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Transmit 3.2 Updates with Actions
[Panic](http://www.panic.com) has released version 3.2 of [Transmit](http://www.panic.com/transmit/), their OS X FTP client. Transmit 3.2 includes three Automator actions: *Upload Files, Download Files* and *Synchronize Files*. A single-user license is $29.95, or is free for upgrading Transmit 3 users. For Automator users looking to incorporate FTP into their workflows this is a must-have.
Get Instant Access to New Actions
Tired of having to restart Automator every time you install an action to have it appear in the Library? In Automator, *File > Import Actions...* will install the action into ~/Library/Automator/ for you, and have it appear in the Library immediately.
Schedule Workflows via iCal
This fantastic tip for scheduling Automator comes to us from [MacOSXHints](http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20050504105901868&query=automator), and it's one a lot of people have asked about. More »
Well Duh…
[D'Arcy Norman](http://www.darcynorman.net) has made the astute observation that ["Automator Freaking ROCKS!"](http://www.darcynorman.net/2005/05/13/automator-freaking-rocks), with a workflow he whipped up on-the-fly to handle a very specific batch operation (filters all TIFFs within a selected folder, copies them to a designated folder then converts them to JPEG).
NetNewsWire 2.0 Adds Actions
[Ranchero Software](http://ranchero.com) has released [NetNewsWire 2.0](http://ranchero.com/netnewswire/whatsnew/netnewswire20.php) which includes five Automator actions; *Open URLs in Tabs, Subscribe to Feeds with URLs, Export Subscriptions to Files, Get Current URL from NetNewsWire* and *Get Current Webpage from NetNewsWire* (screenshot). NetNewsWire 2.0 is $24.95. The NetNewsWire/MarsEdit bundle is $39.95.
Automator Actions for ecto
[ecto](http://ecto.kung-foo.tv/), a nifty blogging client, has [updated](http://ecto.kung-foo.tv/archives/001381.php) with a series of new Automator actions. Actions include *Select Blog*, *Get Contents*, *Set Contents*, *Set Date*, *Set Draft Options* and *Upload Images*.
Automator World Server Upgrade
Automator World is in the process of migrating to a faster, more reliable server, so you may experience intermittent weirdness as the site propagates over the next day or so. Hopefully all will go smoothly, but we apologize in advance if you have any problems. Please [contact](/contact/) us if you're experiencing any problems that require attention.
**Update**: The migration is complete, and went pretty much without a hitch. There were some hiccups in the [forum](http://forums.automatorworld.com/), but nothing major. Thanks for your patience.
Grab Movies from iTunes Music Store
[Apple-X.net](http://www.apple-x.net) has created a nifty [workflow](http://www.apple-x.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=1438&mode=thread&order=1&thold=-1) that uses the iTMS and Automator to download and save cached movie files.
Getting Folksy with Automator
I've never heard of *folksonomy*, "the process of adding keywords, or tags, to data in an effort to arrange it into loose 'clouds' of connectivity," but if you're into that sort of thing, [Giles Turnbull](http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/au/1154) at [MacDevCenter](http://www.macdevcenter.com/) has written up a quick Automator and Spotlight [walkthrough](http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/wlg/7050).
Complete Digital Photography Updates Actions
Ben Long at Complete Digital Photography has [updated](http://www.completedigitalphotography.com/index.php?p=339) his suite of terrific Photoshop Actions with two new ones More »
Hula Girl vs. Automator: The Ultimate Battle
[File Rush News](http://www.filerushnews.com/), a site I have never heard of and whose purpose I'm not entirely clear on, is pitting the Automator logo (I resist referring to it by its given name *Otto*) against the oddly popular [Hula Girl](http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/dashboard/hulagirl.html) Dashboard Widget (currently #3 with a bullet) in a [battle royale](http://www.filerush.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=9373) for the coveted spot as their Apple category icon.
Hey, it's Friday.
Automated Workflows Releases More Actions
[Automated Workflows](http://www.automatedworkflows.com/) has released new Automator Actions for Photoshop, FileMaker, InDesign and iPhoto. They may be [downloaded](http://www.automatedworkflows.com/automator/actions.html) and purchased individually or as "Action Packs." More »
Red Sweater Software Announces FastScripts 2.2.1
[Red Sweater Software](http://www.red-sweater.com) announced today the release of [FastScripts 2.2.1](http://www.red-sweater.com/RedSweater/FastScripts.html), "the super-charged script utility fo Mac OS X." FastScripts is a replacement for the Applescript menu, and version 2.2.1 features support for Automator; it can be used to run workflows without launching the application. A single-user license is US$15.
MacDevCenter: Write Your Own Automator Actions
Unsatisfied with Apple's bundled Automator Actions? Matt Neuburg at [MacDevCenter](http://www.macdevcenter.com) has written a concise [overview](http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2005/05/03/automator.html) for creating your own. The article features a step-by-step approach with helpful screenshots.
Broken Destination Folders
Avoid sharing workflows that contain actions pointing to custom folder locations; these absolute paths break the workflow when another user runs it. Instead, select *Show Action When Run* so the user can choose the proper destination folder (or indicate how they should modify the workflow).