For today ’s baksheesh , I ’m going to show you how to practice Automator to write a very simple backup service program — you’ll be capable to press and copy a given leaflet with a single mouse click . While not an ideal patronage solution , it ’s a corking means to make certain your most important folders can be easily backed up . The general idea of the steer is n’t inevitably the specifics of this backup script , but rather to show how simple and yet brawny Automator workflows can be .
To go through this hint , you ’ll need group O X 10.4 , of course , as Automator did n’t live prior to that . You ’ll also ask a FireWire effort , iPod in disk mode , or other such gimmick where you could store your backup . ( You could , of course , store it on the same thrust as the original files , but that ’s not really a backup — if the principal parkway fails , you ’ll still lose everything . )
Creating the work flow
Launch Automator , which you ’ll bump in /Applications , and then select the Finder entry in the Library column . In the Action editorial , hale Get pick out Finder Items to the blank work field on the right . This action will look at whatever you have selected in the Finder and pass it on to the next step of the workflow . lead Finder select in the Library column , and drag Create Archive into the work area , below the Get take Finder Items entry . As you might have suppose , this will create an archive of the chosen Finder particular in the previous step . In the Save As box seat in the Create Archive workflow , give your archive a name such asFolder backupor whatever .
The filename military issue is the only real bug with this elementary root : Automator in 10.4 ca n’t pass the name of the Finder items to use as the name in the Create Archive step , so you ’re leave with a generic name . I ’m hoping Leopard ’s Automator repair this oversight .
Now drop back the Rename Finder Items from the Library domain to the work flow , below the two existing steps . You ’ll see a warning dialogue , expect if you ’d like to add a Copy Finder items action . you’re able to snap Do n’t add together , as we ’re only going to be renaming the archive we just created . In the Rename Finder Items workflow entrance , allow for the first pop - up set to Add Date or Time , and then set the remaining menus to format the appointment as you like . For instance , I set the date separator to a flair , and the extractor between the file name and the date to an underscore , and format the date to be added with leading nix .
If you plan on make more than one backup a day , drag the Rename Finder Items action into the oeuvre orbit again , the right way below the one you just created . ( You ’ll see the same monition duologue ; choose Do n’t Add , as you did before . ) Again forget the pop - up bent to Add Date or Time , but set the Format pop - up to ‘ Seconds from 12 M. ’ shift the separator for the computer filename if you wish ( again , I used an underscore ) . By adding the number of seconds since 12 midnight to the file name , you ’ll be insured of having a alone name for each and every archive .
For the last step in your simple backup workflow , drag the Finder ’s Move Finder Items activity to the bottom of the study domain . tick the To kill - up in the workflow , then click Other at the bottom of the list . Navigate to your outside hard drive , iPod in disk modality , or other backup media ( which must be mount in the Finder for this work flow to bring ) , and pick a name and address for the folder — you might want to make a new folder ( Desktop Mac Backupsor whatever ) to take for your backed - up files .
At this point , practice File - > Save to bring through your work , and name the workflow whatever you like ( Backup work flow ) and salve it somewhere in your user ’s folder .
try the work flow
That ’s it ; your elementary backup script is now done . I createdthis screenshotof a dispatch workflow , so you’re able to see what it appear like . To test your work flow , switch to the Finder and select asmallfolder — use something that ’s get a handful of file in it , not every document you ’ve created in the last 10 long time . With that folder selected , switch back to Automator and penetrate the Run push button . You should see a small light-green stay marking next to each dance step of your work flow as the workflow is action , and hear a shade when the workflow complete . If you see a red “ X ” next to any step , you ’ll have to figure out why it did n’t work — compare your workflow to my double and see if you could spot anything that does n’t front exchangeable . Do n’t move to the next whole step until your workflow is working when you run it directly in Automator .
Make it one - click simple
Since having to found Automator every metre you wanted to back up a booklet would be a tangible pain , we ’re going to convert the workflow into a contextual computer menu entry in the Finder . Select File - > Save As and name your novel hype - in — habituate a name that will make sense when you see it in a listing of entries , possibly something along the lines ofBack up this folder . provide the Plug - in For soda pop - up set to Finder and click OK .
Just that easily , you ’ve created a young ledger entry in the Finder ’s contextual menu . Switch to the Finder , foreground your small mental testing folder again , and control - get through on it . When the start - up bill of fare appears , scroll down to Automator and pick ‘ Back up this brochure ’ from the sub - carte that appears . In the carte taproom , you ’ll see your workflow ’s progression , and then hear the successful ‘ workflow consummate ’ noise . From now on , you may backup any pamphlet you like via this contextual menu token — just ensure your backup medium gadget is mounted before you endeavor to use the workflow .
Just the beginning
Hopefully this hint gives you some idea of just how well-situated it is to work with Automator , and some idea of the thing you might be able-bodied to do with it . Even if you ’re not a computer programmer , it ’s a powerful puppet that can help make certain insistent task much simpler .
