2022 M2 Apple MacBook Air sitting on a desk
Justin Duino / How-To Geek

For those who spend quite a lot of time doing issues like splitting PDFs, changing pictures, or creating ZIP recordsdata, there’s a option to pace up every course of. Utilizing Automator on Mac, you possibly can arrange automations that prevent time.

Utilizing Automator on Mac

For every of the processes beneath, you’ll create a brand new doc in Automator. For the needs of this tutorial, we’ll create both an Software or Quick Action.

Observe: An Software is a self-contained instrument that makes use of an icon you possibly can place in your desktop. A Fast Motion is a service you possibly can entry by right-clicking or opening the Extra menu beneath the Finder Preview.

To get began, open Automator from Finder > Go > Functions. Choose “New Doc” after which choose “Software” or “Fast Motion” per the automation you intend to arrange and click on “Select.”

Application and Quick Action options in Automator

Then, choose “Actions” on the highest left and develop the Library beneath if crucial.

Actions and Library in Automator

Comply with the remaining steps to create every automation as described beneath. Then, save the automation utilizing File > Save from the menu bar. Give it a reputation, optionally select a particular location, and click on “Save.”

1. Break up PDFs

Whenever you obtain prolonged PDF documents, you might have to split them into separate files. With Automator, you possibly can cut up a doc and obtain a distinct file for every web page.

For this, we’ll create an Software in Automator that lets us merely drag and drop our file into it. Choose “PDFs” within the Library after which drag Break up PDF into the workflow window on the fitting.

Split PDF in the Automator workflow

Within the Break up PDF motion field, select the folder the place you wish to save the cut up recordsdata. Then, choose the Output File Identify. You may make it the identical because the enter or enter a Customized Identify. Optionally examine the field to Substitute Current Information.

Options for Split PDF in the Automator workflow

Save the appliance utilizing the File menu as described earlier. To separate a PDF, simply drag it into the appliance or onto its icon.

Dragging a PDF to the Split PDF application

You’ll then see every of your pages as separate recordsdata.

Separate PDF files on Mac

2. Watermark PDFs

One other job you might carry out with PDF recordsdata is to watermark them. Reasonably than spend time including that emblem or picture manually, you possibly can have Automator do it for you.

For this, we’ll create a Fast Motion in Automator however you possibly can create an Software in the event you want. Choose “PDFs” within the Library after which drag Watermark PDF Paperwork into the workflow window on the fitting.

Click on “Add” to pick out the picture watermark. You’ll then see a preview on the backside the place you may make changes to it.

Watermark image added to the Automator action

You’ll be able to place the watermark over or below the PDF content material, use the X and Y fields for an offset, scale the watermark, angle it, or alter the opacity.

Adjustments for the watermark in Automator

Subsequent, you possibly can choose a location to position the watermarked PDF or instantly open it with an app in your Mac. For our instance, we’ll add the motion to open the file in Preview.

Choose “Information & Folders” within the Library and drag Open Finder Gadgets beneath the watermark field within the workflow. Select an software within the Open With drop-down checklist.

Open Finder Items action in the Automator workflow

Save the Fast Motion utilizing the File menu after which select a PDF to attempt it out. Proper-click the file and choose the Fast Motion or use Extra beneath the Preview on the fitting to decide on it.

Watermark PDF Quick Action in the shortcut menu

You need to then see your watermarked PDF open within the software you arrange.

Watermarked PDF in Preview on Mac

3. Convert Pictures

One other tedious job that Automator may also help with is converting images from one file kind to a different. That is helpful for batches of pictures that that you must change from PNG to JPG or vice versa, as an example.

For this course of, we’ll additionally use a Fast Motion. Choose “Images” within the Library after which drag the Change Sort of Pictures motion to the fitting.

You’ll be requested if you wish to create a duplicate of the picture earlier than changing it. Select “Add” to take action or “Don’t Add” to proceed with out making a duplicate of the unique.

Message to add the Copy action in Automator

Subsequent, choose the file format you wish to convert your pictures to within the To Sort drop-down checklist.

File format for the Change Type of Images action in Automator

Save the Fast Motion utilizing the File menu after which give it a attempt. Entry and choose the motion by right-clicking a file or utilizing Extra on the backside of the Preview on the fitting.

Convert Image Quick Action on Mac

4. Crop Pictures

Possibly it’s cropping pictures to the identical precise dimension that you must do typically. You are able to do this with Automator by choosing the dimensions you wish to use upfront.

We’ll additionally use a Fast Motion for this so we will crop the picture with a easy click on. Choose “Images” within the Library and drag Crop Pictures to the workflow.

Crop Images action in Automator

Like converting images, you’ll be requested in the event you’d prefer to retain a duplicate of the unique. Decide “Add” or “Don’t Add” for the copy motion per your desire.

Message to add the Copy action in Automator

Use the To Dimensions drop-down checklist within the Crop Pictures field to select “By Percentages” or “To Dimensions.” Then enter the numbers within the Width and Peak fields.

For those who select To Dimensions, you even have the choice to scale the picture earlier than cropping it. Use the Scale Earlier than Crop drop-down to select an choice in the event you like.

To Dimensions and By Percentages options for cropping images

Save the Fast Motion utilizing the File menu after which choose a picture in Finder that you just’d prefer to crop. Both right-click the picture or use Extra beneath the Preview on the fitting and select the identify of your cropping Fast Motion.

Crop image Quick Action on Mac

5. Retailer Information in a ZIP Archive

You’ll be able to simply create an archive (ZIP file) on Mac utilizing the shortcut menu. However whenever you do, this locations the file throughout the present folder. Possibly you wish to compress a number of recordsdata and create an archive elsewhere, like a sure folder in your Desktop. You’ll be able to arrange an Automator motion for this in below a minute.

As soon as once more, we’ll use a Fast Motion for this course of. Choose “Information & Folders” within the Library and drag Create Archive to the workflow.

You’ll be able to assign a particular identify to the output or let the default identify apply which is both the identical identify as a single enter file or “Archive” for a number of recordsdata.

Subsequent, select the placement for the archive folder like Desktop, Footage, Paperwork, or one other folder. Optionally examine the field to Ignore Unreadable Gadgets.

Create Archive action Message to add the Copy action in the Automator workflow

Save the Fast Motion utilizing the File menu and also you’re able to create your archive. Use the shortcut menu by right-clicking or the Extra menu beneath the Preview to select your motion.

Archive Quick Action on Mac

6. Begin a Keynote Presentation

When you might not give it some thought, it takes a couple of minutes to get a Keynote slideshow prepared and rolling. To shorten this time, you possibly can arrange an automation to start a presentation from a particular slide in simply seconds. That is handy in the event you current Keynote slideshows typically, particularly numerous ones to completely different audiences.

As a result of drag-and-drop works nice for Functions, we’ll use that kind this time. Choose “Shows” within the Library and drag Begin Keynote Slideshow to the fitting.

Select a particular slide quantity within the Begin Keynote Slideshow motion field. Keep in mind, every presentation will begin with this slide. For those who merely wish to begin from the start, enter a 1 within the From Slide Quantity field.

Start Keynote Slideshow action Message to add the Copy action in the Automator workflow

Save the Software utilizing the File menu after which try it out. First, open a file in Keynote. This doesn’t should be the slideshow you wish to current; it may be any Keynote file. Then, drag the presentation you wish to begin into the appliance or onto its icon.

Dragging a file to the Keynote application

You need to then see your presentation start instantly and with the slide quantity you arrange.

Automator on Mac is a terrific instrument for automating tedious duties so you possibly can spend extra time on others. For added methods to make use of it, check out how to resize images or how to quit applications utilizing Automator actions.

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