Automator: selecting specific file types

Question

Automator: selecting specific file types

Sequoia 15.1

I have successfully created a folder called "Desktop Stuff" - the only folder located on my desktop, which I have linked to iCloud - and created a Folder Action Automator workflow that moves anything dropped onto my desktop to Desktop Stuff. I turned it into a folder action, and it keeps my desktop tidy, automatically!

Now, I would like to start automatically sorting the files sent to Desktop Stuff into subfolders that hold specific file types. For example, if I drop a photo (of any format) onto the desktop, I want it to first move to Desktop Stuff and then into "pics", a subfolder in Desktop Stuff. Similarly for links, PDFs, etc. Anything that doesn't fit neatly into "pics" or "pdfs" or whatnot can just live in Desktop Stuff.

The Automator workflow for Desktop Stuff is simply "Folder Action receives files and folders added to 'Desktop'", "Move Finder Items" to: "Desktop Stuff". AND THAT'S IT - it takes everything. How do I select for specific file types? For example, I want to move all links (or filetypes .webloc) to a folder called "Links" in Desktop Stuff.

Mac Studio, macOS 15.1

Posted on Nov 18, 2024 6:23 PM

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Answer 1

Niel

Level 10

732,647 points

Nov 18, 2024 9:50 PM in response to David Lewis15

Replace the second line with:

do shell script "mv ~/Library/Mobile\\ Documents/Desktop\\ Stuff/*.webloc ~/Library/Mobile\\ Documents/Desktop/Desktop\\ Stuff/Links"

Each different type of file will require a separate segment.

(256727)

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Answer 2

Nov 18, 2024 9:45 PM in response to Niel

try

do shell script "mv ~/Desktop\\ Stuff/*.webloc ~/Desktop/Desktop\\ Stuff/Links"

end try

Sorry, it didn't work. Even if it had worked, it's hyperspecific to an exact file type. My question is about modifying an Automator workflow to be able to select whatever kinds of files I mean to select. I don't know how to filter for file types in Automator. Does it really require a script?

I tried different permutations of your script (did you mistype it?), but no arrangement, rearrangement or respelling of your script moved .webloc links from the "Desktop Stuff" folder to the "Links" folder.

If it helps, I have attached a screenshot of the path in Finder.

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Answer 3

Nov 19, 2024 11:55 AM in response to Niel

However, I figured it out on my own. The correct answer would have been to insert "Filter Finder Items" above "Move Finder Items", filter by file extension (in this case) and omit the dot before the file extension. I can apply the same logic to whatever other file types and document types.

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Answer 4

Niel

Level 10

732,647 points

Nov 18, 2024 7:02 PM in response to David Lewis15

Add the following AppleScript action:

try

do shell script "mv ~/Desktop\\ Stuff/*.webloc ~/Desktop/Desktop\\ Stuff/Links"

end try

(256722)

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Answer 5

Nov 19, 2024 11:26 AM in response to Niel

try

do shell script "mv ~/Desktop\\ Stuff/*.webloc ~/Desktop/Desktop\\ Stuff/Links"

end try

Did you even read my response? This does not answer my question.

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