Automator: Filter Finder Items selecting wrong files I wanted an Automator folder action to automatically remove old downloads from my downloads folder whenever I download a new file (I wanted to avoid making this a scheduled job).

The workflow looks like this:


When I test it, it works fine - selecting only files older than 60 days. However when I actually download a new file to the downloads folder it sends the new file to the trash.

What gives? Is the timestamp on the new file not correct until after the download finishes or something?

EDIT: I discovered that it deletes the file being added to the folder no matter what. Meaning - if I drag and drop a new file to the folder, the workflow deletes it even though the time stamp is from today.
Finder uses the kMagicBusyCreationDate for files currently being downloaded, which is 08:34:56 on 1946-02-14 (+0000).


  Use this date as a file's or folder's creation date to indicate that it is temporarily busy (while it is being downloaded or installed, for example).


What is the significance of 1946-02-14 08:34:56?

As this is well outside your date range, the file is removed immediately. Therefore you can’t use any date based checks whilst files are being downloaded.