Creating a Finder plugin for sending files over Bluetooth
While the built-in Send File... and Browse Device items on the Mac Bluetooth menu are quite OK for occasional BT file shuffling, a hardcore BT addict might require a bit more. When browsing files with Finder, for instance, it would be rather convenient to quickly select a file and to push it over to a BT device (such as an S60 handset) with minimal hassle.
This is where the Mac-non-programmer equivalent of a Swiss army knife (with a bundled kitchen sink), Automator, becomes handy. Bluetooth actions are not available by default, but the nice folks at Framework Labs are offering a free (as in beer and free as in speech) Automator action for exactly this purpose: Bluetooth Object Push Automator Action.
The package comes in the form of an installer that copies the action to $HOME/Library/Automator, after which it should be detected by Automator. Please make sure that you get the latest (at the time of writing version 1.2) of the action, as an older one I grabbed from elsewhere failed to show up in Automator.
With the action installed, go ahead and create e.g. the following simple Automator action:
If you do not select the Predefined Device option, the action will prompt you for a BT device when run.
When done, select Save as Plug-in... from the Automator File menu and select Finder in the Plug-in for option menu. Lo and behold, your Finder has now gained a new feature in the Automator section of the contextual menu for sending stuff directly to a BT device. Now that wasn't hard, no?
Update 2007-05-03: As pointed out in the comments (thanks!), there is another hidden mechanism for achieving almost the same effect: select an item and hit +SHIFT+B. OS X will prompt you for a BT device and send the file via BT. The plugin approach still has the advantage of allowing you to predefine a particular device, avoiding one extra step.
Comments
does not work if you use
does not work if you use pathfinder instead of regular built in finder. if ANYONE knows of a shortcut to launch the file transfer window or the send to BT thing from within cocoatech's pathfinder, PLEASE post. thanks :D
Website is down. The only
Website is down. The only versions I can find are pretty old and don't seem to work anymore. Anyone know where to get the action?
this file is creative
this file is creative commons, somebody who already has it, please host. The above link is down
Got a better idea .. create
Got a better idea .. create an application and add it to your dock :)
HOWTO >> Finder -> Services
the solution for sending files via the finder services has one problem: only one file can be selected to send via bluetooth.
the automator script can send various files to your phone.
but now im missing a keyboard shortcut for this really nice feature.. is there a way to quickly access an automator-script?
btw: a real nice blog! i'll link/comment it on my own blog - http://www.dikay.de
BLUE TOOTH SHORT CUT
HI
THE ONLY SHORT CUT I KNOW OF AND USE FREQUENTLY IS BY :
- HIGH LIGHTING THE FILE
- HOLD DOWN COMM+SHIFT+B
- BLUETOOTH FILE EXCHANGE COMES UP FOR DEVICE SELECTION
- SEND
it only takes 5 seconds.
Droplet
That's a great hint, thanks!
I found it even more convenient to create a droplet:
In Automator, choose file>save as...> with file format 'application'.
(I don't know if this meets the propriate english words - my OS is in german)
That will create a program file which I choose to place on my desktop. Just drag the file(s) you want to send via bluetooth onto it.
Viele Grüße,
:-) Dirk
Finder->Services is your friend.
Just simply select the files you want and go to Finder->Services->Send file to Bluetooth Device
This is just interoperability with the Finder and Bluetooth application. I think the filenames are sent using the pasteboard. It's a convention many applications use.
Alternatively
Alternatively you can also just highlight an item(s), and then press Shift-Command-b to bring up the bluetooth file transfer menu. ;)
Great tip! Thanks!!
Great tip! Thanks!!
Is there a way to send files
Is there a way to send files directly to the memory card instead of "inbox"? What if you want to send a large media file?
-kap
Inbox in the memory card
You can change the default location of the Inbox to be the memory card instead of the phone memory. That way all your messages (including files sent over Bluetooth) are stored automatically in the memory card.
The setting is located in Messages -> Options -> Other -> Used memory (rough translation, my S60 phone is in Finnish :-) )
Not exactly the most elegant solution, but still a workaround, if you need to do such transfers often through Bluetooth.
Re: Is there a way to send files
Unfortunately, I am not aware of a way to move a file using the object push mechanism that the action uses to other places than the inbox.
Using the BT File Exchange utility you can push a file where you want it, but for really large media, I would go for USB.
Fab tip
I can now send items straight to my phone from finder.......Thank You.
What a great site/blog, keep up the good work
thanks
So i really want to thank you!! Don't stop your blog;) Mac user 've usually been forgotten for too long!!I'm gonna spread your blog adress through every S60(Nokia) and mac User i know:)
thank you
Thanks :)
Thanks for the encouragement. No, I don't indend to stop until someone manages to pry BOTH the N95 AND the MacBook from my cold, dead, hands :)
APPLE + SHIFT + B! Genious
APPLE + SHIFT + B!
Genious tip! thanks it has taken me hours and I was getting nowhere! great site!