OS X: Is Automation for inserting pictures into Notebook possible?

[Julie Baird]

I'm a foreign language teacher and use a lot of pictures in my notebook files. Is there an Apple  script or an Automator workflow that would allow me to highlight multiple picture files in the finder and import them each into a different page in a Notebook file?  This would save me a lot of time.

I'm running OS 10.6 on a MacBook. Both my Notebook and OS software is up to date.

Julie Baird

[Julie Baird]

I've been experimenting with trying to find a faster way to insert different pictures on multiple pages. I haven't found a way to do that with Automator or an Apple Script. What saved me some time was to create one page and then click on insert picture. I selected multiple pictures from the finder and they all imported onto the same page then. Then I clicked on ONE of those pictures, deleted it with command X, opened a new page, and pasted the picture. The file I created had 21 pictures. This process was faster than going up to the toolbar and clicking on insert picture for every page, but was still slower than what I would like. I tried to see if I could add a "insert picture icon" on the toolbar but that option doesn't seem to exist.

[Darren Kuropatwa]

Sounds like you were able to get all the pics onto one page quickly but then copied & pasted them one at a time onto other pages. You might also try this, it may be quicker:

 

• get all your pics onto a Notebook page as you describe above.

 

• clone the page (command-d on a mac) until you have as many pages as you need for your pics; probably 1 per page.

 

• delete unneeded pics from each Notebook page until you have a different pic on each page.

 

This isn't the elegant solution you were looking for but it might be a little quicker than what you were doing up to now. ;-)

 

Just out of curiosity, can I have a look at one of the Notebook files you've made?

[Julie Baird]

Darren, Thanks. Your solution would save me a few seconds. I would love to send you one of my notebook files. How should I send it to you?

[Darren Kuropatwa]

Thanks so much Julie!!

 

My email address is dkuropatwa {at} gmail {dot} com.

 

Cheers!

[Obe Hostetter]

Since Notebook on MAC can import pdf files easily, what if you use Automator to convert a folder of pictures to pdf and then insert that pdf into Notebook?  Just an idea.

[Julie Baird]

I haven't tried that, but I'll give it a shot.  Thanks for the tip.

[Tracey Carlson]

if you have multiple pics on a notebook page you can drag each to the small pages on the side window without having to copy or paste. Just add pages with the + button to create as many as you need.

 

Alternately select the multiple files you want  from the folder, use file  and open with preview.

It will open a window with a main window and multiple small files at the side.

You can just drag the pics from the small files using the hand tool across to an open notebook file. Add a page and repeat with next.

 

Alternately use the notebook capture tool to put each pic automatically on a new page in notebook.

 

PS what is automator?

[Darren Kuropatwa]

Hey Tracey, that's a great idea to drag & drop the pics that way!

[Julie Baird]

I agree. Wonderful tip. I forget that I can drag and drop pics and objects onto other Notebook pages.

 

Automator is a program that comes with the OS X operating system. It does a lot of things quickly such as change file names, convert files, resize photos, etc. I have just begun to start understanding how much time it can save me.