menu item.
There is an 'Options' disclosure icon at the bottom of each action that shows a checkbox, allowing the action to be shown when run. This means that a task that may require slight tweaks every time it is run can present the same dialog to the user when the workflow runs as the options available in the action — in other words, setting parameters at runtime.
[edit] Examples
Included are these example workflows:
And for developers, the project code is provided for these workflows:
- Adjust Gamma
- Get Process Information
- Randomizer
- Translate Text
The workflow to the right, for example, can be used to upload a screenshot to a web server. Note that the 'Upload to FTP' action is not included by default, but plenty of extra Automator actions can be downloaded from Apple's download page.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Apple's Official Automator Page
- Apple's Download Page for Automator Actions
- Apple's Automator Programming Guide
- Mac OS X Technology Guide to Automator
- Automise and ScriptAhead, two similar applications for Microsoft Windows.
Applications
Address Book • Automator • Calculator • Chess • Dashboard • Dictionary • DVD Player • Finder • Front Row • Grapher • iCal • iChat • iSync • iTunes • Mail • Photo Booth • Preview • QuickTime Player • Safari • Sherlock • Stickies • TextEdit
Utilities
Activity Monitor • AirPort Admin Utility • Audio MIDI Setup • Bluetooth File Exchange • BOMArchiveHelper • Classic • ColorSync Utility • Console • Crash Reporter • DigitalColor Meter • Directory Access • DiskImageMounter • Disk Utility • Font Book • Grab • Help Viewer • Image Capture • Installer • Internet Connect • Keychain Access • Migration Assistant • NetInfo Manager • Network Utility • ODBC Administrator • Printer Setup Utility • Software Update • System Preferences • System Profiler • Terminal • Universal Access • VoiceOver • X11
Technology & User interface (future features italicized)
⌘ • ⌥ • Apple Advanced Typography • AppleScript • Aqua • ATSUI • Audio Units • Bonjour • Boot Camp • Carbon • Cocoa • ColorSync • Core Animation • Core Audio • Core Data • Core Foundation • Core Image • Core Video • CUPS • Darwin • Exposé • FileVault • icns • Inkwell • I/O Kit • Keychain • Mach-O • OpenGL • Preference Pane • plist • Quartz • QuickTime • Rosetta • Smart folders • Spaces • Spotlight • Time Machine • Uniform Type Identifier • Universal binary • WebKit • Xgrid • XNU
| Apple Inc. software | |
|---|---|
| OS: | Mac OS X • Mac OS 9 |
| Consumer: | .Mac • iLife • iTunes • iWork • AppleWorks |
| Prosumer: | Final Cut Express • Logic Express |
| Pro: | Aperture • Final Cut Studio • Logic Pro • Shake |
| Bundled: | Front Row • iChat • Photo Booth • QuickTime • Safari • TextEdit |
| Server: | Apple Remote Desktop • Mac OS X Server • WebObjects • Xsan |
| Discontinued: | HyperCard • MacDraw • Mac OS • MacPaint • MacProject • MacTerminal • MacWrite |
