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NEXT-GENERATION AUTOMATION

Automator returns in Leopard, even more powerful and easier-to-use.

It's streamlined interface and new abilities, define the next

generation of automation in Mac OS X.

AUTOMATOR IS SIMPLE.

Anyone can use Automator. Creating automated workflows is a simple

drag-and-drop process of visually selecting and connecting the

individual actions you want the computer to do for you-there's

absolutely no code to write. Click the Run button and Automator goes

to work. And you can be a hero to your friends by sharing your

favorite Automator workflows with them!

With Automator you can automate just about everything you do with your

computer. Create and print a family directory with the contacts in

your Address Book. Find and add images from your favorite websites to

iPhoto. Print your Keynote business presentations to your iPod Photo.

Perform scheduled backups of important files. There's no limit to what

you can do. Add more actions and you can do even more.

AUTOMATOR IS POWERFUL.

Automator can do in seconds and minutes what would take you hours to

do by hand. Automator gives you direct access and control of the

powerful Mac OS X frameworks like Core Image, Core Data, Core Audio

and Core Video, to process hundreds of images, or folders and folders

of files.

In addition, Automator moves information seamlessly between the Mac OS

X applications you use every day to organize your life, like Finder,

Mail, Address Book, and iCal. Even the iLife applications iPhoto,

iTunes, and iDVD, can be included in your workflows. When you have to

tackle complex or repetitive tasks, Automator is the right tool for

the job.

INTRODUCTION TO AUTOMATOR • 7:10

For those new to Automator, this introduction will explain what

Automator is and how it works.

AUTOMATOR PODCAST RSS

Video episodes describing the new features and abilities of Automator

in Leopard.

The iTunes podcasts are here

AUTOMATOR.US

The

Mac OS X 10.4

version of this website.

AUTOMATOR FEATURES

SIMPLE INTERFACE

* Browse or search a library of over 250 actions to find exactly

what you need.

* Drag and drop actions from the library to create workflows.

* Documentation included with each action.

SPOTLIGHT SUPPORT

* Spotlight Search action returns search results directly from

within Automator.

* Contextual menu support allows creation of new workflows using

items selected in Spotlight or Finder search result dialogs.

COMPLETE CONTROL

* Over 250 pre-installed actions control Address Book, iCal, Mail,

Safari, Image Capture, QuickTime Player, TextEdit, iTunes, iPhoto,

iDVD and other applications.

* Finder actions manipulate files, folders and disk items

* Core Image actions capture, crop, scale, convert, and adjust

images. PDF workflow actions automate editing PDF files. RSS actions

automate accessing and extracting web-based content.

* Actions to execute commands in standard scripting languages, such

as: Shell and AppleScript.

* Action for accessing web-services using SOAP and XML-RPC.

* Virtual-User action let's you record and playback your interaction

with the computer.

* Extendable architecture for adding third-party actions.

SYSTEM INTEGRATION

* Built-in attachment modules enable workflows to be saved as Image

Capture procedures, PDF Print options, iCal Event alarms, Finder

contextual menu items, and Folder Actions scripts.

RE-USABLE WORKFLOWS

* Display controls allow action parameters to be customized each

time a workflow is executed.

* Multiple document formats ensure that Automator workflows can be

shared with others as self-running applications, droplets, or as

workflow documents executable from the system Script menu.

* Encapsulated flow design enables workflows to be used within other

workflows.

DEVELOPER TOOLS

* Xcode project templates for creating Automator actions.

* Actions for building projects and packages.

Source

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<div id="main">
	<div id="content" class="column">
		<h2>Next-Generation Automation</h2>
		
		<p>Automator returns in Leopard, even more powerful and easier-to-use. It's streamlined interface and new abilities, define the next generation of automation in Mac OS X.</p>
		
		<img src="gfx/workflow.png" width="640" height="478" class="across">
		
		<h3>Automator is simple.</h3>
		<p>Anyone can use Automator. Creating automated workflows is a simple drag-and-drop process of visually selecting and connecting the individual actions you want the computer to do for you-there's absolutely no code to write. Click the Run button and Automator goes to work. And you can be a hero to your friends by sharing your favorite Automator workflows with them!</p>
		<p>With Automator you can automate just about everything you do with your computer. Create and print a family directory with the contacts in your Address Book. Find and add images from your favorite websites to iPhoto. Print your Keynote business presentations to your iPod Photo. Perform scheduled backups of important files. There's no limit to what you can do. Add more actions and you can do even more.</p>

<h3>Automator is powerful.</h3>
		<p>Automator can do in seconds and minutes what would take you hours to do by hand. Automator gives you direct access and control of the powerful Mac OS X frameworks like Core Image, Core Data, Core Audio and Core Video, to process hundreds of images, or folders and folders of files.</p>
		<p>In addition, Automator moves information seamlessly between the Mac OS X applications you use every day to organize your life, like Finder, Mail, Address Book, and iCal. Even the iLife applications iPhoto, iTunes, and iDVD, can be included in your workflows. When you have to tackle complex or repetitive tasks, Automator is the right tool for the job.</p>
		
	</div>
	<div id="sidebar" class="column">
		<div class="box">
			<h2>Introduction to Automator • 7:10</h2>
			<a href="javascript:window.open('video/introduction.html','viewer-window-00','width=644,height=502');"><img src="video/gfx/movie32x32.png" width="32" height="32" class="left"></a>
			<p>For those new to Automator, this introduction will explain what Automator is and how it works.</p>
		</div>
		<div class="box">
			<h2>Automator Podcast RSS</h2>
			<a href="feed://automator.us/podcast/podcast.xml"><img src="gfx/RSS32x32.png" width="32" height="32" class="left"></a>
			<p>Video episodes describing the new features and abilities of Automator in Leopard.</p><p>The iTunes podcasts are <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=267187155">here</a></p><a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=267187155">
		</a></div><a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=267187155">
		</a><div class="box"><a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=267187155">
			<h2>AUTOMATOR.US</h2>
			</a><p><a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=267187155">The </a><a href="../index-tiger.html" target="_blank">Mac&nbsp;OS&nbsp;X&nbsp;10.4 version</a> of this website.</p>
		</div>

		<div class="box">
			<h2>Automator Features</h2>
			<h3>Simple interface</h3>
			<ul class="square">
				<li>Browse or search a library of over 250 actions to find exactly what you need.</li>
				<li>Drag and drop actions from the library to create workflows.</li>
				<li>Documentation included with each action.</li>
			</ul>
			<h3>Spotlight support</h3>
			<ul class="square">
				<li>Spotlight Search action returns search results directly from within Automator.</li>
				<li>Contextual menu support allows creation of new workflows using items selected in Spotlight or Finder search result dialogs.</li>
			</ul>
			<h3>Complete control</h3>
			<ul class="square">
				<li>Over 250 pre-installed actions control Address Book, iCal, Mail, Safari, Image Capture, QuickTime Player, TextEdit, iTunes, iPhoto, iDVD and other applications.</li>
				<li>Finder actions manipulate files, folders and disk items</li>
				<li>Core Image actions capture, crop, scale, convert, and adjust images. PDF workflow actions automate editing PDF files. RSS actions automate accessing and extracting web-based content.</li>
				<li>Actions to execute commands in standard scripting languages, such as: Shell and AppleScript.</li>
				<li>Action for accessing web-services using SOAP and XML-RPC.</li>
				<li>Virtual-User action let's you record and playback your interaction with the computer.</li>
				<li>Extendable architecture for adding third-party actions.</li>
			</ul>
			<h3>System integration</h3>
			<ul class="square">
				<li>Built-in attachment modules enable workflows to be saved as Image Capture procedures, PDF Print options, iCal Event alarms, Finder contextual menu items, and Folder Actions scripts.</li>
			</ul>
			<h3>Re-usable workflows</h3>
			<ul class="square">
				<li>Display controls allow action parameters to be customized each time a workflow is executed.</li>
				<li>Multiple document formats ensure that Automator workflows can be shared with others as self-running applications, droplets, or as workflow documents executable from the system Script menu.</li>
				<li>Encapsulated flow design enables workflows to be used within other workflows.</li>
			</ul>
			<h3>Developer tools</h3>
			<ul class="square last">
				<li>Xcode project templates for creating Automator actions.</li>
				<li>Actions for building projects and packages.</li>
			</ul>
		</div>
	</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>