New here, and trouble with match patterns

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New here, and trouble with match patterns Mon Aug 01, 2016 8:35 am • by arvids
I have tried to understand the in-line help and gone through the topic "using matching patterns" but it does not quite work...

This is what I have:

a folder (within DropBox) with hundreds of client folders named:
164573 Smith John
164574 Jonson J Lisa
164575 Paterson Ive Adam
and so on

On my desktop I end up with dozens of PDF files several times a day that I rename:
164573 FO
164574 STA
164573 Get FrvY
164575 FUP
164575 FrvY
and so on

I would like for Hazel to sweep the files from desktop, and sort them in to the correct folder based on the number (164573) in the file name and folder name.

When I try, I get variations of a message saying "... Source and destination are the same."

I would really appreciate a hint!

Regards

arvids
arvids
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2016 7:58 am

Re: New here, and trouble with match patterns Mon Aug 01, 2016 12:33 pm • by Mr_Noodle
Can you post your rule?
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Re: New here, and trouble with match patterns Tue Aug 02, 2016 2:50 am • by arvids
Code: Select all
if all
name matches (•DNR) (...)


Where (•DNR) is:
Code: Select all
(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)(1)


This works to pick up any file from the desktop that starts with six digits - but it's the second part I can't figure out.

I have tried to use
Code: Select all
Move to folder /Work/
Sort into subfolder (•DNR) (...)


Where /work/ is my DropBox folder - and I get Hazel to move all the files I want into /work/, but it does not move the files inside the folder with the corresponding 6 digits (i.e. 164575 Paterson Ive Adam)

Thanks
arvids
 
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2016 7:58 am

Re: New here, and trouble with match patterns Tue Aug 02, 2016 11:52 am • by Mr_Noodle
Check the logs and see if there are any errors there. Also, try previewing the rule and seeing what it grabs as DNR. Lastly, make sure you don't have any extra spaces in any of the patterns.
Mr_Noodle
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Posts: 11872
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:30 am
Location: New York City


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