Make A Superfast iPhoto Mini-Browser With Automator

ByMike Moffit

I use iPhoto to store all of my digital photos, as well as most other digital images I’ve created or downloaded on my Mac (including Photoshop and Fireworks files.) Images with titles or keywords are searchable in Spotlight, so these are easy to find.

Images lacking titles and keywords require me to launch iPhoto to look for them. To save time, I don’t always want to launch iPhoto. Fortunately, if you have OS 10.4, it’s very easy to use Automator (included as part of 10.4) to create a superfast, mini-iPhoto browser. Here’s how:

1. Launch Automator and open a new project by clicking on File > New.

2. The left side of the Automator window is divided in two panes: Library and Action. Under the Action listing, browse the list until you find the iPhoto action called “Ask for Photos.” Drag this action over to the right side of the Automator window.

3. There are two ways to save this workflow: as a plugin for Finder, or as an application. To save as a plugin, in Automator browse to File > Save as plugin. Name the plug-in “minibrowser.”

Now, with with a single right-click (or control click) on your Macs desktop or in any Finder window you can launch the minibrowser. Simply right-click (or control click) on your Macs desktop or in any Finder window, and browse down the contextual menu to Automator > minibrowser. The iPhoto mini-browser should open right up.

You can also save the Automator workflow as an application. To do this, in Automotor browse to “File > Save As. ” A dialog box opens with a drop down-menu called “File Format.” Open this window, and choose “Application.” Name this application “minibrowser,” and save it to your desktop, or to your Applications folder. You can then drag the icon into the dock for easy access.

When you want to launch the mini-broswer, all you have to do is double click on the minibrowser application icon. This icon works exactly like any other application that you would install on your computer.

You can drag full-resolution photos and images out of this mini-browser to your desktop, into an email, or even into an image editor like Photoshop or Photoshop Elements!

Similar Posts

  • Take Control Ebooks

    I enjoy all of the Take Control ebooks. They are among the best instructional books I’ve used in any format. Take Control titles…

  • Showing Tab Bar in Safari 3

    I love to use tabs in Safari. I find it much better then having 10 or 20 windows open for each website I…

  • De-authorize your iTunes Account Before Hardware Repair or Sale

    Pretty much everyone has downloaded media from the iTunes store, but not too many of us know just how iTunes keeps track of computer authorization. Every device on the internet has at least two unique identifiers: a MAC address and an IP address.

    MAC is an acronym for Media Access Control. Many believe that Mac, the abbreviation for Macintosh, should be written with capital letters – this is incorrect. Likewise, iPod – not iPOD or IPOD; iMac – not iMAC or IMAC; etc. Network interfaces have MAC addresses; Macintoshes can be called Macs.

    Since your MAC address is completely unique, it’s the ideal way for iTunes to know that you’re authorized to play purchased content on any given machines. Trouble is, your ethernet port is part of the main logic board, which requires replacement in some repairs. With a new main logic board comes a new MAC address, which confuses iTunes and some other, generally high-end, software.

    You’re allowed to authorize up to five computers at any one time to play your purchased content, but replacing your logic board changes the MAC address. If you didn’t de-authorize before repair, you’ve lost 20% of your available authorizations. I made this mistake a few years ago when I had to replace the logic board in a Mac Mini hooked up to my television, and when I sold my iBook. I also lost an authorization when my two-week-old PowerBook G4 flew off the roof of my car at highway speed. Thankfully, iTunes allows you to de-authorize all computers on your account once annually.

    I only have one Machine these days, a 17-inch MacBook Pro, so this hasn’t been a problem of late for me. It’s a common question asked our technical support team, and a good fix to file in your troubleshooting arsenal.

    The full details from Apple can be found here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1420

  • The Languages Diet

    If you’re running low on disk space or just want to slim down the sizes of some applications on your computer then this…