Two Questions - Trash and Automator

[Act0r721]

1.) Is it possible to delete individual items from the trash? How?

2.) Automator... Grr. Can you just rename files with it? The only way I can get it to rename stuff is if it copies it and then renames it. I can't get it to rename the originals. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I even click Replace Originals. . . nada.

[D3v1L80Y]

1.) Is it possible to delete individual items from the trash? How?

No. If you don't want to delete it, don't put it in the Trash. Trash is not a storage folder and shouldn't be treated as such. I would suggest looking through the Trash folder BEFORE you empty it if you are unsure about something.

2.) Automator... Grr. Can you just rename files with it? The only way I can get it to rename stuff is if it copies it and then renames it. I can't get it to rename the originals. I don't know what I am doing wrong. I even click Replace Originals. . . nada.

What are you trying to rename?

[Act0r721]

Wow, strong feelings about the trash can. . .

I am trying to rename pictures.

[dtravis7]

DB is not trying to be mean, but trying to help. Never use the Trashcan for files you intend to keep. You can't work with files in the trash. Move them back to a folder or the desktop then do your renaming.

As far as renaming, there are two ways I do it depending on the mode! Click the Filename highlighting it, then hit the Enter Key, then type in the new name, of right/Control Click and click Get Info. You can change the filename there also. The Highlight the filename and click Enter works the fastest for me.

[cazabam]

I think the strong feelings about the trash can come from explaining to so many people that if you put it in the trash, it's essentially been deleted! It's not a temporary place for things you *think* you might not want, it's a courtesy to give you 'one last chance' if you delete the wrong thing accidentally.

I think the OS X name (Trash) is better than the Windows one (Recycle Bin). I knew a secretary who filed everything (and I mean everything) that she thought she might want to use again in the Recycle Bin. I mean, recycle means use again, right? Only then the disk cleanup wizard decided to empty the trash on her behalf, and we don't back up the recycle bin ...

[Act0r721]

Ah well, sorry then. The switch from PC to Mac has been a little rocky. HeH.

As for the renaming, I am trying to rename bulk amounts of files, so I need to know how to do it in Automator without just creating new files.

[dtravis7]

I will check into that and get back to you if I can figure it out. What are you trying to change in the name? The Extension?

[Act0r721]

No, the name. All of the files come out named IMG_574 or what not and I what them to be more like Bob's Party 001, etc.

There's a feature for it and I can get it to copy the files and then rename them, but I can't get them to just rename the originals.

[Hikaru79]

No, the name. All of the files come out named IMG_574 or what not and I what them to be more like Bob's Party 001, etc.

There's a feature for it and I can get it to copy the files and then rename them, but I can't get them to just rename the originals.

This is very easily done. In fact, your exact situation is the example used in the OS X introduction video. Go to this video here and fast forward to the section on automator. Your answer is there

[dtravis7]

Hikaru79 is correct. That works like a charm. Great help there Hikaru79!!

http://www.apple.com/macosx/quicktours/automator.html

That will take you right to the automator part. Does just what you want.

[Logan]

here's mine


I never saw that movie, though.. (I just played around with automator) guess i should watch it

[Act0r721]

Thanks.

[dtravis7]

Does yours look like the one in the message above? Do you have all your pics in the first box above the rename one? Did you select all of the files? Highlight them? It's working here just like the video.

It will not run unless you select all the filenames in the Queue in Automator. Here is a pic of mine.

[NanoBite]

Just adding help from a different angle:

To change the name of pics in iPhoto library, select the pic/pics and go to the menu bar and select Photos>Batch Change then from the window that appears, choose the drop-down menu on your right and select Text and you can then add a new catagory name for the pics (correct me if I'm wrong-my iMac's at the repair shop). There is also the option to have them numbered if the name covers several pics. For individual pics just follow the same path.

I bookmarked the Automator Tutorial Video links as they will help me understand Automator more as I've been reluctant to dabble just on the text help file instructions alone.

[Logan]

yeah with my screenshot copy (above) I can select files (any files) in Finder and right click then go to Automator - "Rename Sequential Files to..." , and it pops up the "Show Action when run" window. I then proceed to tweak settings until it's to my happiness.

I'm not sure how dtravis' copy would run (I'm not an expert with automator), but my copy works like a champ.. I can go to any directory select any number of files and run my automator and it grabs my selection and renames it with my above code. *shrugs*

Here is a step-by-step I did, I even screwed up on it to show it continues the rename sequence (and fill the gaps of previous renames)





8edit* last "after effect" screenshot screwed up and i'm late for work