Create, edit, and run a workflow

Before you start

Create and check at least two presets first. A workflow uses the saved presets themselves, not independent copies. Use disposable files for the first test, particularly when a step removes or replaces tags.

Wait for any active operation to finish and stop a pending countdown before changing the workflow. For creating its component presets, see Create, edit, and apply a preset.

Create the workflow

1. Choose Actions > Manage Presets....
2. Select Workflows at the top.
3. Click New workflow (+) beside WORKFLOWS.
4. Enter a unique workflow name and press Return.

An empty workflow is saved, but it is not ready to run until it contains at least two different presets.

Add presets to the workflow

1. Still in the Workflows tab, select All Presets in the left-hand list.
2. Use the search field if needed and select the checkboxes beside the presets you want to include.
3. Click Assign to Workflow.
4. Click the new workflow so its assignment is checked, then close the popover.
5. Select that workflow in the left-hand list.

Its presets appear as numbered steps. Check this order explicitly; do not assume the order in which you checked the boxes became the execution order.

To add another preset later, return to All Presets and repeat the assignment. A preset can be used in several workflows. Assigning a preset already present in the same workflow does not create a second occurrence of it.

Change the step order

1. Select the workflow in Manage Presets > Workflows.
2. Clear the list's search field so you can see the entire sequence.
3. Select the checkbox for exactly one step.
4. Click Move Up (↑) or Move Down (↓) to change its position.
5. Repeat until the numbered list is in the intended order.

Changes save as you make them. Close Manage Presets, select the workflow in the main sidebar, and open View > Inspector > Workflow to review the sequence again.

Edit a step's settings

1. In the main window, stop any pending countdown and select the workflow.
2. Open View > Inspector > Workflow.
3. Click the step you want to inspect. This selects its preset in the main window.
4. Edit that preset's Tags or Filters settings as needed.
5. Select the workflow again in the sidebar before running the whole sequence.

Selecting a step does not create a separate workflow-only editor. Its changes also affect the preset when used on its own and in other workflows.

To keep another workflow's behavior unchanged, create a separate preset with the required settings and assign that preset instead. Do not assume a workflow has copied or frozen an earlier version of the preset.

Choose the files and run

1. Select the workflow in the main sidebar, not an individual step.
2. Choose Manually in the execution timing menu beside Apply. This saves the workflow's timing choice.
3. For nested files or Finder aliases, check View > Inspector > Filters > File Selection after selecting the workflow. Set Subfolders or Aliases as needed and wait for the list to update.
4. Add files or review those already in the workspace. Check the workspace filename search.
5. In List View, select the target files. With no selection, the workflow starts from all eligible visible files in its file-only starting set.
6. Open View > Inspector > Workflow and check the selected workflow and numbered sequence.
7. Click Apply and wait for completion.
8. Inspect the resulting file tags and any Skipped explanation in the status area.

The workflow has its own run timing. Its presets' individual timing choices do not add separate waits between steps.

Remove a step, rename, or delete a workflow

To remove steps, open Manage Presets > Workflows, select the workflow, check the unwanted steps, and click Remove from Workflow. Their presets remain available elsewhere. Keep at least two steps for the workflow to remain runnable.

To rename a workflow, double-click its name, enter the new name, and press Return.

To delete it, move the pointer over its name in Manage Presets > Workflows and click Delete workflow.

When the result is not what you expected