Automation with AppleScript and Automator
One of the best ways to increase productivity or reduce boring, repetitive tasks is to automate them. Frequently this will involve controlling or using an existing application or applications such as Mail, iPhoto, Safari or iCal and if this is the case then the fastest and easiest solution probably lies within one of the two Apple technologies below.
AppleScript
AppleScript is used to create scripts that control the actions of the computer and the applications that run on it. The scripts can range from being very simple to extremely complex and essentially applications in their own right.Example Usage
- Automatically extract information from an email, create a new text file with it and save it in a folder determined by the sender's name.
- Lay out documents with images and text based on information extracted from a FileMaker Pro database.
Our AppleScript page contains scripts you can download and information about the bespoke AppleScript services we offer.
Automator
Automator is a way of visually creating workflows that perform a sequence of tasks. It is a more user-friendly alternative to AppleScript but it is also more limited, and the user is reliant upon on the actions they need being available.Example Usage
- Extract all of the images from a web page and store them in a PDF file.
- Resize all of the image files in a folder, rename them and them import them into iPhoto.
- Watermark a PDF, encrypt it, compress it and attach it to an email.
Our Automator page contains Automator actions and Automator workflows you can download and information about the bespoke Automator services we offer.