#Mass change date with automator mac free#

This takes the list in the order it is given and places sequential numbers before or after the file names depending on the files position in the list. The second action, “Sort Finder Items” is really optional and only makes a difference if you have the renaming action set to “Make Sequential”. The first drop-down menu allows you to choose between adding a date or time, adding text, changing uppercase/lowercase, making a sequential list or performing a find and replace for a string of text.

There are a huge amount of options in the “Rename Finder Items” action. The final action takes this list of files and modifies their file names. The second action then sorts the files by name, size, kind, or whatever you specify. You can add the files by clicking the Add button below the list before you run the workflow. When you click Run in the top right, it gets the files you have added to the list in the first action. What the workflow does is pretty straightforward. This is just the default setting, which you can change by choosing a different option from the first drop-down menu inside the action. Generally you won't want to do this, so click the 'Don't Add” button.Īlso, once added, the name of the “Rename Finder Items” action will change to “Add Date or Time to Finder Items” - don’t worry, this is normal. When you add the “Rename Finder Items” action, you will be asked if you want to create a copy of the files. Your workflow should look something like the screenshot below. First add “Get Specified Finder Items” followed by “Sort Finder Items” followed by “Rename Finder Items”. Add the following actions by dragging them from the list on the left.

Start by opening up the Automator app (in the Applications folder) and create a new workflow.

#Mass change date with automator mac free#

In the Finder this would take ages, but luckily you can use the Automator app that comes free with every make to save yourself time and effort. Often you might find you have a folder containing hundreds of files, and you want to rename them all, for example to create a numbered list.