How do I use the current folder name without a path as a variable in automator in Mac?

Question

I am using Mac OSX 10.8.3.

I have a workflow in Automator set up that is as follows:

1. Ask for Finder Items
2. Get Folder Contents
3. Make Sequential
4. Move Finder Items

The purpose of the workflow is to automate renaming a bunch of photos that I have saved in folders then move them to an new folder.

I want to grab the foldername and stick it in a variable and use that variable in the "new name box" in the Make Sequential section of the work flow (see attached) image.

How do I grab just the folder name and assign it to a variable. My example has a variable called "FolderName"

Here is a screenshot

Answer 1

This works in testing:

1. Ask for finder Items - set type to Folders.
2. Set Value of Variable - this will be the path to the folder taken from action 1.
3. Run Shell Script - set the Pass input : as argument. And use /usr/bin/basename "$1" as the command line to get the folder name
4. Set Value of Variable - this will be the folderName of the folder taken from action 3.

5. Get Value of Variable - set the Variable it obtains the value of to path

   5a. set action 5 to ignore input from the above action 4 - Ctrl + mouse click on the action Title to get the Contextual Menu

6. Get Folder Contents - get the contents of the folder at the path passed on from Action 5

7. Rename Finder Items - Set to Make Sequential and new name = the folderName Variable

You can add your Move actions after as you wish.

Answer 2

You can use a Run Shell Script Action, with the following code:

echo ${1##*/}

and Pass input: set to as arguments.

This will filter the passed input, giving only the file basename as output.

You should put this step before the action that sets FolderName variable.

Answer 3

I'm trying to do a similar thing but instead of rename individual files, I want to create a pdf with the files and rename that pdf with the folder name as the name for the pdf file. This is what I have but can't get it to work:

1. Ask for finder Items - set type to Folders.
2. Set Value of Variable - this will be the path to the folder taken from action 1.
3. Run Shell Script - set the Pass input : as argument. And use echo ${1##*/} as the command line to get the folder name
4. Set Value of Variable - this will be the folderName of the folder taken from action 3.
5. Get Value of Variable - set the Variable it obtains the value of to path. set action 5 to ignore input from the above action 4
6. Get Folder Contents - get the contents of the folder at the path passed on from Action 5
7. New PDF Contact Sheet - To make a PDF of a Contact sheet from passed folder
8. Rename Finder Items - Set to Name Single Item and Name: set to Basename Only with folderName Variable