A Better Computer
Check out Hazel
My “convert to JPG” shortcut https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/432bea4a7bf548dfa3d8b1525ef15772
Apple Frames on MacStories https://www.macstories.net/stories/apple-frames-3-1-extending-screenshot-automation-with-the-new-apple-frames-api/
0:00 – Welcome!
0:24 – Imposter syndrome
1:17 – Moving old downloads
2:27 – Convert bad images to JPG
3:53 – Move files to a media server
5:22 – Automatic Apple Frames
7:01 – Mark old apps I can probably uninstall
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Follow Matt:
Mastodon: https://isfeeling.social/@matt
Blog: https://birchtree.me
I use ls.graphics to make all my device mock ups. Check them out here https://ls.graphics/?via=matt
Hi Matt, great vid, thanks – is this all still working for you? Not sure what happened recently but my Hazel (or my Shortcuts) started playing silly buggers. Can't figure out what changed but it's disrupted my workflow! Thought I'd just check if this is unique to me!
I have an SSD external drive attached to my Mac mini. When I record videos or download sound clips, I put them in specific folders inside another main folder on my desktop. Is there some automation that could copy anything I copy into this main folder into my external SSD?
For example, the main folder on the desktop is called YouTube videos and there are five or six sub folders inside if I were to copy something into a sub folder, can Hazel or some other automation copy it to the SSD?
Hazel is an app which actually does everything that Automator can do and takes money for doing it, when automator is free.
Thanks for your videos, you always aspire me to use my computer better but to also be a better person everyday.
Thank you great insight!
How Am I just now hearing about this app. WOW
I also found out about Shortcuts thanks to this video. This is awesome!
I get "file not found" if I click on your link to download your shortcut to convert to jpg. Thanks for these great tips. (PS – I see you don't typically respond to people here but hopefully you will on this one. Thanks.)
Really like this app so far but I have run into a frustrating bug with it where it greys out the 'No shortcut selected' option so I am unable to set up any shortcut driven actions within it. Frustrating as the Apple Frames thing is such a cool idea. Anyone got any ideas on how to fix?
You have any tips on how to set up a hazel automation to send a notification to my phone or just create a reminder so that I know when my video has fully exported from FCP? I export HDR videos so it takes quite a while compared to SDR vids.
Can these things be done in Automator out Shortcuts?
Can you do a tutorial on Moom.
Thank you so much! I've had Hazel for years and continue paying for new versions but have never really known how to use it! UGH. This was super helpful.
I love Hazel and use it (mainly) to keep my Desktop uncluttered. I take a lot of screenshots and drop a lot of memes and assorted images onto my desktop. Hazel will automatically move all Desktop files to a subfolder on my Desktop, unless I apply a tag instructing Hazel to otherwise. Hazel will apply a "Screenshot" tag to screenshots, and an "Images" tag to other images. After 3 days in that subfolder, Hazel will move "Screenshots" and "Images" corresponding folders.
However, if I tag files on my Desktop, Hazel will (depending on the tag and rule) let them sit on my Desktop permanently, or just for a specified number of days, or immediately move/sort the the files to a corresponding folder.
I have a "Categories" folder inside Documents. The Categories folder contains about a dozen subfolders of broad categories (e.g. Art, Fun, Help, Learning, Personal, Social, etc.), each with corresponding tags. When I tag a file on my Desktop with one of those categories, Hazel will move it to the corresponding category folder. (And some category folders have subfolders with corresponding tags, which Hazel will also sort to).
I also use Hazel to sort my Downloads folder. Old, unsorted files go into a subfolder, like your example. Other files are sorted into a Backups folder where I keep the DMGs and registration information, should I ever need to reinstall them. Alfred Workflows, for example, are automatically tagged and moved to Backups>Alfred>Workflows.
RE: OCR. I made a Shortcut that renames image files using the text pulled from the image via OCR. It's handy for memes and other image files, whose file names are often just a string of random numbers. Currently I run it with a key shortcut as needed, but I should probably add this to the Hazel workflow. (I just need to think a bit about the conditions)
P.S. I love your idea to automatically convert Web files to JPEGs, and tagging applications that you haven't used recently. I will give both of those a try. Thank you for the suggestions!
Hazel has saved me so much time over the years. I get it to organise all my invoices into folders. I also use it to organise my receipts (amazon, etc) when I download them it automatically recognises them and renames them etc and organises. It's an incredible application.
Hi, nice vid, you did mention briefly about ocr and pdf, where can I learn about that. Basically, I have a folder of certificates in pdf with names that mean nothing, and I want Hazel to rename them as per the course on the certificate? Hoping somebody can point me in the right direction. An Advanced Hazel video would be great. or a website or such like shortcuts that people can dowload rules to use in Hazel with modifications
I haven’t heard of Infuse—would love to see how it works!
I downloaded Hazel after seeing you mention it quickly in a recent video. Love the idea of it… but wow.. I was so confused with the directions, and even the done-for-you rules that you can modify. My trial hasn't expired yet, and I wasn't sure if I was going to make the purchase or not. SOOO glad that you made this video, because it looks much simpler than I was making it out to be. Also, I had never heard of Infuse until one of your recent videos, and I am LOVING that! Sooo much easier than converting and adding to the TV App.
Really respect the humble intro, about not knowing everything about the program. I can relate to being unsure whether you're qualified to talk about a topic or not; but, your knowledge is useful to many people despite not knowing everything. So thanks for sharing!
Hadn't thought about attaching Apple Frames. Great idea! I also use Hazel for automatically unzipping files, removing old DMGs, moving old download and desktop items to an archive folder, etc. Great little app!
Looks like another great suggestion! Thanks!
Wow, thanks for the great find! It's almost like a local Zapier, which is enormously useful. Love that it's a single purchase and not subscription.
is your facecam edit a final cut pro plug-in? if so, whats it called? looks smooth!
Very cool. I’ll definitely be downloading it! Well done on the presentation.
Is there a windows alternative for hazel?
Definitely going to buy it. Thank you.