How to Create an Automator Script to Back Up to Dropbox

Launch the Automator from your Applications Folder

Click Workflow, then Choose.

Select Files and Folders

First we have to tell Automator what files we want to back up, so click on Get Specified Finder Items and then drag it to the pane on the right. It should look like this image when you’re done.

We need to tell Automator where the files normally live that we want to back up to Dropbox so click on the Add… button

Select your file that you want to have backed up. Note that you can add several files or folders to be copied. Click Add. Repeat this process if your files are in different locations.

Next we need to tell Automator what to do with those items. In our example we want the specified files copied to another location. Note that we are copying not moving these files. Again using Files & Folders, select Copy Finder Items and drag to the right pane as the next step.

We have to tell Automator where to put the files when the files are copied, so click on the pulldown next to To: and choose Other.

In my example I want to copy files to my Feeder folder inside my backup folder inside Dropbox.

Under Copy Finder Items, make sure you select Replacing existing files so that you won’t have to click Replace every time you run your script.

You should now see your Finder items, the place they’re going to be copied to and replace existing files selected. Click Run to test out your Automator Script.

If your test run is successful you should see green check marks next to each step. If you don’t get happy check marks, go back through the steps to see where you might have made a mistake.

First we’re going to save your Workflow so if you ever want to edit it you can just reopen it in Automator. Make SURE that Workflow is chosen as the File Format.

We’re going to save again, but this time choose Save As…

This time chose Application from the pulldown and save to your Applications folder.

The last step is optional, but I really like to have my script right in my Finder Sidebar so that I can click on it any old time to run it. Now whenever you’ve been working on your file a bit and you want a quick backup to Dropbox, just click your script once in the sidebar and badabing badaboom you’re done!