If you are using a file management application other than Paperless, you may be looking for ways to import data from the previous application to Paperless. There are three methods available to import data from another file management application to Paperless: AppleScript, Terminal command, and Finder. We explain each of these methods below.

Use AppleScript

Certain commands and data points in Paperless can be accessed through AppleScript. With AppleScript, you can import new library items to Paperless.

For more information on how to use Paperless with AppleScript, please see the scripting definitions (SDEF) file for Paperless. To display scripting definitions for Paperless, follow these steps:

1. In Finder, locate the Paperless application file.

2. Drag the Paperless application file onto the icon for AppleScript editor.

If the program you are importing from also supports AppleScript, it may also be possible to export information from the program using AppleScript, to make it possible to transfer library items, metadata, and source files directly from the application you were using previously to Paperless. It should generally be possible to determine whether another application supports AppleScript by viewing the scripting definitions file for that application; for additional information on AppleScript support in other applications, please review documentation by the program's developer.

Unfortunately, we do not provide any support of- or instruction to use AppleScript.

Use Terminal/ Shell Commands

Files can also be imported to Paperless using the open command. This command handles a specified file as though you had dropped it onto the Paperless icon in Finder (or in the Dock). One way you can use the open command is like this:

$ open -b com.marinersoftware.paperless /path/to/file.pdf

The segment /path/to/file.pdf represents the path to the file(s) you would like to import.

If you are able to access image- or PDF files archived by your previous file management application, it should be possible to use the open command to load these files into Paperless as new library items.

For more information on the open command that is most relevant to your machine, run the command man open in Terminal. Apple makes archived manpages for the open command available online, here.

Unfortunately, we do not provide any additional support of- or instruction to use Terminal commands.

Use Finder

If you can access the image- and PDF files files saved by the other file-management program, you should also be able to import them by dragging and dropping the files from Finder. You can drag files from Finder to any of the following locations to import them to Paperless:

• The Paperless icon in Finder. If a Paperless library is open when you do this, Paperless will import the dropped files to the library with the topmost visible library window in Paperless.

• The Paperless icon in Dock. If a Paperless library is open when you do this, Paperless will import the dropped files to the library with the topmost visible library window in Paperless.

• The library window for an open library. Files dropped onto an open library window will be imported to that library.

• A library droplet. Files dropped onto a library droplet will be imported to the library associated with the droplet. We provide additional documentation of library droplets in this knowledge base article.