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Do you use "Folder Actions?" (They're rad!)

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dotnina

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 19, 2004
856
0
The other day I noticed the option to "Attach a Folder Action" when I'm browsing through a folder. I didn't know what it was, but I thought I'd give it a whirl. Turns out, folder actions perform tasks for you according to rules you specify. I have my desktop set to convert all TIFF images to JPEGs automatically (keeping the original TIFF, of course). I'm finding this infinetely useful when I use "Grab" to take a quick screenshot.

So, I was wondering -- do you guys also use "Folder Actions?" Are there good online repositories where you can find some of these scripts? Which scripts do you use, and which do you find most useful? :)
 
Mechcozmo

Mechcozmo

macrumors 603
Jul 17, 2004
5,215
2
dotnina said:
So, I was wondering -- do you guys also use "Folder Actions?" Are there good online repositories where you can find some of these scripts? Which scripts do you use, and which do you find most useful? :)
Click to expand...

I have a folder where attachments are automatically saved. Then, an AppleScript tells me how many have been added...

The trick is to clean out the folder every once in a while. ;)
 
B

brap

macrumors 68000
May 10, 2004
1,705
2
Nottingham
Mechcozmo said:
The trick is to clean out the folder every once in a while. ;)
Click to expand...
Folder actions are another of those things I know would be really great, if I had the patience/time/etc to set it up. It'd make sifting through my Firefox incoming folder a lot less of a headache...
 
jsw

jsw

Moderator emeritus
Mar 16, 2004
22,910
44
Andover, MA
StarbucksSam said:
Wow, I had no idea this existed. Recap with me how it's done? I want to try it.
Click to expand...
Right/control click on a folder and select "Enable Folder Actions". [Edit: this enables actions globally, not just for one folder].
Right/control click again and either attach a folder action [edit: this attaches an action to the selected folder] or go to "Configure Folder Actions...." to see all of your actions.

In essence, Folder Actions will run an AppleScript script of your choice when something happens in the folder (file added, deleted, etc.). You could have it resize images, mail everything you drop there to someone, etc. - anything AppleScript can do or enable, you can do with a folder action.

Edit: /Library/Scripts/"Folder Action Scripts" has some to play with.
 
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