Automation Articles on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog

AppleScript: Integrating shell scripts

by Cory Bohon (Jun 23rd, 2008)

We've talked about AppleScript how-tos before. AppleScript is fun and all, but what if you already know how to write shell scripts? Well, did you know that by integrating shells scripts into AppleScript, you can create simple applications that do useful things? It's true, and I am going to show ...

Keyboard Maestro 3 adds macro recording and remote access

by Mat Lu (Apr 9th, 2008)

The well-known macro application Keyboard Maestro has been updated to version 3 and adds some interesting new features. In addition to a revamped interface, the new release allows you to record macros (series of key presses, mouse clicks, etc.) and play them back via various triggers. There are also ...

Mac Automation: automating Microsoft Excel 2008

by Cory Bohon (Mar 17th, 2008)

This is the second part of Mac Automation: automating Microsoft Office 2008. In this how-to, I will show you how to create an importer for Microsoft Excel 2008. This importer will allow you to type text in TextEdit.app (or other text editor) and import it into an Excel file. For this automation, you ...

AppleScript language guide updated, finally!

by Cory Bohon (Mar 12th, 2008)

Many people have criticized Apple for not updating their AppleScript language documentation regularly (myself included). Scoff no more, because Apple updated their documentation yesterday. The last update to the AppleScript language documentation was on May 5, 1999 -- almost 9 years ago. For anyone ...

Mac Automation: automating Microsoft Word 2008

by Cory Bohon (Mar 10th, 2008)

When Microsoft released Office 2008 for Mac, they did something that I must applaud -- they joined the ranks of Mac developers creating Automator-able applications. When you do a search in Automator for "Microsoft," it will reveal all of the Automator actions that ship with Microsoft Office 2008. ...

Mac Automation: listen to a text document

by Cory Bohon (Feb 28th, 2008)

Don't have time to read that Word, Pages, or TextEdit document at your desk? Why not listen to it on your iPod instead? In this Automator how-to, I am going to show you how to create an audio file using text that you have in an open document, then sync that using iTunes to your iPod or iPhone. ...

Mac Automation: saving Automator workflows

by Cory Bohon (Jan 1st, 2008)

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 ...

Mac Automation: Automator for Leopard

by Cory Bohon (Dec 18th, 2007)

var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/apple/Mac_automation_Automator_for_Leopard'; A few people commented on my first Mac Automation post that they didn't understand Automator. This post will clear that all up. AppleScript is very powerful, but it has a learning curve. When Apple set out to make ...

Hazel 2

by Scott McNulty (Aug 2nd, 2007)

Hazel is a TUAW favorite, and we have been anxiously awaiting the day when Hazel 2 exits beta. Well, folks, today is that day. Hazel 2 is now available for purchase (a free upgrade for current users, and $21.95 for a single user license). Hazel is an automation tool that makes organizing your files ...

Flickr upload Automator action 1.0

by David Chartier (May 16th, 2007)

It's been a while since we've hit the Automator beat; too long, in my opinion. And what better way to bring everyone's favorite little automate-able robot back into the TUAW spotlight than with the Flickr upload Automator action from James Pitts? After some simple instructions for installing, this ...

Hazel update brings even more productivity to automated file manager

by David Chartier (Feb 13th, 2007)

I instantly fell in love with Hazel from Noodlesoft the first time I found it back in September '06, and since then it has received a literal landslide of new features that make it even more indispensable to any heavy file trafficker. For those just tuning in, Hazel is fundamentally a file ...

Google Earth Automator actions

by David Chartier (Nov 11th, 2006)

Nyhthawk at Automator.us has put together two Automator actions for Google Earth. The first is a 'Go To Location' action, while the second is a 'Save Screenshot' action. Since I can't find any version requirements for gEarth, I can only assume for now that they work with any version of the app ...

NetworkLocation - change settings based on your network

by David Chartier (Nov 4th, 2006)

NetworkLocation is a handy utility that allows you to create templates of actions and settings based on (you guessed it) your network location. Like WiLMa and Location X before it, NetworkLocation can set up batches of settings to apply, apps to open and scripts to run, and keep them all accessible ...

BuildFactory - automation for developers

by David Chartier (Jul 7th, 2006)

I'm no developer, but I can call a good dev tool when I see one. BuildFactory from Bleep Software sounds like 'Automator for developers', with features like automated builds, building refreshed sources from Subversion, using your own external editor for errors and warnings, and building multiple ...

Book: Discovering Automator

by David Chartier (Apr 30th, 2006)

Discovering Automator is a new book from Hanaan Rosenthal that delves into the many facets of making your Mac do more work in less time for you with the power of Mac OS X Tiger's Automator. From Automator World's description, Discovering Automator details "the ins-and-outs of Automator: basic ...