10 cool things you can do with Automator on Mac

The Automator tool on Mac mightiness last intimidating to or thus users, but it tin sack last a really handy app. You tin sack create automated workflows, actions, or applications that assist you lot perform tiresome tasks. Along amongst that, at that spot are or thus tasks you lot tin sack produce amongst it that are simply evidently neat.

Here are 10 cool things you lot tin sack produce amongst Mac Automator.

1. Batch rename files

There’s no argue to rename files i past times i if you lot desire the names to last consistent. Just role this Automator Workflow.

1) Choose Workflow every bit the type.

2) Make certain Action is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library click Files & Folders.

3) To the right, select Get Selected Finder Items as well as drag it to the principal window.

4) Under that alternative inwards the menu, select Rename Finder Items as well as drag it to the principal window beneath the previous action.

5) H5N1 pop-up volition look bespeak if you lot desire to brand copies of the renamed items or alter the originals. Make your choice.

6) In the Add Date or Time drop-down box, select the activeness you lot desire to use. Replace Text is the i used inwards this example, thus travel inwards the text you lot desire to supercede as well as amongst what.

7) Open Finder to the location of the files you lot desire to rename as well as select them.

8) In the Automator window, click Run on the transcend right.

You should as well as thus run across the names of the files you lot selected inwards Finder changed to the names you lot laid up.

2. Resize images

Change the sizes of your images chop-chop as well as without opening whatsoever imaging software amongst this Automator Quick Action.

1) Choose Quick Action every bit the type.

2) In the Workflow receives current drop-down box, select image files.

3) Make certain Actions is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library, click Files & Folders.

4) To the right, select Get Specified Finder Items as well as drag it to the principal window.

5) In the far-left menu, click Photos.

6) To the right, select as well as drag Scale Images to the principal window nether the Finder action.

7) Set the size you lot desire inwards either pixels or percentage.

Save the Automator file amongst a mention you’ll recall similar Resize Images. When you lot desire to run this Quick Action, it volition autumn nether the Services category. So, either right-click the icon as well as select it from the Services carte or click Finder as well as motion to Services inwards the carte bar.

3. Convert icon file formats

Maybe you lot demand to convert an icon from a JPG to a PNG or something similar. This type of conversion is also tardily amongst Automator.

1) Choose Workflow every bit the type.

2) Make certain Action is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library click Files & Folders.

3) To the right, select Get Selected Finder Items as well as drag it to the principal window.

4) In the far-left menu, click Photos.

5) To the right, select as well as drag Change Type of Images to the principal window below the Finder action.

6) In the To Type drop-down box, select the file format to convert the icon into.

When you lot desire to role the workflow, select your icon from its location as well as and thus click Run inwards the Automator window. H5N1 re-create of your icon amongst the novel file format volition last saved to the same location. So, you’ll all the same accept the master copy every bit good every bit a copy.

4. Convert PDFs to images

This Automator Workflow is dandy when you lot accept a PDF that you lot desire to convert to an image.

1) Choose Workflow every bit the type.

2) Make certain Action is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library click Files & Folders.

3) To the right, select Get Selected Finder Items as well as drag it to the principal window.

4) In the far-left menu, click PDFs.

5) To the right, select as well as drag Render PDF Pages every bit Images to the principal window below the Finder action. Make your selections inwards that box format, resolution, as well as the balance per your preference.

6) This pace is optional but helpful for putting your conversions inwards a mutual area. On the far-left, select Files & Folders.

7) To the right, select as well as drag Move Finder Items to the principal window at the bottom of the workflow.

8) In the To drop-down box, select your location.

When you lot desire to role the workflow, select your PDF from its location as well as and thus click Run inwards the Automator window. Done as well as done.

5. Combine multiple PDFs

Maybe you lot accept a few PDF files that you lot desire to merge into a unmarried PDF document. Here’s how to laid the Automator Workflow.

1) Choose Workflow every bit the type.

2) Make certain Action is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library click Files & Folders.

3) To the right, select Get Selected Finder Items as well as drag it to the principal window.

4) In the far-left menu, click PDFs.

5) To the right, select as well as drag Combine PDF Pages to the principal window below the Finder action.

6) Select either Appending pages or Shuffling pages per your preference.

7) This pace is optional but helpful for putting your PDFs inwards a mutual spot. On the far-left, select Files & Folders.

8) To the right, select as well as drag Move Finder Items to the principal window at the bottom of the workflow.

9) In the To drop-down box, select your location.

To combine your PDFs, simply select them as well as click Run inwards the Automator window. Your novel PDF volition brand it inwards the location you lot specified.

6. Create a Light / Dark Mode switch for your Dock

If you lot similar to change from Light Mode to Dark Mode or vice versa often, brand it a uncomplicated switch amongst this toggle inwards your Dock.

1) Choose Application every bit the type.

2) Make certain Actions is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library click Utilities.

3) To the right, select as well as drag Change System Appearance to the principal Automator window.

4) Select Toggle Light / Dark from the drop-down box.

5) Click File from the carte bar as well as select Save.

6) Give the file a mention as well as salvage it to your preferred location, such every bit Applications, as well as click Save.

When you lot complete creating the switch, opened upwardly the location where you lot saved it as well as drag it to your Dock. Then, simply click it to brand the switch betwixt Light as well as Dark Mode quickly.

7. Create birthday greetings for your contacts

Be create ahead of fourth dimension when your contacts’ birthdays arrive. You tin sack create a birthday greeting that’s create to ship amongst a click.

1) Choose Application every bit the type.

2) Make certain Actions is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library click Contacts.

3) To the right, select Find People amongst Birthdays as well as drag it to the principal window. In the drop-down you lot tin sack conduct when the birthday should be, such every bit today, tomorrow, or side past times side week.

4) In the far-left menu, click Mail.

5) To the right, select Send Birthday Greetings as well as drag it to the principal window below the Contacts action. You tin sack pick the greeting card, ship a random i to each person, as well as add together a message.

6) Give the file a mention as well as salvage it to your preferred location, such every bit Applications, as well as click Save.

Now, whenever you lot run this application as well as a birthday is flora for the twenty-four hr menstruum you lot selected, an electronic mail volition popular opened upwardly amongst the greeting, message, as well as recipient. Hit Send as well as you’re done.

8. Hear text files read aloud

If you lot demand or simply similar to take away heed text from a document read aloud to you, you lot tin sack laid this upwardly easily amongst Automator.

1) Choose Workflow every bit the type.

2) Make certain Action is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library click Text.

3) To the right, select Get Contents of TextEdit Document as well as drag it to the principal window.

4) In the same menu, select Speak Test as well as drag it to the principal window below the previous action. You tin sack conduct the vocalization you lot desire using the drop-down box.

When you lot desire to role the workflow, select your text from its location as well as and thus click Run inwards the Automator window. Then, sit down dorsum as well as heed to the words.

9. Start a quick shroud recording

If you lot tape your shroud often, whether for tutorials, your YouTube channel, or your ain means of taking notes, create an Automator Application to get-go your recording quicker than ever.

1) Choose Application every bit the type.

2) Make certain Actions is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library, click Movies.

3) To the right, select New Screen Capture as well as drag it to the principal window.

4) In the same menu, select Start Screen Capture as well as drag it to the principal window below the previous action.

5) Click File from the carte bar as well as select Save.

6) Give the file a mention as well as salvage it to your preferred location, such every bit Applications, as well as click Save.

You tin sack popular this application onto your desktop or fifty-fifty onto your Dock. Then, simply click to get-go your shroud recording without opening whatsoever other app.

10. Quit all of your applications

For a fast as well as tardily to means to quit all of your opened upwardly applications, create a uncomplicated shortcut amongst Automator.

1) Choose Application every bit the type.

2) Make certain Actions is selected inwards the far-left menu. Under Library, click Utilities.

3) To the right, select Quit All Applications as well as drag it to the principal window. Note, it’s wise to enable the Ask to salvage changes alternative thus that you lot don’t lose whatsoever unsaved run earlier your applications close. You tin sack also add together applications to the Do non quit listing to snuff it on them opened upwardly when you lot run this.

4) Click File from the carte bar as well as select Save.

5) Give the file a mention as well as salvage it to your preferred location, such every bit Applications, as well as click Save.

When you lot run the novel Automator Application, the other applications you lot accept opened upwardly volition close. With the salvage changes alternative marked, you lot volition also last prompted to salvage your items.

Wrapping it up

Hopefully i or to a greater extent than of these Automator tricks is something you lot honor useful. Let us know which you lot determine to role as well as how you lot similar it inwards the comments below!

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