Table of Contents
- What is Automator on Mac?
- How to Use Automator on Mac
- Creating Workflows with Automator
- FAQs About Automator
- Related Articles
What is Automator on Mac?
Automator is an application that comes pre-installed on all Macs, designed to simplify repetitive tasks by creating custom workflows. Essentially, it’s a tool that helps you automate tasks on your Mac by letting you build personal workflows with a simple drag-and-drop interface.
How to Use Automator on Mac
Using Automator is straightforward. Here’s how to get started:
Open Automator: You can find it in your Applications folder or use Spotlight (Command + Space) and type “Automator.”
Once Automator is open, click on “New Document.”
Choose a type for your document. You’ll see options such as Workflow, Application, Service, Print Plugin, etc. Select “Workflow” for now as it’s the most versatile.
Now you’re ready to create your workflow. On the left side, you’ll see a list of actions. Drag the actions you want from the list onto the workflow area on the right side.
Once you’ve added all your actions, you can run the workflow by clicking the “Run” button in the top-right corner.
Creating Workflows with Automator
Creating workflows in Automator is the core way to automate tasks. Here’s an example of creating a workflow to resize images:
Open Automator and create a new “Workflow” document.
In the actions library, go to “Photos,” then select “Scale Images.”
Drag “Scale Images” to the workflow area.
When asked if you want to add a “Copy Finder Items” action (which would keep your original images intact), choose as per your preference.
In the “Scale Images” action, input the width you want your images to be resized to.
Save your workflow and run it whenever you need to resize images. You can do this by dragging the images onto the workflow or clicking “Run” after manually adding them.
FAQs About Automator
Q1: What is Automator on Mac?
A: Automator is a built-in application on Mac that helps automate repetitive tasks through creating custom workflow.
Q2: How do I create a new Automator workflow?
A: Open Automator, click “New Document,” choose “Workflow,” and then add actions from the library by dragging them onto the workflow area.
Q3: Can I share Automator workflows?
A: Yes, Automator workflows can be saved and shared with others. They can open them in their Automator app and use them just like any other workflow.
Q4: How do I run an Automator workflow?
A: You can run a workflow by either dragging the files onto the workflow (for file-specific workflows), or by opening the workflow in Automator and clicking the “Run” button.
