New problem with Automator

I was trying to make some files (photos) sequential and I keep getting this message
Finder got an error: Can't get properties of alias What does this mean? HELP

The files you are trying to make sequential are the aliases of the originals...you need to select the original files

Hmmm, that easy enough thank you.

Well I thought it was easy enough. How can I tell which is alias and which isn't? there are 3 copies of each but I'm not sure which is the original errrrr!

aliases all have a little arrow on the bottom of the icon

this is strange I see no arrows anywhere, is there another way to tell?

Select the file, hit Apple+I to 'Get info' and check the 'Kind' field.
If it an alias it should say 'Kind: Alias'.

I have done that I have no alias pictures I have looked at everyone. Yet I just tried it again this morning and even went though the trouble of saving 2 test pictures as .jpg (and deleting the originals) saving to desktop and then tried going to automator to see if that would work.........I get the same message I even thought, well maybe it's Automator that's messing up.Lastnight I reinstalled Tiger keeping all my settings. So I didn't lose anything but this morning I get the same message Can not find the properties of aliases of .............ok I'm officially confused! Any ideas?