Automator for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide [Paperback]

Ben Waldie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 20, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0321685830 | ISBN-13: 978-0321685834 | Edition: 1

Automator for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide uses a combination of task-based instruction and strong visuals to teach intermediate Macintosh users how to automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks with the Automator application that is included with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Automator comes with many useful automated routines (called actions) preinstalled, for lots of popular applications, that do things like remove empty playlists from iTunes or add attachments to Mac Mail. The real power of Automator lies in mixing and matching these actions to have them do exactly the job you want. They're put together in a string of actions known as a workflow. Author Ben Waldie introduces readers to how Automator works, and then helps them assemble and use Automator workflows.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Peachpit Press; 1 edition (November 20, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0321685830
• ISBN-13: 978-0321685834
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #252,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #53 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Mac OS X

More About the Author

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 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide" (Peachpit Press), "Automator for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide" (Peachpit Press), and "AppleScripting the Finder" (Automated Workflows, LLC), has written AppleScript and Automator content for Apple.com, Macworld, MacTech, MacScripter.net, and more, and is the host of the "Mac Automation Made Simple" video podcast (Peachpit Press). Ben is also the author of an AppleScript training CD for the Virtual Training Company, is a frequent presenter at Macworld Expo and other industry events, and is president of The Philadelphia Area AppleScript Users Group.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Automator Rocks, March 13, 2010

By 

D. Enders (Apple User Group, Anchorage Ak) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Automator for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide (Paperback)

PRO: Excellent tutorial and reference for both Automator. Online extras is a bonus

CON: none

Moose Rating: 1-5 (5 highest) 5

With each evolution of Mac OS X, Apple keeps improving Automator, although I wonder how many people really use it. It really is a jewel in the rough as it can make routine redundant tasks very easy to accomplish. I have been discovering ways to use my Mac and make my tasks easier using Automator. From scaling and changing formats of graphic files to batch renaming to thinking of ideas of how to use the image capture plugin to make a useful Automator action for better photo management. Ben Waldie first wrote this book for Leopard and this one is expanded to cover the latest information. In this edition, a beginner to Automator will learn how to start making workflows ( or recording them), saving them as workflows, applications or plug-ins. All the information is here, he explores the standard actions available and includes some of the applications that have Automator support. Fetch FTP is an application not listed that has AppleScript and Automator support.

Early in the book, you are shown some simple Automator workflows. Chapter Three builds on the complexity of workflows. Whether you need to use variables (user defined) or system or add AppleScript to overcome an Automator limitation it is covered in the book. I have found trying to build my own workflows is the best way to learn. You can also use the record process or find existing examples to use or glean from. Chapter 12 provides automator resources.

I have in the past contacted Ben Waldie by email asking questions about how to do something. He has always been very generous with his time and assistance. This is an intangible we don't see much anymore but appears to be more prominent in the Mac community. His website is [...] and has workflows available for purchase.

I would say the added bonus to this book is the companion site which offers two bonus chapters and two appendices. There was also flash video or iPod friendly podcasts available through iTunes. I found the flash video quality to be questionable but the podcast were acceptable. It looks like podcasts are added on a regular basis so this continuous the learning process of Automator.

The book is available in paperback, Kindle edition and in Adobe e-pub format from the Peachpit site. Maybe we'll see this on the iPad too. In closing, this is a great book to get started on learning Automator and reducing your workload.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, February 12, 2010

By 

Mr. S. Kilpatrick II (Zanesville, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Automator for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide (Paperback)

Automator is a wonderful tool built into OS X, and I think most people skip right over it. It is unfortunately, not an incredibly intuitive program, and the QuickStart Guide is very helpful. It gives a few examples of how it can be used and that would be my only think keeping from giving it a full five stars is that it could use a few more real life day to day examples of how Automator might be used. I recommend this.

1 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Automator has more limits than the book, May 12, 2010

By 

Truthsayer "Vox Locus" (Tulsa, OK, United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Automator for Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide, ePub (Kindle Edition)

The problem is not with this book, although it is fairly superficial.

The problem is with Automator. Apple upgraded it in Snow Leopard, and obsoleted many "actions," which have not been replaced.

I've built a few, and finally just gave up, and went back to the GUI. Point and click, point and click. Plan your manual workflow, and you can save more time than you will save messing around with Automator.