AppleScript: how to use a csv list to duplicate & rename an image?

keda · May 8, 2008 9:45AM

I have a csv list that contains a series of image names (1AMS2612.jpg, 1AMS2645.jpg, 1AMS7374.jpg, 1AMS7375.jpg, etc) and a single 'placeholder' graphic. I need to use the csv list (well contents of the file...this can be made into another format) to make a copy of the image for each entry in the list, and rename that file to the name of the entry.

Here's what I'm thinking about:

1) Get the first entry from the list (e.g. 1AMS2612.jpg).

2) Make a copy of the image file

3) Rename image file to match the entry's name (e.g. 1AMS2612.jpg)

4) Get second entry, and repeat the process

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

lundy · May 8, 2008 11:03AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keda

I have a csv list that contains a series of image names (1AMS2612.jpg, 1AMS2645.jpg, 1AMS7374.jpg, 1AMS7375.jpg, etc) and a single 'placeholder' graphic. I need to use the csv list (well contents of the file...this can be made into another format) to make a copy of the image for each entry in the list, and rename that file to the name of the entry.

Here's what I'm thinking about:

1) Get the first entry from the list (e.g. 1AMS2612.jpg).

2) Make a copy of the image file

3) Rename image file to match the entry's name (e.g. 1AMS2612.jpg)

4) Get second entry, and repeat the process

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I can help. First thing you need to specify is how to access the image given only the file name. IOW the path to the image file. Since the image files aren't named the same as the strings in the CSV list, there has to be some other way to locate them.

keda · May 8, 2008 11:34AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lundy

I can help. First thing you need to specify is how to access the image given only the file name. IOW the path to the image file. Since the image files aren't named the same as the strings in the CSV list, there has to be some other way to locate them.

Sorry, I'm an AppleScript newbie. What does IOW mean?

Just to reiterate my situation...I have a 'template' image that I need to duplicate 1098 times. Then I need to rename the files to match the listing in the csv. (1AMS2612.jpg, 1AMS2645.jpg, 1AMS7374.jpg, 1AMS7375.jpg, etc). I'm not sure if I was clear in my initial description.

Thanks!

lundy · May 8, 2008 11:47AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keda

Sorry, I'm an AppleScript newbie. What does IOW mean?

Just to reiterate my situation...I have a 'template' image that I need to duplicate 1098 times. Then I need to rename the files to match the listing in the csv. (1AMS2612.jpg, 1AMS2645.jpg, 1AMS7374.jpg, 1AMS7375.jpg, etc). I'm not sure if I was clear in my initial description.

Thanks!

In Other Words.

This seems pretty straightforward. But I need some more details.

1. Where is this template image? Is it a file on the disk somewhere? If so, we need the path to it.

2. Where is the CSV list? Is it a file on the disk somewhere?

Basically, you are going to read the CSV file and then loop duplicating the image file to some directory and renaming it as you indicated.

Applescript can do this easily. The only slightly tricky part is reading the CSV file, but I know how to do that.

Just give me the locations of the data and I will get started on the code.

lundy · May 8, 2008 12:41PM

Here's the script.

First, you need to do the following:

1. Substitute the path to your image for my placeholder.

2. Substitute the path to your CSV file for my placeholder.

3. Substitute the path to your Desktop for my placeholder in the path to the "Images" folder.

3. Make a new empty folder on the Desktop and name it Images.

Then run the script. If you turn the volume up you should hear 1098 "dings" as each file is created and moved into the Images folder.

Code:

set fileRef to open for access alias "YourDisk:Users:yourHomeFolder

esktop:CSVFile.txt "

set theList to read fileRef using delimiter ","

close access fileRef

tell application "Finder"

set theImageFile to alias "YourDisk:Users:yourHomeFolder

esktop:Image.j pg"

set theFolder to alias "YourDisk:Users:yourHomeFolder

esktop:Images: "

repeat with theItem in theList

set theImageFileCopy to duplicate theImageFile to theFolder

set name of theImageFileCopy to (theItem as Unicode text)

end repeat

end tell

NOTE: The forum software put spaces in the filename and at the end of the path in a couple of cases. You'll need to remove them.

keda · May 8, 2008 1:26PM

Wow, thanks!

I'll give it a shot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lundy

Here's the script.

First, you need to do the following:

1. Substitute the path to your image for my placeholder.

2. Substitute the path to your CSV file for my placeholder.

3. Substitute the path to your Desktop for my placeholder in the path to the "Images" folder.

3. Make a new empty folder on the Desktop and name it Images.

Then run the script. If you turn the volume up you should hear 1098 "dings" as each file is created and moved into the Images folder.

Code:

set fileRef to open for access alias "YourDisk:Users:yourHomeFolder

esktop:CSVFile.txt "

set theList to read fileRef using delimiter ","

close access fileRef

tell application "Finder"

set theImageFile to alias "YourDisk:Users:yourHomeFolder

esktop:Image.j pg"

set theFolder to alias "YourDisk:Users:yourHomeFolder

esktop:Images: "

repeat with theItem in theList

set theImageFileCopy to duplicate theImageFile to theFolder

set name of theImageFileCopy to (theItem as Unicode text)

end repeat

end tell

NOTE: The forum software put spaces in the filename and at the end of the path in a couple of cases. You'll need to remove them.

keda · May 8, 2008 2:13PM

Thank you! That worked wonderfully.

lundy · May 8, 2008 2:55PM

Glad to hear it! Was there anything in the code you want explained?

keda · May 8, 2008 4:01PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lundy

Glad to hear it! Was there anything in the code you want explained?

The code is very straightforward. This made me realize that I have absolutely no idea what AppleScript is capable of.

sparky248 · June 3, 2009 4:13PM

I used the basis of the above script from Lundy to perform a similar operation where I have a folder full of images and a csv file of only some of these images.. I want to copy from Folder-A to Folder-B ONLY the files from the list. When I made my changes to path and ran script it is copying ALL the files from Folder-A to Folder-B Event Log does show it properly reading the csv file.. What have I done incorrect.

-regards and much thanks for any help

below is my current script-

------------------------------------------------------------------------

set fileRef to open for access alias "MacDaddy HD:Users:kevinv

esktop:GMA10Kelly:PARTSGMA10.txt"

set theList to read fileRef using delimiter ","

close access fileRef

tell application "Finder"

\tset theImageFile to alias "StudioArtScratch:Hi-Res"

\tset theFolder to alias "MacDaddy HD:Users:kevinv

esktop:GMA10Kelly:HARVEST"

\trepeat with theItem in theList

\t\tset theImageFileCopy to duplicate theImageFile to theFolder

\t\tset name of theImageFileCopy to (theItem as Unicode text)

\tend repeat

end tell

imikeh · July 27, 2009 3:59PM

I have a .csv file that I open in numbers then save as .csv western- The csv contains 3 columns of names. I have 15 rows for the 3 column the rows contain the first name, last name and id #

I need to copy all that info to a .jpeg place holder I have and duplicate it. I can get it to generate copies of the jpeg but the fist and last names wont match.

I am using the script listed here then automator to convert to jpeg.

Help Help help.

Sorry if I did not explain it very well.

mdriftmeyer · July 27, 2009 4:06PM

Use the tags to keep your colons in tact.

Code:

below is my current script-

------------------------------------------------------------------------

set fileRef to open for access alias "MacDaddy HD:Users:kevinvesktop:GMA10Kelly:PARTSGMA10.txt"

set theList to read fileRef using delimiter ","

close access fileRef

tell application "Finder"

set theImageFile to alias "StudioArtScratch:Hi-Res"

set theFolder to alias "MacDaddy HD:Users:kevinvesktop:GMA10Kelly:HARVEST"

repeat with theItem in theList

set theImageFileCopy to duplicate theImageFile to theFolder

set name of theImageFileCopy to (theItem as Unicode text)

end repeat

end tell

Quoting Code: set it up as

Code:

Quote:

...

to keep the colons in tact.

Code:

Quote:

set fileRef to open for access alias "YourDisk:Users:yourHomeFolderesktop:CSVFile.t xt "

set theList to read fileRef using delimiter ","

close access fileRef

tell application "Finder"

set theImageFile to alias "YourDisk:Users:yourHomeFolderesktop:Image.j pg"

set theFolder to alias "YourDisk:Users:yourHomeFolderesktop:Images: "

repeat with theItem in theList

set theImageFileCopy to duplicate theImageFile to theFolder

set name of theImageFileCopy to (theItem as Unicode text)

end repeat

end tell

danielsau · August 30, 2009 11:42PM

I'm hoping someone could help here, please!

I'm trying to do something very similar - I need to duplicate a file "file.xml" 400 times and rename each resulting file as a value stored in a CSV list "list.csv"

I've tried to work with the code above, but I really have no idea of what I'm doing. Could someone help? Here's the code I've used so far:

set fileRef to open for access alias "Skynet:list.csv"

set theList to read fileRef using delimiter ","

close access fileRef

tell application "Finder"

\tset theImageFile to alias "Skynet:file.xml"

\tset theFolder to alias "Skynet:result"

\trepeat with theItem in theList

\t\tset theImageFileCopy to duplicate theImageFile to theFolder

\t\tset name of theImageFileCopy to (theItem as Unicode text)

\tend repeat

end tell

When I run it, I copies the file "file.xml" one time, gives one ding, and has copied the file into the folder "result". Can anyone suggest how to change the code so it copies the filename from the file "list.csv" and repeats until it runs out of filenames from "list.csv"?

Any help on this would be GREATLY appreciated -

Thanks

Dan

flybynight · October 24, 2009 10:44PM

I have a similar issue, but with multiple files. Hoping someone can help. I have some experience with AppleScript, but not much.

Basically, I have a list of files named Image_001.tif, Image_002.tiff, etc... and a list of names - can be in CSV or just about any format.

The list of names coordinates with the order of the file list.

I want to rename the photo files with the list of names. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

AppleScript: how to use a csv list to duplicate & rename an image?

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