Sort multiple files into one subfolder then move folder.

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Moderator: Mr_Noodle

I know this is probably super easy and really what Hazel does with its eyes closed. But I can't figure it out. All I need to do is create a rule which looks a folder full of .mov files and:

1. Renames each .mov file based on the date was created.
2. Sorts each .mov file created on the same date into the same subfolder and names that subfolder based on the created date of the files contained inside
3. Moves that subfolder to a directory on an attached drive.

So, for example, if I had 12 .mov files - 4 shot on 11/09/11, 2 shot on 11/10/11, 5 shot on 11/11/11 and 1 shot on 11/12/11 Hazel would:

Create 1 folder called (for instance) IPHONE_110911 and place the 4 movies shot on that date in it
Create 1 folder called (for instance) IPHONE_111011 and place the 2 movies shot on that date in it
Create 1 folder called (for instance) IPHONE_111111 and place the 5 movies shot on that date in it
Create 1 folder called (for instance) IPHONE_111211 and place the 1 movie shot on that date in it

It would then move all the folders to the other directory on the attached drive.

I've got the renaming part down (at least for the .mov files) and I can create a subdirectory for each. But then I just get multiple copies of folders (i.e. IPHONE_110911, IPHONE_110911_1, IPHONE110911_2, etc.) each with only 1 file in it.

Any guidance would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks!
ericwass
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2011 12:18 am

Move the files to the other folder first then sort it into subfolders. It won't create new folders if they exist but since in your solution, you are moving the created subfolders, they are created anew each time and then the whole folder is moved over resulting in dupes.
Mr_Noodle
Site Admin
 
Posts: 11865
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:30 am
Location: New York City

Thanks for getting back to me, Mr. Noodle. That worked really nicely. Problem is I'm getting errors when Hazel tries to move some (but not all) of the files. I checked the log: bunch of -47 File is Busy errors. What do you think?
ericwass
 
Posts: 13
Joined: Tue Jun 14, 2011 12:18 am

Are you moving across drives? If so, then this error may occur if you have the file open when Hazel tries to do a move.
Mr_Noodle
Site Admin
 
Posts: 11865
Joined: Sun Sep 03, 2006 1:30 am
Location: New York City


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