AppleScript to Insert Markdown Link for Current Safari Tab via TextExpander

Here’s a simple AppleScript which can be used with a TextExpander snippet, or as a Service via the macOS Automator app, that when invoked will insert the title and URL of the frontmost Safari tab, formatted as a Markdown link.

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Run a Photoshop Action from Applescript

Handy info for running Photoshop actions via Applescript on your Mac. I used this so I can send an image to Photoshop via the Acquire iPhone app (my “scanner”), and then have Drafts save a text file in Dropbox that Hazel picks up and tells Photoshop to run my default scanned sketch Photoshop Action on the artwork image.

Call a Photoshop Action from Applescript

Mac OS X Services: Import Files into Evernote using AppleScript

An interesting method  to use Mac OS X Services to Import Files into Evernote by Nine Boxes. Of particular note here is the AppleScript used in the post, which could easily be hijacked to use in conjunction with Hazel to automate the addiction by dropping files into a watched folder.

AppleScript: Add Stuff to Evernote

A simple but handy AppleScript to add files to Evernote. Excellent for use with Hazel. Includes syntax for choosing a specific notebook and adding tags.

Applescript: Add Sender of Email to a Contacts Group

Thanks to some helpful folks over at Stack Exchange’s Apple section, I now have a handy Applescript to add the sender of an email to a specific group in the Contacts app.

TextExpander: Typing Shortcut Utility

TextExpander has always on the top of my must-have Mac software list. The basic functionality is simple: you type certain characters, and TextExpander replaces those characters with something else. As you can see in the screenshot above, a simple use for this is to fix commonly mistyped words. But that’s barely scratching the surface of what TextExpander offers. 

Hazel: Essential Mac Automation Tool

Hazel is hands-down one of my top Mac productivity software tools. And it’s one of those tools that tough to describe exactly why you would want it, because what it does is up to the user. In its most simplest form, Hazel is a utility that watches folders you tell it to watch, and does things to files that meet the criteria you set up. A very small set of actions it can perform are things like setting the color label of the file, renaming a file, moving files into subfolders, moving files to other folders (including the Trash), run AppleScripts and Automator actions, import files to iPhoto or iTunes, open files, set Spotlight comments, and lots more.

If you’ve ever used Smart Playlists in iTunes, then you’ll understand how Hazel works. But Hazel goes a step further and lets you perform actions on the files that meet the criteria in the “Smart Playlists”. If you are familiar with Folder Actions in OS X, Hazel is like Folder Actions on steroids. The best way to explain Hazel is to give you a few of my usage examples, but keep in mind that there are not “built-in”, nor are you limited to these actions. They are just some of the many things I use Hazel to automate on my Mac.

Invoke PopClip Via Keyboard Using AppleScript, Automator and OS X Services

A tweet from the PopClip developer directed me to the PopClip User Guide to take advantage of a feature I’ve been wanting in the app for some time: the ability to invoke PopClip via the keyboard.

The method uses AppleScript and the code is super simple:

tell application "PopClip" to appear

The documentation suggests using a few third-party “launcher” utility apps, but I’ve discovered a way to do so with just OS X, using Automator and OS X Services. Here’s how I did it.

Script Timer

I just discovered Script Timer, and I’ve been looking for something like this to schedule AppleScripts on the Mac. Even better, it handles shell scripts, Automator workflows as well.

Apple Mail in 10.8: New Special Folder for AppleScripts Used in Rules

I was recently adding some new Mail Rules to Apple Mail, and noticed all my rules that triggered an AppleScript were no longer associated with the correct scripts. Turns out the new version of Mail in 10.8 has a special folder specifically for scripts used in Apple Mail.