Read a text file with Automator.app line by line

Question

I'm a novice at coding so please be patient with me.

I've created a Workflow with Automator (OSX) which works fine. The only issue I have is that I want it to run on a number of inputs (that is as a batch). I've inserted the Loop action but the problem I'm having is about changing the initial input each time.

I would like to use an applescript to automate the insertion of the initial input each time.

I have a TXT file with URLs. With an apple script, I'd like to copy a URL (or a line of text) to clipboard. In the next iteration I'd like to copy the next URL (or line of text).

Can anyone help?

Thank you!!

Answer 1

You can create one looping workflow (called as LinesToClipboard.workflow) what will

• get a line from an text file (not rtf, or doc)
• copy the line to clipboard
• run your current workflow
• loop again for the next line

The workflow:

• Create new automator workflow
• create a variable
  • at the bottom find the icon "Show or hide the workflow variables list" and show the workflow wariables (empty)
  • right click and "New variable..."
  • name the variable as "LineNumber"
• add actions:
  • Get Value of Variable (LineNumber)
  • Run Shell Script
  • shell: /bin/bash
  • important: change the Pass input to as arguments
  • add the following content (copy exactly, with all quotes and such):
  • in the content of script, change the /etc/passwd to the full path of your filename, like /Users/myname/Documents/myfile.txt
  • at the end of this action the clipboard will contain one line from the file

linenum=${1:-0}
filename="/etc/passwd" # full path of your text-filename
let linenum++
sed -n "${linenum}p" < "$filename" | pbcopy
echo $linenum

• Set Value of Variable (LineNumber)
• Run Workflow - add your current workflow (or the "ShowClipboard.workflow" - see bellow)
  • the Wait for workflow to finish should be checked
  • important The Output menu should be: "Return action input"
• Loop
  • add your count...
• Run Shell Script (Ignore this action's input), content one line: echo 0 (This will reset the variable LineNumber to zero, when the loop ends)
• Set Value of Variable (LineNumber)

For testing, you can create another workflow, called ShowClipboard.workflow, with an content:

• Get Contents of Cliboard
• Set Value of Variable (clipval)
• Ask for confirmation (and drag the (clipval) to the Message field)

Run the first workflow.

Screenshots (for sure) :)

The second workflow (for testing)