Screenshots, Screen Shot, … (macOS)

Screenshot File Name(s)

Default filename format (US): Screen Shot <date> at <time>.png”   – what has seen ‘all the time’ up to April 2023…?
Screenshot <date> at <time>.png”     – installed macOS 13 Ventura on a system 2023-04-17, more below
LWScreenShot 2023-04-15 1.17.03 PM.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”

 

macOS 13 Ventura

and now see name w/o space… Had hard time finding Not sure exact

2023-04-28 ChatGPT

Q:
(I)
Has Apple changed the default filename for screenshots recently? Earlier I got “Screen Shot”.. and now, since upgraded to macOS 13 Ventura I see “Screenshot”.
A:
Yes, you are correct. With the release of macOS Monterey (version 12), Apple changed the default filename for screenshots from “Screen Shot” to “Screenshot”. This change was made to unify the naming convention across all Apple platforms, including iOS and iPadOS.

If you have upgraded to macOS Monterey or later, you will see the new naming convention for your screenshots. However, if you are using an older version of macOS, you may still see the old naming convention.

(I) Ok,… not sure about ‘Monterey (version 12)’ – I was using that version and my Automator filename cleaning script DID work fine during that era. It was when started with a CLEAN INSTALL of macOS 13, and restore of user files from a Time Machine backup, that the Folder Actions service started failing (Screenshot-filename-Cleanup-v2.3.workflow) and changes were made (including tweaking workflow name to Screenshot-filename-Cleanup.workflow).
(A good example of how ChatGPT can be immensely better that general Internet searches… google.com/search?q=macos+name+of+screenshot+change  will give lots of findings but all (now, for me) on HOW possibly change names, not why could have changed, that Apple possibly have done something, … E.g. (which btw indicate change DID happen in macOS 12, idownloadblog.com/2015/04/16/how-to-change-name-screenshot-mac/#:~:text=When%20you%20take%20a%20screenshot,when%20the%20screenshot%20was%20taken.)

Screenshot-filename-Cleanup.workflow

2023-04-17: two changes:

  1. Removing version from workflow filename, i.e. changed Screenshot-filename-Cleanup-v2.3.workflow to Screenshot-filename-Cleanup.workflow.
  2. Tweaked filename cleaning code to handle both “screen shot” and “screenshot” (w/ or w/o space i.e., and case independent)

Scripts:

  1. Filename cleaning handling
    • Screenshot-filename-Cleanup.workflow (since 2023-04-17; was 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!

 

Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac

Cmd+Shift+3 Capture the entire screen
Cmd+Shift+4 Capture a portion of the screen
Cmd+Shift+4
then Spacebar
Capture a window or the menu bar
Cmd+Shift+5 Open Screenshot application. Which may be a little bit difficult to realize has been open. Look at bottom of screen for small bar of icons.
Can also open app via Launchpad or Spotlight and search for ‘screenshot.app’
Cmd+Shift+6 Capture the Touch Bar – on laptops that has it…

 

Take screenshots or screen recordings on Mac – support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/take-a-screenshot-mh26782/mac

På svenska: support.apple.com/sv-se/guide/mac-help/mh26782/mac