Download and Reveal a Link

Confirm a download from selected text

This Rule is a starting point for downloading a URL selected in another app. It reads text, applies the sample’s filter, asks for confirmation, and reveals a successfully downloaded file in Finder so you can inspect the result.

When: Press Option + D. Do: Get Selected Text. If: That text contains download, continue to confirmation, Download from URL, and Reveal in Finder. The filter is a literal substring check, not a general URL validator. Many valid download addresses will not pass it until you change the Condition.

Configure and try it

1. Import with Open this Rule in Rulr and review the shortcut and the download Condition. Replace the filter with criteria appropriate to your source links.
2. Select a destination folder; the sample uses Downloads. Review the 60-second download timeout and progress display.
3. Grant Accessibility and System Events Automation access for reading selected text. Use a compatible app where the selected content is the complete URL, not just a link’s visible label.
4. Try a small public test file. First cancel the confirmation, then repeat and approve it. Check that only the successful run downloads and reveals a file.

Requirements and limits

The confirmation and download Actions require Rulr Pro, plus access to the destination folder. The download is configured to stop the flow on failure, so Finder reveal depends on a successful file-path output.

This sample does not scrape a webpage for links or reproduce a browser’s authenticated session. An incomplete selection, login page, or expired URL can fail. For organizing downloaded results afterward, see Sort Downloads.