Using Hazel for File Size Detection

Nothing can be more frustrating than performing simple repetitive tasks on your computer, day in and day out. For example, as part of the writing I do for a website, the screenshots I use for articles can’t be larger than 580px and/or 120kb in size.

For a long while I would have to check the file size of screenshots to see if they were over 120kb. If so, I had to open them in Photoshop and resize them for web posting. And though the icon preview on my desktop would include the pixel size of screenshots, I still had to stop and resize them if they were over 580px.

But now thanks to Hazel, these repetitive tasks are done for me. Whenever a screenshot is saved to my desktop, a Hazel macro will automatically open that screenshot file in Photoshop if it’s over 120kb.

Demo: Hazel and Folder Actions

If you want to things to happen when files added to designed folder, you must get a copy of Hazel.

This is little demo shows that when add a file to a designated folder in my network to my Dropbox account, it copies that file automatically to my desktop where I want it to end it. I even get a Growl notification that the file was added to the box.

Other automation programs like Automator and QuicKeys can help you create folder actions, but Hazel simplifies the process and with much more features and options.

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more about “Demo: Hazel and Folder Actions“, posted with vodpod

The set is super easy:

Open PDFs Automatically Using Hazel

I’ll be sharing numerous tips with one of my favorite automation programs, Hazel. This application makes creating folder actions easy, and it’s a huge time saver. This tip is not an introduction to the program; it assumes you know about how to use it.

Whenever you download PDFs or save documents as PDFs to your computer, they no doubt appear on your desktop or in your download folder. You probably also open PDFs once you download or save them. Well, why not have Hazel automatically open PDF files for you, a few clicks. Here are the Hazel rules I use.