What are Folder Actions?
In a nutshell, Folder Actions are scripts that can be attached to folders. They enable events (actions) to take place when items are added or removed from that folder. Events can also occur when the folder is opened, closed or moved.
Real-World Examples
How to enable and use Folder Actions
- For this example we’ll create a Folder Action that converts images to JPG format just by dropping them into a folder (this particular Folder Action is included with OS X). Start by creating a new folder.
- Now right-click (ctrl-click) on that new folder and select Enable Folder Actions
- Again, right-click (ctrl-click) that same folder and this time select Attach a Folder Action…
- You’ll probably be presented with a list of scripts. If you’re not, you’ll need to navigate to the folder that contains all of the Folder Action scripts. They’re in Mac HD/Library/Scripts/Folder Action Scripts/. Select Image – Duplicate as JPEG and then click Choose
- That’s it. Now drag a non-jpg picture into that folder (a PNG, GIF etc).
- Ta-da! The Folder Action will have duplicated your image, but this time as a JPG. It will also save the original image.
- If you ever want to change or disable a Folder Action, right-click (ctrl-click) the folder and choose Configure Folder Actions…
- From here you’ll be able to manage all of your Folder Actions in one place.
Here are some sites that provide pretty cool Folder Action scripts etc -
cool
Wonderful tip! I’ve been wondering what folder actions was about but never really had the time to figure it out. Thanks again!
I wish all tutorials were this clear! Excellent tip!!!
JP, Filip and UT -
Glad to hear it helped!!
Thanks for the great tip. Is there a way for the music or movie folders to search the computer and add music/videos automatically?
Great tutorial, this will help me out big time with workflow on my mac.
Good info, thanks.
Here’s how to make a folder that mails files added to it to a preset address, useful for backing them up to Gmail.
http://murphymac.com/files-mailed-magically-when-dropped-in-a-finder-folder/
thank you very much. You gave an easy explanation.
Awesome. Simple example which i was waiting to go though in years.
Saludos:
Por favor me gustaría que alguien me diga, cómo puedo hacer para que cuando alguien coloque un archivo en un folder cualquiera, que este me notifique o que se active si el mismo está abierto.
Gracias de antemano
Please I would like to see someone tell me, how can I do so that when someone put a file in a folder anyone, I notice that this or that is activated if it is open.
Thanks in advanc
Ok i give you thumbs up!
Simple, easy and to the point. thank you thank you! I couldn’t find that information anywhere on apple’s site.
Thanks for your simple explanation of folder actions, and especially for the real world examples.
Great tip. I will definitely give this a go on my iMac.
Thanks for this tutorial.
I would like to know what events may trigger a folder action. Unfortunately, I cannot find a reference manual, but it seems like that adding a file is the one and only event which can start a automator script.
My goal is to implement an action that fires if a folder is opened or closed from a remote host. In this case, iTunesFS should launch. If the connection is closed, the iTunesFS should get closed as well. Any suggestons?
Great script, especially the notify when new file placed in folder.
Can someone suggest a workaround for Leopard which doesn’t allow you to send a fax, unless you disable ‘Receive faxes on this computer’. I suppose the steps for sending a fax would require the steps;
- select file to be faxed
- when ‘Fax Pdf’ is selected, script should ‘deactivate receive fax on this computer’ and save settings and close
- fax should then send (hopefully)
- once fax has sent, then script should reinstate ‘receive fax on this computer’ setting.
THanks all
FJK
I think you just invented the 30 hour day. This is going to give me so much free time – thanks!
Fantastic! Many many thanks for sharing!