If I want Hazel (version 6) to zip four files (file.numbers, file.xls, file.csv, and file.pdf) into one archive, once they are all saved in a watched folder (containing other files), I have to write a script?
There’s probably no built-in condition for multiple files nor a built-in action for multiple files?
I did a Google search on “hazel compress multiple files” and the top “AI” hit gave a suggestion which, while I did not test for you, seems worth a try.
I don’t use Google directly (but via SearXNG instead) and (therefore?) get different results. I tried via google.com as well, but still don’t get such a result.
If you are able to reproduce it, can you please share the URL?
(Or are AI answers not linkable? Never seen/tried those)
Copy/paste below. Did not test. If this not working, the Hazel forum has always answered my Hazel questions in the past.
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To compress multiple files using Hazel on a Mac, you can set up a rule within the application that automatically detects when a set of files appear in a specified folder, then triggers an action to compress them into a zip file, essentially allowing you to automate the process of compressing multiple files whenever they meet your defined criteria.
Key points about using Hazel to compress multiple files:
Within Hazel, you’ll need to create a rule that defines the folder to monitor and the conditions that should trigger compression (like file type, size, or date modified).
Set the action within the rule to “Create Zip Archive” and choose the desired output folder where the compressed file will be saved.
You can customize further by setting options like including subfolders, adding a custom zip filename, and choosing compression level.
Example scenario:
Thank you for sharing this!
Unfortunately this is a typical AI answer; it mentions an option that does not exist (“Create Zip Archive”; should probably be “Archive” instead?) and it does not fulfill the required task, since the suggested rule zips each file individually (as I expected); not all files in one archive.
I don’t have an account yet at the Hazel forum, but since I’m starting to seriously use Hazel, I might indeed create one after all and ask my question there. Suggestions are still welcome here though!
Yea … it “looked” good hence I suggested it, but I’ve seen same with most AI. Hazel forum your best bet. The developer monitors. They also have a good FAQ.
I’d run the same script on any file appearing in this folder. The script would check if all four exist and zip them in a new location if so.
That script is exactly what I had in mind in my first post (but haven’t tried yet; maybe later today), but I do wonder whether there is no “native” way (without scripts) to do this.
Here’s the best I could come up with. I’m watching my folder. When it has a subfolder with four files inside, it zips the subfolder.
Thanks!
That’s the best “native” solution I could think of as well.
I think I like this solution more than a script, but I might try both.
