HOW TO |chose when your emails are sent

1

Launch Automator

If you use Launchpad, Automator is not the most visible program – you need to go to the easily missed ‘Other’ folder that holds all the specialist apps. You’ll probably find it more convenient, and certainly faster, to open Automator through Spotlight ( ç+[ Spacebar]).

2

Make an application

When Automator loads, it will preselect the plain Workflow document type. Instead, select the Application type. Applications are workflows that can run outside of Automator, and so can be opened using other apps – for example, from events in Calendar.

3

Explore actions

In the Library panel on the left, select the Mail category. You drag items from the left into the large pane on the right to set up a sequence of actions to execute. If you have other email applications installed, such as Outlook, you might also see actions that control those apps.

4

Drag and drop

Drag the New Mail Message action into the workflow panel on the right. Add vital details: the recipient’s address, the subject line and the body text. To send multiple emails to different people, simply drag and drop another New Mail Message action below the first one.

5

The final order

Drag and drop Send Outgoing Messages to the bottom of the workflow panel, which will ensure any emails above that action will be sent. While you can add other actions before it, you must make sure that Send Outgoing Messages is the last action to run.

6

Save your application

Once all commands are in the workflow pane, save your application somewhere easily accessible, such as your Documents folder. If you’re using Automator for just emails, you will not need the app for more than one use, so feel free to trash it once it has run.

7

Set when the app runs

The easiest way to manage when your applications run is using event alerts in Apple’s Calendar app. Create an event which will act as a trigger – and if you’re using Automator to send multiple emails, make it clearly indicate how many emails will be sent.

8

Custom Alerts

Under the Alert section of the event, choose Custom > Open File. Change the setting for Calendar to ‘Other’, select your application, and change the time the alert will activate to ‘At time of event’. Your email will now be sent at that specific time – if your Mac is on.