Getting Hazel to automatically create rules from csv

We have been using Hazel for a long time to automate the organization of our receipts/various accounting and project related materials. It works well but we have to constantly update and add new rules whenever we receive new clients. It would be wonderful if we could create a script to automatically export client info from Quickbooks into a folder watched by Hazel and then have Hazel recognize info within that folder and create rules based on it. For example, we have a csv file updated with all client names and invoice numbers; we get a new client and quickbooks automatically generates a new csv with the updated info. Hazel sees that the change has been made and creates a rule related to the new client's invoice number ["If this invoice number, then move file here"]. Is this possible??

No, there is not a way to hazel to automatically create new rules.

That said, can you post a few example rules and the CSV? I can almost guarantee that Hazel can accomplish what youre asking for without separate rules for each client.

Here are two examples of our rules. Each is set up to recognize the invoice numbers on documents within our scanning Inbox folder and then move the documents to the appropriate customer folder on our computer. Many customers have multiple invoice numbers as contracts constantly change/more work is added, and thus Hazel must be constantly updated.

I don't have the csv file yet, as it's something we are just thinking about doing. But essentially it would just include a full list of customers and every open invoice number as a separate line item.

I hope this helps! Thank you so much for your feedback.

You may want to edit your post as the images aren't coming out for me.

Mr_Noodle wrote:You may want to edit your post as the images aren't coming out for me.

For some reason it's relatively common for inline image not to display on this forum. Workaround (with Safari; similar with other browsers): Right-Click a boxed '?' image placeholder and select Open Image in New (Window|Tab).

sjk wrote:
Mr_Noodle wrote:You may want to edit your post as the images aren't coming out for me.

For some reason it's relatively common for inline image not to display on this forum. Workaround (with Safari; similar with other browsers): Right-Click a boxed '?' image placeholder and select Open Image in New (Window|Tab).

Yes, doing that worked for me!

Sorry that it has taken me a few days to reply, but yes you should absolutely be able to accomplish this in a single Hazel rule for all your clients, presuming that the client number and the folder are contained within your csv.

One last question though. What file types are these? Are the invoices text or PDF?