Hi Ed, Not sure if this is useful or not, but I found a bunch of PDF files on apple's website detailing Automator and AppleScript. Might be a good start? cjc On 23/05/2008, at 3:28 PM, Ed Gould wrote: > I am spending way too much time doing a repetitive tasks of moving > files around. > > I guess I need some sort of scripting language that will allow me to > automate this task. I know I will never be able to totally automate > it as (at times) it needs human judgement, but I can live with the > "few" exceptions. > > Simply put I need to move a file from one folder to another folder > (BUT) if there is a duplicate don't move it. > The from folder will remain constant but the receiving folder will > change depending on the first character of the file. > > I am somewhat familiar with one or two other scripting languages but > have zero knowledge on anything Apple might have. > > Can someone suggest a scripting language that will be able to test > easily if a file exists and *move* files from foldera to folderb (or > "c" or "d" or "e" etc) > > At first a friend suggested automater but he looked at it and said > he didn't think so. > > I would like to be able to use (what I call symbolics or someone > might call a variable) eg: move &1stchartest.pdf to folder&1stchat > \&1stchartest.pdf > this would (if 1st char was say a) move atest.pdf folder\atest.pdf > I know the example is not clear but the scripting language needs to > be able to actually move files and be able to have variable names > used in the file move as well as destinations. > > The languages I know this is extremely simple so I am guessing there > is one for Apple as well. > > Is there one, if so what is a decent book on it? > > Thanks, > > Ed > > ps: If it makes any difference I am stuck on 10.4 for the > foreseeable future