automatorpdf
I'd like to apply a quartz filter (Reduce File Size) through Preview Export using the command line while passing in the input and output filenames through CLI. I'm thinking the best way to do this is through Automator since it seems there isn't a way to access Preview through CLI.
I'm thinking it would look something like this in the end:
automator -i input=input.pdf output=output.pdf PDF.workflow
But I'm probably completely off.
Here's the basic workflow, which doesn't work as hoped:
At the bottom of every Automator action is an Options button. Click it and you'll reveal a panel that includes a checkbox for Ignore this action's input. Check that box on the first action of your second workflow and it won't use the first workflow's output.
EDIT: Workflow now works with one bug: running the workflow twice results in two copies of the control file being copied
Make a new Automator SERVICE. At the beginning, for "receives selected as input" choose "documents". Add the process "set value of variable" and make a new "destination path" variable (default variable name is "destination path"). Add the process "open finder items" to the beginning to open the control file. Add the process "run applescript" to the workflow the code is the following:
on run {input, parameters}
set LineNumber to (the line in which the path is specified in the control file)
tell application "TextEdit"
set theVariable to paragraph LineNumber of document 1
set thePath to POSIX path of theVariable
set thePath to text 1 thru -2 of thePath
end tell
return thePath
end run
I don't know why this couldn't have been in the same block, but you need to add a separate AppleScript process. The code is as follows:
on run {input, parameters}
tell application "Finder"
set theFolder to POSIX path of input & "/DEBIAN"
try
make new folder in folder input with properties {name:"DEBIAN"}
end try
end tell
return theFolder
end run
Add the process "set value of variable" and make a new destination path variable (default name is "destination path 1").
Add the "get value of variable" process and get the value of the variable with the path of the input file ("destination path"). Click on "options" on this process and check "ignore this action's input".
After this, Automator has a process called "copy finder items" and this can be used to copy the input (the output of "get value of variable", which is the input file). This worked for me, hope it works for you as well. Good luck :)
Best Answer
MacOS (OSX) used to have a Terminal command
quartzfilter, which would apply a Quartz Filter to PDFs and allow output names. Sadly, it was removed in Snow Leopard.Here's a python script which works as a replacement.
The Automator action "Apply Quartz Filter to PDF Documents" applies the filter to the input, so your workflow copies the PDFs but then over-writes the originals with the Filter.