Automator Sample Workflows not working! What to do?

[AstroGuy]

Version: 2008
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard)
Processor: Intel

I'm trying to run some of the Sample Workflows (e.g., Convert the format of specified Word files). It appears in the right place, dangling off the menu titled Sample Workflows. But when I pick it, I get a message that a certain *action* "Convert Format of Word Documents" could not be located and to install the action. I do not know how to do that!

A similar thing happens when I select "Save the current file in Word 97-2004 format". In that case, the missing action is "Save Word Documents".

So, how do I install the actions?

 

[AstroGuy]

Well, as often happens with this support requests (or at least as often happens with me!), a few minutes after I post, I discover the solution!

In this case, it's because I reinstalled Word 2008 from a backup drive, by simply dragging over its folder (and some settings files). That, of course, only works up to a point-- turns out that I needed to drag over the Automator folder from the root Library folder, too! That's where Microsoft's Automator actions for its Office suite are stored.

That leads me to a different question, then!

How can I ensure that I've reinstalled everything else I need? Can I launch something (First Run) or something else to bring me up to date and fetch everything else I need?

How should I have reinstalled Office?

And would this solve things:

I've just now installing the 12.2 update...will that fill in the missing pieces? Probably not, just update the ones I have!

 

[AstroGuy]

Well, one more discovery!

The workflow "Convert the format of specified Word files" has a major bug inside of it!

It ends up processing the files twice!

I've tried it selecting both Word as the conversion format and Word 97-2004.

I'm asking it convert a RTF file and I end up with two!

This is going to be a nuisance as I'm trying convert several hundred RTF files nested in folders! I'd rather not have to manually remove duplicates.

In fact, I discovered the problem after I asked if to convert a folder with 20 some files in it, and as I watched it, I noticed it started round again with the first files!

So, there's a mistaken programming loop built into the action embedded within. That could come in handy because it would let me delete files on the basis of when they were created. But it means that the conversion takes twice as long as it should!

I suppose there's no way an end user can edit an action. Or is there?

 

[John McGhie]

Like many other things in life, editing Automator actions is easy if you
know how

In this case, if you are good at coding, editing Automator actions is easy:

http://developer.apple.com/documentation/appleapplications/conceptual/Automa
torConcepts/Automator.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40001674

However, if you don't yet know how to write code, it might be more trouble
than it's worth

Cheers

Well, one more discovery!

The workflow "Convert the format of specified Word files" has a major bug
inside of it!

It ends up processing the files twice!

I've tried it selecting both Word as the conversion format and Word 97-2004.

I'm asking it convert a RTF file and I end up with two!

This is going to be a nuisance as I'm trying convert several hundred RTF files
nested in folders! I'd rather not have to manually remove duplicates.

In fact, I discovered the problem after I asked if to convert a folder with 20
some files in it, and as I watched it, I noticed it started round again with
the first files!

So, there's a mistaken programming loop built into the action embedded within.
That could come in handy because it would let me delete files on the basis of
when they were created. But it means that the conversion takes twice as long
as it should!

I suppose there's no way an end user can edit an action. Or is there?

This email is my business email -- Please do not email me about forum
matters unless you intend to pay!

--

John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Word, Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer,
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
Sydney, Australia. | Ph: +61 (0)4 1209 1410
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]