Skip to main content

Use Automator and Services for speed

Automator is a tool built into OS X that enables you to build your own workflows of commands, making complex tasks much easier in the future. 

Use it to build your own little apps that perform a specific task, to make a workflow to modify batches of files, or to create new Services, which are functions you can access from a right-click.

You could use Automator to rename a large number of files, to convert images to a different file type, to turn text files in a folder to audio files, and much more.
  1. To create something in Automator, open it, then choose what type of thing you want to create: each is useful in different circumstances, so click on them to see descriptions. Select the one you want and click Choose (or open an old Automator file).
  2. Start creating the steps of your workflow by dragging Actions from the left-hand side of the screen to the empty space on the right-hand side. Actions are categorised by application and file type, or you can search for something at the top. Just click an Action's name to see what it does.
  3. Once you've built up your workflow, you can click Run in the top-right corner to test it (though you won't be able to fully test everything this way). If there are any problems, the part where it failed will have a red cross next to it, and the log underneath will explain any warnings.

Popular posts from this blog

Prisma Photo Editor Review

You may be understandably skeptical about apps that claim to replicate artistic styles, and it makes sense, the 'traditional media' filters included many android photo  editors are downright terrible. Prismais the exception, and once you’ve tried it, we think you’ll be convinced. Take your pick from a selection of different drawing styles and your photo will be transformed into a surprisingly convincing illustration.  Sliding your finger over the filtered image will blend it into your original photo , and you can tweak each filter to suit your picture, adjusting the vignette, vibrance, saturation, color temperature and more. Although additional filters are available as in-app purchases (these are marked with a padlock), there’s a generous selection included free of charge. You can share your creations on a special Prisma feed, which works in a similar way to Instagram, save it to your device, send it via messaging or email, or share it on any social media app.

Do Unit Conversions in Spotlight on Mac

So, everyone knows that you can do basic calculations in Spotlight, but beginning with macOS High Sierra, you can take that a step further: unit conversions. You can do specific unit conversions if the need arises, say, “13 stone in pounds” but, you can also just type in the amount and unit you want to convert, and your Mac will suggest not just the likely conversion, but also a handful of alternatives. Type in '$1299' and you'll immediately be told what that is in pounds Sterling (based presumably on what's set as your native currency in the Language & Region pane of System Preferences), and then when the window folds down to show more results, you'll see Euros, Yen and so on.

Adobe Photoshop Express Review - Photo Editor

Adobe Photoshop Express brings a selection of Adobe's best hoto editing tools together in a streamlined app optimized for touchscreens. Once you've signed in with Google, Facebook or an Adobe ID, you'll find all the basic editing tools you'd expect, including rotate, crop, red-eye correction and brightness adjustment, plus an excellent selection of smart filters designed to correct common issues, including color temperature, fogging and exposure problems.  There's also a wide variety of borders and artistic effects, all of which can be adjusted using simple sliders. Adobe Photoshop Express is also a great choice for making collages, which are a great way to share memories on social media. Once you’re done editing, you can save the finished photo to your device, upload it to Adobe Creative Cloud or share it via a social app. Everything is designed with as much care as you'd expect from the leading name in photo editing, and there are no in-app purchases.