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IRL (In Real Life) => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Staggerwing on January 31, 2016, 03:01:47 PM

Title: Applescript/automator help for a complete n00b
Post by: Staggerwing on January 31, 2016, 03:01:47 PM
I need some help from some of you veteran Mac-heads out there. At work next week I need to convert about 4000-odd Apple Numbers spreadsheet files to PDFs. Numbers does have an export feature and PDF is one of the available formats but doing each one by hand is not feasible so I was hoping to figure out a way to automate the process. It will be the first time I have ever used either applescript or automator so I was wondering if one of you had already done something like this before.
Title: Re: Applescript/automator help for a complete n00b
Post by: Huw the Poo on January 31, 2016, 03:41:09 PM
I don't use Macs myself but I wonder whether this page (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5101150?start=0&tstart=0) would help?  The thread starter seems to want exactly what you do.
Title: Re: Applescript/automator help for a complete n00b
Post by: Staggerwing on January 31, 2016, 04:04:22 PM
Thanks. I did actually run across that same search result but all the codespeak is beyond my tiny australopithecine brain. I was hoping there was some visual plug and play kind of thing in Automator. There appear to be some action blocks (or whatever they are) relating to word-type files but I couldn't find any that would relate to Numbers.
Title: Re: Applescript/automator help for a complete n00b
Post by: mirth on January 31, 2016, 04:10:53 PM
It's been awhile since I used automator (years really). Don't know if this will help at all

http://www.creativebeacon.com/saving-tons-of-time-with-automator-mac/
Title: Re: Applescript/automator help for a complete n00b
Post by: Staggerwing on January 31, 2016, 09:18:01 PM
Thanks. What's weird is that in the resource you linked, the article writer says to choose the 'document' option after creating a workflow project. In his screenie that option is right between 'developer' and 'files and folders'. When I open Automator and create a new workflow project there is no such option in the list. it goes right from 'Developer' to 'Files and folders'. Huh.  ???
Title: Re: Applescript/automator help for a complete n00b
Post by: mirth on January 31, 2016, 09:32:27 PM
There has to be a fairly simple way to automate it, but I lack the experience to tell you what it is :(
Title: Re: Applescript/automator help for a complete n00b
Post by: Staggerwing on January 31, 2016, 09:35:21 PM
I did find an online place that does conversions of all kinds. You can do a few for free or pay to convert a crapload. Maybe I'll just use that service and submit the receipt to my boss...   ;)