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This action pack extends the power of Automator with 30 actions for performing text manipulation functions in Mac OS X.
The new version is available in the Mac App Store.
I recently spoke with Adam Christianson about Automator in Mac OS X for the Maccast. Topics included getting started with Automator, building a simple workflow, and troubleshooting workflow problems. Check it out on the Maccast website or in iTunes!
The new version is available in the Mac App Store.
At the request of MacSparky, I've put together a few AppleScripts for Mac Mail users, to mark messages as read...
tell application "Mail"
set read status of every message of inbox to true
end tell
display alert "Please note!" message "This script may take a while if you have a ton of mailboxes. Do you want to continue?" buttons {"Cancel", "Yes"} cancel button "Cancel"
with timeout of 600 seconds
tell application "Mail"
set read status of every message of inbox where its read status = false to true
set read status of every message of every ¬
mailbox where its read status = false to true
set read status of every message of every mailbox ¬
of every account where its read status = false to true
end tell
end timeout
display alert "Please note!" message "This script may take a while if you have a lot of mailboxes selected. Do you want to continue?" buttons {"Cancel", "Yes"} cancel button "Cancel"
set processSubMailboxes to (button returned of (display alert "Would you like to scan all submailboxes too?" message "Again, if you have a lot of selected mailboxes and submailboxes, this may take a while." buttons {"Yes", "No"})) = "Yes"
tell application "Mail"
tell front message viewer
set theSelectedMailboxes to selected mailboxes
repeat with a from 1 to length of theSelectedMailboxes
set theCurrentMailbox to item a of theSelectedMailboxes
processMailbox(theCurrentMailbox, processSubMailboxes) of me
end repeat
end tell
end tellon processMailbox(theMailbox, processSubMailboxes)
tell application "Mail"
if processSubMailboxes = true then
set theSubMailboxes to every mailbox of theMailbox
repeat with a from 1 to length of theSubMailboxes
set theCurrentSubMailbox to item a of theSubMailboxes
processMailbox(theCurrentSubMailbox, processSubMailboxes) of me
end repeat
end if
set read status of every message of theMailbox to true
end tell
end processMailbox
You can download these scripts here.
You can quickly and easily run them from the system-wide AppleScript menu. This menu is not enabled by default. To enable it and install the scripts...
Enjoy!
-Ben
Here's a handy data loss prevention tip. With a Mail message selected, do not press either of the secret undocumented keyboard shortcuts Option+Control+H or Command+Option+Control+H. That is, unless you want your selected message irretrievably deleted. Not moved to the trash. Deleted. Permanently.
Tested in Mac OS X 10.7.3. Bug report filed.
Note: If you're backing your Mac up with Time Machine, as you should be, then you may be able to restore the vaporized message.
They're open and save dialogs. You navigate to a file or folder. You select it. You enter a file name when saving. You click Open or Save. How much more efficient can you get? Well, here are 10 things most Mac users probably don't know...
Tip 1: Drag and drop a file or a folder right from the Finder into the open or save dialog to quickly select it. If you do this in a save dialog with a file, then the file's name is automatically entered as the save name.
Tip 2: With a folder or file selected in the dialog, press Command+R to bring the Finder to the front and reveal the item.
Tip 3: To manually navigate to a folder, press Command+Shift+G (or / or ~). Enter the desired path. As you type it in, you can press tab to auto-complete folder names.
Tip 4: To see hidden files and folders, press Command+Shift+Period (>).
Tip 5: To quickly navigate to:
Hint: The other navigation keyboard shortcuts in the Finder's Go menu should work here too.
Tip 6: To create a new folder, press Command+Shift+N.
Tip 7: To navigate up one level, press Command+Shift+Up Arrow Key
Tip 8: To choose an image, audio track, or movie, click Media in the sidebar.
Tip 9: To move a file or folder displayed in an open or save dialog to another folder, open the target folder in the Finder. Then, drag the item from the open or save dialog into the opened folder window in the Finder.
Tip 10: With a file or folder selected, press Command+I to bring the Finder to the front and display the Get Info window for the item.
So, there you have it. Small tips that will save you a few precious seconds here and there and make you more productive. Every second counts, right?
Peachpit has bundled a new series of my Mac Automation Made Simple videos on Automator. They're now available for purchase as DRM-Free downloads, so you can play them on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad. Topics in this 8-part series include:
Sold as a set, or individually, you can find them on Peachpit's website.
I recently spoke with Katie Floyd and David Sparks about the automation capabilities in Mac OS X for episode 070 of the Mac Power Users podcast. Topics included getting started with Automator, troubleshooting Automator workflows, Services, and differences between AppleScript and Automator. Check it out on the Mac Power Users website or in iTunes!
From the Acknowledgements page...
"Ben Waldie… did a beautiful job updating the Automator/AppleScript material in Chapter 7"
- David Pogue
"Thank you, David, for the opportunity to contribute to such a complete resource on the world's greatest operating system!"
-Ben Waldie
Looking for a great comprehensive book on Mac OS X, which covers everything including powerful built-in automation tools such as Services, Automator, and AppleScript? Look no further. Get your copy today!
Mac OS X Lion: The Missing Manual
David Pogue
With Lion, Apple has unleashed the most innovative version of Mac OS X yet—and once again, David Pogue brings his humor and expertise to the #1 bestselling Mac book. Mac OS X 10.7 completely transforms the Mac user interface with multi-touch gestures borrowed from the iPhone and iPad, and includes more than 250 brand-new features. This book reveals them all with a wealth of insight and detail--and even does a deep dive into iCloud, Apple's wireless, free syncing service for Macs, PCs, iPhones, and iPads.
There's something new on practically every page of this new edition, and David Pogue brings his celebrated wit and expertise to every one of them. Apple's brought a new cat to town, and Mac OS X Lion: The Missing Manual is the best way to tame it.
About David Pogue
David Pogue is the personal-technology columnist for the New York Times. Each week, he contributes a print column, an online column and an online video. His daily blog, "Pogue's Posts," is the Times's most popular blog. David is also an Emmy award-winning tech correspondent for CBS News and a frequent guest on NPR's "Morning Edition." His trademark comic tech videos appear each Thursday morning on CNBC. With over 3 million books in print, David is one of the world's bestselling how-to authors. He launched his own series of complete, funny computer books called the Missing Manual series, which now includes 60 titles. David graduated summa cum laude from Yale in 1985, with distinction in Music, and he spent ten years conducting and arranging Broadway musicals in New York. He's been profiled on both "48 Hours" and "60 Minutes."
About Ben Waldie
Ben Waldie is president of Automated Workflows, LLC, a company offering AppleScript, Automator, and workflow consulting services to Mac-based businesses. For years, Ben has developed professional automated solutions for companies such as Abercrombie & Fitch, Adobe Systems, Apple Inc., CNN, Microsoft, NASA, PC World, and Time Magazine. Ben is the author of “Automator for Mac OS X: Visual QuickStart Guide" (Peachpit Press) and “AppleScripting the Finder" (Automated Workflows, LLC), has written content for Apple.com, Macworld, MacTech, MacScripter.net, and more, and is the host of the “Mac Automation Made Simple" video podcast series (Peachpit Press). Ben is also the author of an AppleScript training CD for the Virtual Training Company, and is a frequent presenter at Macworld and other industry events.
I'm pleased to announce that my ID Automator Action Pack, which includes 20 actions for interacting with Adobe InDesign in Mac OS X Lion and Snow Leopard, has been released in the Mac App Store. It can be found 
