MacOS – Execute Shell Scrip individually for each selected file in Finder

automatorfindermacmacosscript

I am trying to create an automator workflow that will do a google search for the filename of each selected file in finder.

Unfortunately the workflow I have created works just with one selected file. If I select multiple files it doesn't work.

How can I set the Shell Scrip to be executed individually for each selected file in Finder?

Screenshot of Automator Workflow

I have used a custom 'Get Names of Finder Items' Automator Action downloaded from here.

Best Answer

Use a shell script such as the following that will run the command each time for each of the arguments:

for f in "$@"
do
  open "http://www.google.com/search?q=$f"
done

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MacOS – Automator: Change to selected directory and run shell script

The problem here is you have the input being passed to stdin. I don't know why that's the default, but you should be able to just change the popup menu in the top right to "as arguments." I did that and added cd "$1" to the top of the script and it worked.

MacOS – Getting Automator file selection from multiple windows

This is possible by selecting the second window to get the selection.

Insert the "Run AppleScript" action at the first position in the workflow, clear all text in the action, and put this script in the action:

on run {input, parameters}
    tell application "Finder"
        activate -- doesn't work without the activate
        open target of Finder window 2 ---  select the second Finder window
        set end of input to (item 1 of (get selection)) as alias -- append the selection (in the second window) to the input list
        open target of Finder window 2
    end tell
    return input
end run

Tested on Mavericks

Best Answer

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MacOS – Getting Automator file selection from multiple windows

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