One simple Automator Task

[Susja]

Hello Folks,
I have quite a simple Task. I want to automatically delete all files from Download folder except for the current day.
I thought that I could use Automator. I looked in basic steps and created the Task.
I noticed 2 issues:
1. from all conditions Automator offers in Action 'Filter Finder Items' I did not find the one I was looking for. I was looking for something like 'Date added before 'today'. I did not find any 'condition' for 'added'. Hence, I selected 'Data created' + 'is before' + current date. It should work for today ... but how about tomorrow and other days?
Does anyone know how to compile this Task for Automator?
2. second and 'weird' issue was that it was working but very inconsistent. I mean that when I tested it and moved some 'old' files ... it moved it to Trash sometimes but did not do it always. That's weird. I have no clue why it's so inconsistent ..
Could anyone share their experience?

Thanks

 

[kryten2]

Try the Shortcuts app. You can also use the mdfind or find command.

Info : An A-Z Index of the Apple macOS command line (macOS bash)

 

[Susja]

Try the Shortcuts app. You can also use the mdfind or find command.

Info : An A-Z Index of the Apple macOS command line (macOS bash)

Thank you ,
will try

 

[Susja]

Thank you ,
will try

@kryten2
- I gave up Automator because it didn't work me.
I was able to create a bash script (I used find command) that does what I want i.e. delete 'old' files but it failed to run in crontab. Error in crontab points me that the issue is that I have Standard account while I have to provide Full disc access ... anyway: now I have a valid script, but I can't schedule it in crontab.
Do you have other suggestion how to schedule the script?

Thanks

 

[kryten2]

There's a Run Shell Script action in Automator and Shortcuts. You can try a Calendar Alarm or a launch agent used by the launchd process.

Info: Attach Automator actions to the Calendar app - Script management with launchd in Terminal on Mac - LaunchControl

 

[bogdanw]

Would’t this Folder Action work? Filter Finder items – None – Date last modified – is today

 

[Susja]

Folks,
thanks for suggestions… but in my case Automator doesn’t work for any action.
when I tried run some simple action like 'echo' it also failed. Troubleshooting pointed me that my account does not have expected permissions
I tried crontab but it also didn’t work… again due to the lack of permission
for now only bash script works as I need… but I don’t have a mechanism to schedule it