Mac OS X Technology Guide to Automator
By Ben Waldie

The essential Automator book for both users and developers!

Printed: 9x7 softcover, 228 pages, ISBN 0-9744344-6-9
eBook: PDF, 219 pages, ISBN 0-9744344-5-0

At the heart of Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger is a powerful new tool that makes it a breeze to automate your time-consuming, repetitive tasks using applications like the Finder, iTunes, iPhoto, Mail, iCal, Address Book, and more. No programming required!

Automator allows you to click-and-drag from an amazing collection of built-in Actions to create your own custom Workflows. AppleScript guru and award-winning Automator expert, Ben Waldie, will show you how.

This book consists of two distinct sections...

Using Automator
The first seven chapters detail everything you need to learn to use Automator, providing detailed explanations of the Automator interface and walking you through the process of quickly building your own time-saving workflows.

Developing for Automator
Want to create your own custom Actions? The remaining 60% of the book is dedicated to teaching you everything you need to know to build your own Actions with Apple's free Xcode Tools, using either Objective-C or AppleScript.
 

Table of Contents

Section 1: Using Automator Chapter 1: Introduction Goals of this Book What You Need to Get Started Example Code Chapter 2: Automator Overview Benefits of Automator How Does Automator Work? Chapter 3: Automator's Interface Navigating Automator's Interface Chapter 4: Constructing a Workflow Creating a New Workflow Adding Actions to a Workflow Configuring Action Settings Working with Input and Output Values Collapsing Actions in a Workflow Deleting Actions in a Workflow Disabling Actions in a Workflow Moving an Action in a Workflow Chapter 5: Utilizing a Workflow Saving Workflows Opening a Workflow Printing a Workflow Running a Workflow Troubleshooting Importing Actions Importing a Workflow Creating a Workflow from Finder Items Chapter 6: Building an Example Workflow Workflow Example 1 - Backup Safari Data Workflow Example 2 - Email Photo Contact Sheet Chapter 7: Advanced Topics Working with Spotlight Triggering UNIX Commands Working with AppleScript Developer-Related Actions Providing Feedback Section 2: Developing for Automator Chapter 8: Introduction to Developing for Automator Related Technologies Overview Types of Automator Actions What You Need to Get Started Chapter 9: How Actions Work What is an Action? Threading Where Actions are Stored Chapter 10: Planning an Action Action Functionality Action Input and Output Action Settings Action Naming

Chapter 11: Building an Action Project Creating the Project Action Template Components Chapter 12: Configuring an Action's Property List File Editing Properties Configuring General Action Properties Configuring an Action's Icon Configuring an Action's Description Configuring Action Input and Output Values Adjusting Action Behavior Specifying Required Resources Configuring a Warning Localized Property List Strings Example info.plist File Chapter 13: Constructing an Action's Interface Preparing for Automator Action Interface Development Building an Action's Interface Interface Design Guidelines Grouping Interface Elements Chapter 14: Retrieving an Action's Settings Establishing Interface Element Bindings Linking Parameters to the Action's Code Chapter 15: Adding Code to an Action Action Processing Code Overview Adding Code to an AppleScript Action Adding Code to a Cocoa (Objective-C) Action Triggering Code from Other Languages Conversion Actions Chapter 16: Testing and Debugging an Action Building and Running from within Xcode Building, Installing, and Testing Building and Debugging Tips for Testing Actions Common Problems and Possible Solutions Chapter 17: Pulling it Together Log Activity AppleScript-based Action Adjust Image Color Cocoa Objective-C-based Action Chapter 18: In Conclusion General Automator Resources Developer Resources In Closing Appendix A: Automator Action Development Step-By-Step Appendix B: Automator Input and Output Uniform Type Identifiers (UTIs) Index

About the Author

Ben Waldie is president of Automated Workflows, LLC, specializing in custom AppleScript solutions and workflow automation consulting for clients such as Adobe Systems, Apple Computer, NASA, PC World, and TV Guide Magazine. Ben has taught AppleScript training classes and has presented at Macworld, Seybold, and other events. Author of Mac OS X Technology Guide to Automator and AppleScripting the Finder, Ben also writes regular AppleScript columns for MacTech Magazine and X-Ray Magazine, is a contributing editor on MacScripter.net, and is president of The Philadelphia Area AppleScript Users Group.

More Spiderworks Books from Ben Waldie...