Filed under: Features, How-tos
Mac Automation: saving Automator workflows
Now that you've been introduced to Automator, let's let's get into the "nitty-gritty." In the previous Automator post, we learned how to make a workflow that would take photos from your camera, import them into iPhoto, then allow you to e-mail them. Let's look at the three ways in which you can save this workflow for later reference.Workflow File
You can save the workflow as an actual Automator workflow file by clicking File > Save; choose "workflow" from the format drop-down menu. By saving as an Automator workflow all of your actions are preserved, and when you re-open the file, you will be presented with your workflow just as you left it. This is a great way to save your workflow for editing later on.
Application (.app)
This is a really cool way to save your Automator workflow. When you save the workflow as an application, it will appear just like an application file (.app) and will allow you to run the workflow by double-clicking (just like a real application). You can save a workflow like this by clicking File > Save, and selecting "application" from the format drop-down menu.
Plug-in
You can also save any workflow as a plug-in for the Finder, Folder Actions, iCal Alarm, Image Capture, Print Workflow, or Script Menu. Let's try saving the workflow as a Finder plug-in. Select File > Save As Plug-in.
When you save an Automator workflow as a Finder plugin you will be able to access the workflow by right-clicking in any Finder window (including the Desktop) and pointing to More > Automator. (If you are using Mac OS X "Tiger," you can access this menu by right-clicking and pointing to "Automator"). In this Automator section, you will find all of your saved workflows, just click on one and it will start running.
I hope this shows you a little of what Automator can do for you. In the next Mac Automation post, I will show you how to create a Mac OS X plug-in using Automator.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Lhasapso said 7:09PM on 1-01-2008
I created some nice workflows as Finder plugins, but now I want to remove them. Does anyone know where they are stored or how to remove them? (BTW, I love the new background!)
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Jeff said 7:31PM on 1-01-2008
I know that in Tiger they're stored in ~/Library/Workflows/Applications/Finder/.
Lhasapso said 7:35PM on 1-01-2008
They're there in Leopard too, thanks!
Mario Panighetti said 7:10PM on 1-01-2008
Nice summary on the Automator save options, but I thought you'd like to know that saving your workflow as an application still allows you to edit your actions; just drag the workflow app onto the Automator app icon, or select it via the File -> Open menu within Automator. All the actions are still preserved within the application package.
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Twist said 8:15PM on 1-01-2008
I have made a number of Automator workflows and while it is much easier to make workflows I would suggest sticking to plain old AppleScript if possible because AppleScripts execute much, much faster in my experience. I recently made a workflow that took 6 to 7 seconds to run but as a pure AppleScript it takes less than 2. I do hate AppleScript's syntax though so hopefully Apple will improve the performance of Automator in the future.
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Stuart A. Malone said 2:19PM on 1-02-2008
The Script menu for AppleScript also accepts Automator workflows, which is a great way to keep them handy and even organize them by application. Go to Applications > AppleScript > AppleScript Utility to show the Script menu, which appears on the right side of the menu bar as an icon. Use the "Open Scripts Folder" submenu to locate the magic folders where you should store your AppleScripts and Automator workflows so that they show up in the Script menu.
One related trick. Once you have a scripts folder open in the Finder, you can drag the folder icon from the title bar of the folder window into the Save dialog to quickly move the Save dialog to that folder. This makes it easier to make sure you're saving the workflow into the right folder.
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Dave Taylor said 2:08PM on 1-07-2008
Cory, do you know how to add an automator workflow to the top level of the "More" contextual menu? It's a bummer to have to then nav to the Automator submenu in 10.5.
Thanks! Your tutorials are great!
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