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Installing Actions and Plug-ins
Actions should be installed in either: /Library/Automator/ or ~/Library/Automator/. Create the "Automator" folder if it doesn't exist. They will appear in Automator under the appropriate application name. More »
Sample Manager 2.1 with Actions Released
[Audiofile Engineering](http://www.audiofile-engineering.com) has released version 2.1 of Sample Manager, their batch audio processor for Mac OS X, which now supports Automator with 28 actions. Sample Manager is priced at $69, upgrades for registered users are $19.
Spiderworks Releases Automator Book
[SpiderWorks](http://www.spiderworks.com) has announced the book release of *Mac OS X Technology Guide to Automator* by Ben Waldie. Only days after the release of Mac OS X Tiger, this is the first published book dedicated to Automator. It's available from the SpiderWorks web site as an eBook for $14.95 (US) and a printed softcover edition for $29.95 (US). Check out the free [PDF Preview](http://www.spiderworks.com/books/automator.php).
Andy Ihnatko Calls Automator “Ginchy”
Old school Mac pundit Andy Ihnatko offers up [his impressions](http://www.themacobserver.com/columns/ihnatko/2005/20050429automator.shtml) of Automator at The Mac Observer. Be warned; he also uses the term "gorblimey".
Apple Posts Automator Programming Guide
Apple Developer Connection has posted its Automator Programming Guide. This 84 page tome [[pdf](http://developer.apple.com/documentation/AppleApplications/Conceptual/AutomatorConcepts/AutomatorConcepts.pdf)] explains everything you always wanted to know about coding Automator Actions (but were afraid to ask).
FileMaker Pro 7 adds Automator Support
Filemaker has announced "FileMaker Pro 7 users will experience immediate compatibility with Apple's new Mac OS X Tiger," and will include future support for Automator. FileMaker president Dominique Goupil said, "While Tiger users can get productive right away using FileMaker Pro 7, we also are planning on leveraging Automator's approach to streamlining repetitive tasks."
Doug’s Automator Actions for iTunes
Doug's Applescripts has released Doug's Actions for iTunes vol. 1, a collection of seven useful iTunes Automator Actions.
Automator World Updates…
It's been a crazy few days here at AW since the release of Tiger, and the response to this site has been overwhelming! This tells me people are really eager to get their hands wet with Automator. More »
DropDMG 2.6 Adds Action
Michael Tsai 's utility [DropDMG 2.6](http://c-command.com/dropdmg/) now includes an Automator Action. DropDMG is a utility for creating and converting disk images and archives.
Apple launches Automator Actions Page
Apple has opened their Automator Actions site to the public. So far most of the available actions are demos, but they're fully functional. Check it out, download some actions, write a killer Workflow and share it here!
BBEdit 8.2 Automator Actions
Bare Bones has released BBEdit 8.2, which features a host of Automator Actions along with other bug fixes and enhancements. A page detailing the Automator support includes a [summary](http://www.barebones.com/products/bbedit/automator.shtml) of the included actions, along with a screenshot of it in action.
More »
Drag and Drop Files to Automator
Drag-and-Dropped files or folders to Automator will automatically appear as "Get Specified Finder Item" Actions. This is helpful if you want to make a quickie one-time workflow on specific files, or you want to test out a workflow without having to save it and test repeatedly on Finder items.
Apple Posts Action Installation Info for Developers
Apple has posted Installation Instructions for Developers, consisting of simple instructions to aid developers in sharing their Spotlight Plug-Ins, Dashboard Widgets and Automator Actions. More »
Workflows Updated
I've updated the two sample Workflows, [Email Images](http://www.automatorworld.com/2004/07/02/email-images/) and [Convert to Sepia](http://www.automatorworld.com/2004/07/01/convert-image-to-sepia640/) to work properly with the latest version of Automator. More interesting and useful Workflows will be coming soon!
Automator and Burning Guitars
If you're on the left coast in May, check out the [Applescript Pro Session](http://www.scriptingmatters.com/aspro) being held May 2-6 in Monterey, California. According to [MacMinute](http://www.macminute.com/2005/04/14/aspro/), AppleScript Pro sessions *"will include coverage of Tiger, including AppleScript changes in the new OS version and Automator"* and *"will cover creating workflows in Automator, and building actions in AppleScript Studio."* If you don't get the title of this news item, you're too young.