J&P
Sverige / USA
J&P

Screenshots, Screen Shot, … (macOS)

 

 

Default filename format (US): “Screen Shot <date> at <time>.png”
 Preferred: “<date> <time>.png”
I.e. 1) Removing starting “Screen Shot “, incl. ending space
2) Removing “at “, including a space
Ex. From: “Screen Shot 2011-12-10 at 15.29.55.png”
To…..: “2011-12-10 15.29.55.png”

 

  1. Filename cleaning handling
    • Screenshot-filename-Cleanup-v2.3.workflow
      • Installed in $HOME/Library/Services/
        • Thus also available as a Service including via Finder contextual pop-up menu
      • Include a shell script
        • $HOME/Library/Services/Screenshot-filename-Cleanup-v2.3.workflow/screenshotscleanfilename.sh “$@”
  2. Folder Action script
    • Screenshot Cleanup Folder Action.workflow
    • Installed in $HOME/Library/Workflows/Applications/Folder Actions/
    • Use must be configured via Finder pop-up menu, tying to specific folder
      • Nowadays “Downloads”
  3. Folder Action Script (2)
    • Move Entries to Downloads.workflow
    • Installed in $HOME/Library/Workflows/Applications/Folder Actions/

Installation

  1. Make sure files above are installed in locations as shown above
  2. For Downloads folder
    1. In Finder, go to $HOME folder
    2. Select Downloads folder
    3. Finder pop-up menu > Services > Folder Actions Setup
    4. Scroll down list in Script to Attach list, select Screenshot Cleanup Folder Action.workflow
    5. Make sure script is selected for folder AND checkbox is checked.
  3. For Desktop folder
    1. In Finder, go to $HOME folder
    2. Select Desktop folder
    3. Finder pop-up menu > Services > Folder Actions Setup
    4. Scroll down list in Script to Attach list, select Move Entries to Downloads.workflow
    5. Make sure script is selected for folder AND checkbox is checked.
  4. Close dialog for attaching scripts.
  5. That’s it.

What happens, when screenshot is taken.

  1. Screen Shot file is created on Desktop, per macOS std behavior
  2. The Move Entries .. Folder Action will move file into Downloads
  3. Then the Screen Cleanup … Folder Action will trigger workflow and shell script for actually fixing filename.

The extra step of moving files out of Desktop into Downloads is simply for TWO primary reasons:

  1. Keeping all sorts of ‘downloaded’ files in one single place.
    • (The Move folder action actually moves ANY *file* dropped onto Desktop, though EXCLUDING *folder* [dropped, created])
  2. Keeping Desktop clean. Lots of entries on desktop has – at least historically – had an adverse effect on performance of computer. Keep it Clean!