Automator Workflow query.

[Sawday]

Can anyone tell me a good source of information on Automator or help me with my present query. I've been getting bolder in my use of Automator in file handling but my latest problem has me stumped so far.

I have inherited a large number (5500) files whose names all start with a three digit country code (USA, BRZ, AUS etc). They presently reside in one folder. What I should like to do is to split them into individual folders each of which is named bafter the country code. i.e. all those beginning AUSxxxxx should go into a folder called AUS, all those beginning UKMxxxxx to go into a UKM folder.

If Automator is not the way to go perhaps someone could suggest another utility that would handle this.

 

[Sawday]

Anyone?

 

[Sawday]

OK - so I handled that problem manually. Now I have a very similar problem but life is too short to spend the weekend doing this manually. I've spent an unhappy hour or two pouring over Automator and Search and google but I'm still at a loss. It seems so easy but perhaps it's my previous IT background that is getting in the way. So if there is any Automator gurus out there, now is your chance to shine...

 

[Yffum]

I have no idea how to use automator, but I think you could do this in a minute or two by just doing the following.

1. Select the folder with your numerous files in (Folder X)

2. Go to the search bar in finder and search the three digit country code (USA)

3. Now a list of files should come up and there should also be a bar close to the top of the menu saying

Search: This Mac "Folder X" | Contents File Name

4. "This Mac" and "Contents" should be automatically selected. You're going to want to select "Folder X" and "File Name"

5. Alright, now a list of files with "USA" in their name that are in the "Folder X" should appear. Select all of them and drag them to your USA Folder.

Tah Dah!

Now just repeat those steps, but replace "USA" with "BRZ, AUS, UKM, etc."

 

[Sawday]

Thanks - Thats what I did last time. I just think there should be away of creating the new folders automatically from the file names.