Automation Tasks were introduced in Alfred 5 to allow you to build even more complex Workflows without a line of code. Nothing beats introducing someone to Automation Tasks, and seeing the world of new ideas they spark!
With Alfred 5.1, they've had a big upgrade; New Automation Tasks were added, and installation, auto-updating and searching is even easier now.
New installation mechanism and auto-updates
When navigating the Workflow Preferences, Alfred lets you know if Automation Tasks updates are available.
Turn on auto-updates and you'll never have to wonder if you have the latest version.
New ways of searching Automation Tasks
Automation Tasks can now be searched for and added directly from the Workflows Palette, helping you filter and find what you want faster.
New Automation Tasks
New tasks have been added, including keyboard simulation (media keys, volume keys, screen and keyboard brightness keys), clicking menubar items, opening in Quick Look, timezone conversion, and general improvements to existing tasks.
We add new tasks regularly, so do check the Automation Tasks object periodically to discover what new ones you can include in your own workflows!
More ways of providing input
Tasks like Does Path Exist? used to have no configuration. Instead, you'd need to have the preceding object (or Inbound Configuration) send it the path to check. This makes the task versatile, allowing dynamic paths or multiple paths to be specified. But sometimes you always want to act on the same fixed file, or you saved it as a variable earlier in the workflow and don't want to add a new Arg and Vars Utility just to pass that in.
So we added an alternative: Automation Tasks which require an input can now have it be given from the preceding object or from configuration directly in the task ({var:} variables work). This makes them easier to set up for simple cases, while keeping the more powerful functionality. And it gives you more hints of what's happening!
Future Automation Tasks
This update gives you new functionality to play with while strengthening the framework Automation Tasks are built upon. New ones will continue to be added with these improvements for all Alfred 5 users.
If you're just discovering Automation Tasks, this Introduction to Automation Tasks is a good place to start.
You can also ask questions about using them in our friendly community forum.
Amongst all the new features in Alfred 5.1, there is an inconspicuous new workflow object: the Expression Utility. It allows you to do maths calculations within your workflow without having to code a script.
It became immediately useful in the Yak Saver Workflow. Because it uses a Delay Utility which waits a number of seconds, you'd have to do some arithmetic yourself to configure the desired wait time.
Now we can ask for minutes and let the Expression Utility do the maths.
Much better! A small change which makes a big difference.
Download the Yak Saver Workflow or browse the Alfred Gallery.
Alfred 5.1 was released this week; It's a major update adding a wide range of improvements to Automation Tasks and the Alfred Gallery integration, Clipboard History and Snippets, and much more.
You can update to Alfred 5.1 from the Update tab in the preferences, or download it from alfredapp.com.
Automation Tasks Auto-Updater
Automation Tasks make it effortless to perform a wide variety of tasks; From changing your wallpaper or opening a new Safari tab to moving windows and converting dates and times.
There are over 150 tasks currently available already, which can be used as building blocks to create more complex workflows without writing a single line of code!
To support this, we've added the ability to keep these Automation Tasks auto-updated; In Workflows > Alfred Gallery > Automation Tasks Options..., check the box next to "Automatically keep Automation Tasks up to date" to ensure you always have the most recent version.
If you're a workflow creator, you can also add the Automation Tasks to the Palette to make them easier to add to your own workflows; They'll then be included in the Palette search results for fast access.
The Workflow Gallery is Growing
The Alfred Gallery now contains more than 150 curated workflows and continues to grow with so many more to be added. Be sure to check out the Gallery and grab some new favourites!
Take a look at the Change Log for the full list of changes and improvements in this release.
Update: The new OpenAI ChatGPT / DALL-E workflow by the Alfred team is now the recommended way to interact with ChatGPT.
You can download the official ChatGPT / DALL-E workflow from Alfred Gallery.
Chatfred: A blog post by ChatGPT
Chatfred is an incredible Alfred workflow created by Chris Lemke that empowers Mac users to chat and generate images using state-of-the-art AI models like ChatGPT and DALL-E 2. To use Chatfred, users will need to sign up for an account with OpenAI and create an API key as this is essential to use the workflow. Don't worry, creating an account is easier than pronouncing "DALL-E"!
This workflow is a game-changer for anyone looking to enhance their productivity and creativity while using their Mac. With Chatfred, you can chat and generate images directly from Alfred without switching between apps or browsers. It's fast, easy, and convenient. The support for AI models like ChatGPT and DALL-E 2 makes Chatfred a standout workflow that can help you generate human-like responses and create stunning images with ease.
To use Chatfred, simply type the "cf" trigger keyword (or "cfi" for images) and the name of the model you want to use into Alfred's search bar. Then follow the prompts to generate your chat or image.
Chatfred is a must-have for anyone looking to streamline their workflow and take advantage of the latest AI technology. And hey, who knows, maybe you'll even be able to outsource some of your chatting to Chatfred so you can focus on other things... like telling more terrible jokes!
Download the Chatfred workflow on Alfred Gallery
Download the official ChatGPT / DALL-E workflow on Alfred Gallery
Note: While ChatGPT wrote the article, I added relevant links and formatting.
Image credit: Created using DALL-E 2 via the Chatfred workflow, using the query "Photorealistic futuristic powerful AI productivity machine in cityscape, with purple and turquoise colours".
Curious about creating your own workflows but not sure where to start? We've got you covered with the built-in Getting Started Guide to Workflows and the Alfred Gallery!
The Getting Started Guide
You'll find a built-in guide introducing you to workflows and how to configure them in the Alfred 5 Preferences.
We created this guide so that absolute beginners could find their way with ease.
To begin, open Alfred's preferences to the Workflows tab and click the "Getting Started Guide":
There are four short guides covering different aspects. Each guide is also accompanied by a companion page with more details.
The Alfred Gallery
The Alfred Gallery is the official source for Alfred workflows, providing you with an easy and safe way to discover workflows created by our amazing community. All it takes is one click of the "Install in Alfred" button!
Take a look at the Alfred Gallery's "Learning" tag; We've identified some simple, script-free workflows you can use to understand how they're made.
As well as being tagged, they're also marked with the Learning icon in the top left.
Some of the workflows include notes to guide you through what each object does.
Join our Community to Share Ideas
You can join the Alfred Forum if you have any questions while creating your workflows, or when you choose to share your creations with the community.
