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--- collection:Finders_Selection [2015/07/14 00:34]
peternlewis created
+++ collection:Finders_Selection [2015/12/23 12:59]
ccstone
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-The //Finder’s Selection collection// contains the paths of each selected item in the Finder.
+{{:collection:mac-finder-icon.png?nolink|}}
+====== Working with the Finder Selection ======
+**with the //[[action:For_Each|For Each Item]]// Action using the //[[:Collections|Finder's Selection Collection]]//**
-In Keyboard Maestro, you work with the Finder Selection by using the [[action:For_Each| For Each action ]] to iterate over the selected files. From there, you can do whatever you would like with the files using the various file actions, or by processing with a script or other means. Even if you are writing a macro to operate on only a single item, this is how you get that item. There is a smart action in the acton selector for For Each Path in the Finder Selection, which is simply a For Each action, preset to iterate through the Finder Selection collection. You can put whatever actions you like within that action.
+As you probably know, you can select multiple files and/or folders in the Mac Finder, and then perform a manual operation on the entire selection, like copy, move, delete, apply tags, etc.  If you have an operation that you often perform, then Keyboard Maestro can most likely automate that for you.
+===== Potential Use Cases =====
+Some examples of Keyboard Maestro macros performing operations (actions) on a Finder Selection:
+  - Move the selected files to another folder you often use for a specific purpose
+  - Assigning Mac Tags to the selection (can't be done via AppleScript)
+  - Renaming the selected files using a consistent prefix and number scheme
+  - [FIXME JM: should we add more?]
-Here are some examples. Set the Finder Label to Red (using the Plug In action for Set the Finder Label).
+[FIXME  JM:  We need to put the detail examples in the same order as listed above.  Also, I suggest that we start with a simple example, like #1 above, that does NOT require something complicated like a plugin]
-{{ :action:label-red.png?nolink |}}
+----
+===== Setup of the For Each Item Action =====
+In Keyboard Maestro, you work with the Finder Selection by using the [[action:For_Each| For Each action ]] to iterate over the selected files. For each file in the selection, you can do whatever you would like with the file using the various file actions, including an [[action:Execute_an_AppleScript|Execute Script]] Action. Even if you are writing a macro to operate on only a single item, this is how you get that item.
+In the For Each Item Action, you can add one or more of any of the Keyboard Maestro Actions.  These Action(s) will be repeated for each file in the selection.
+{{:collection:km-for-each-finder.png?nolink|}}
+----
+===== Examples =====
+**Here are some detailed examples.** \\
+The //Finder’s Selection collection// sets the //**For Each**// Variable to the full path of each file in the selection.
+Note the consistency between the first three examples. And note that you could do all three in a single For Each action if you wanted (you would have to ensure the Move was done last of course, as that will change the path to the file).
+----
+==== #1 - Move Selected Files ====
+To move the files to the Documents folder, you would do this:\\n
+[FIXME  **JM:  There is something wrong with these images.  They all have a "Fix Finder Selection Bug" checkbox on them that does NOT appear on my Actions, or in Chris's Actions.**]
+{{ :action:move-to-documents.png?nolink |}}
+----
+==== #2 - Assign Mac Tags to Selection ====
 To change the Finder Tags, you would use:
+[FIXME  **JM:  There is something wrong with these images.  They all have a "Fix Finder Selection Bug" checkbox on them that does NOT appear on my Actions, or in Chris's Actions.**]
 {{ :action:change-tag.png?nolink |}}
-To move the files to the Documents folder, you would do this:
+----
-{{ :action:move-to-documents.png?nolink |}}
+==== #3 - Rename Selected Files ====
-Note the consistency between them. And note that you could do all three in a single For Each action if you wanted (you would have to ensure the Move was done last of course, as that will change the path to the file).
+[
+Set the Finder Label to Red (using the Plug In action for Set the Finder Label).
+[FIXME  **JM:  There is something wrong with these images.  They all have a "Fix Finder Selection Bug" checkbox on them that does NOT appear on my Actions, or in Chris's Actions.**]
+{{ :action:label-red.png?nolink |}}
+----
+==== #4.  Pass the File Path to a Shell Script ====
 You can pass each file to a shell script using something like this:
@@ Line 21: / Line 71: @@
 {{ :action:pass-to-shell.png?nolink |}}
-There is a [forum topic](http://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/working-with-the-finder-selection/278) on working with the Finder selection.
+----
+==== #5.  Combining Multiple Actions in One For Each Item Action ====
+This macro will take the selected items in the Finder and perform the following Actions:
+  - Get the original File Path
+  - Generate a new sequenced name using the specified Base File Name
+    - New File Name:  `BaseFileName-n.ext` as in "`My Base File Name-1.jpg`"
+  - Add a Mac Tag to the File
+  - Rename the file using the text in the `baseFileName` variable and adding a hyphen and a sequential number to it.
+The file extension will be retained.  (A folder or a file with NO file extension will end up with a '.' at the end of the item-name, but I'll fix that soon.)
+See download link for this macro below.
+{{ :collection:working-with-the-finder-selection.png?nolink |}}
+----
+===== Downloads ====
+  - {{:collection:finder_rename_and_sequentially_number_selected_items.kmmacros|}}
+----
+===== See Also =====
+==== Documentation ====
+  * TBD
+==== Forum ====
+  * [Working with the Finder Selection](https://forum.keyboardmaestro.com/t/working-with-the-finder-selection/278)
+==== External References ====
+  * TBD

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