--- name: shortcuts-generator description: Generate macOS/iOS Shortcuts by creating plist files. Use when asked to create shortcuts, automate workflows, build .shortcut files, or generate Shortcuts plists. Covers 1,155 actions (427 WF*Actions + 728 AppIntents), variable references, and control flow. allowed-tools: Write, Bash --- # macOS Shortcuts Generator Generate valid `.shortcut` files that can be signed and imported into Apple's Shortcuts app. ## Quick Start A shortcut is a binary plist with this structure: ```xml WFWorkflowActions WFWorkflowClientVersion 2700.0.4 WFWorkflowHasOutputFallback WFWorkflowIcon WFWorkflowIconGlyphNumber 59511 WFWorkflowIconStartColor 4282601983 WFWorkflowImportQuestions WFWorkflowMinimumClientVersion 900 WFWorkflowMinimumClientVersionString 900 WFWorkflowName My Shortcut WFWorkflowOutputContentItemClasses WFWorkflowTypes ``` ### Minimal Hello World ```xml WFWorkflowActionIdentifier is.workflow.actions.gettext WFWorkflowActionParameters UUID A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890 WFTextActionText Hello World! WFWorkflowActionIdentifier is.workflow.actions.showresult WFWorkflowActionParameters Text Value attachmentsByRange {0, 1} OutputName Text OutputUUID A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890 Type ActionOutput string WFSerializationType WFTextTokenString ``` ## Core Concepts ### 1. Actions Every action has: - **Identifier**: `is.workflow.actions.` (e.g., `is.workflow.actions.showresult`) - **Parameters**: Action-specific configuration in `WFWorkflowActionParameters` - **UUID**: Unique identifier for referencing this action's output ### 2. Variable References To use output from a previous action: 1. The source action needs a `UUID` parameter 2. Reference it using `OutputUUID` in an `attachmentsByRange` dictionary 3. Use `` (U+FFFC) as placeholder in the string where the variable goes 4. Set `WFSerializationType` to `WFTextTokenString` ### 3. Control Flow Control flow actions (repeat, conditional, menu) use: - `GroupingIdentifier`: UUID linking start/middle/end actions - `WFControlFlowMode`: 0=start, 1=middle (else/case), 2=end ## Common Actions Quick Reference | Action | Identifier | Key Parameters | |--------|------------|----------------| | Text | `is.workflow.actions.gettext` | `WFTextActionText` | | Show Result | `is.workflow.actions.showresult` | `Text` | | Ask for Input | `is.workflow.actions.ask` | `WFAskActionPrompt`, `WFInputType` | | Use AI Model | `is.workflow.actions.askllm` | `WFLLMPrompt`, `WFLLMModel`, `WFGenerativeResultType` | | Comment | `is.workflow.actions.comment` | `WFCommentActionText` | | URL | `is.workflow.actions.url` | `WFURLActionURL` | | Get Contents of URL | `is.workflow.actions.downloadurl` | `WFURL`, `WFHTTPMethod` | | Get Weather | `is.workflow.actions.weather.currentconditions` | (none required) | | Open App | `is.workflow.actions.openapp` | `WFAppIdentifier` | | Open URL | `is.workflow.actions.openurl` | `WFInput` | | Alert | `is.workflow.actions.alert` | `WFAlertActionTitle`, `WFAlertActionMessage` | | Notification | `is.workflow.actions.notification` | `WFNotificationActionTitle`, `WFNotificationActionBody` | | Set Variable | `is.workflow.actions.setvariable` | `WFVariableName`, `WFInput` | | Get Variable | `is.workflow.actions.getvariable` | `WFVariable` | | Number | `is.workflow.actions.number` | `WFNumberActionNumber` | | List | `is.workflow.actions.list` | `WFItems` | | Dictionary | `is.workflow.actions.dictionary` | `WFItems` | | Repeat (count) | `is.workflow.actions.repeat.count` | `WFRepeatCount`, `GroupingIdentifier`, `WFControlFlowMode` | | Repeat (each) | `is.workflow.actions.repeat.each` | `WFInput`, `GroupingIdentifier`, `WFControlFlowMode` | | If/Otherwise | `is.workflow.actions.conditional` | `WFInput`, `WFCondition`, `GroupingIdentifier`, `WFControlFlowMode` | | Choose from Menu | `is.workflow.actions.choosefrommenu` | `WFMenuPrompt`, `WFMenuItems`, `GroupingIdentifier`, `WFControlFlowMode` | | Find Photos | `is.workflow.actions.filter.photos` | `WFContentItemFilter` (see FILTERS.md) | | Delete Photos | `is.workflow.actions.deletephotos` | `photos` (**NOT** `WFInput`!) | ## Detailed Reference Files For complete documentation, see: - [PLIST_FORMAT.md](PLIST_FORMAT.md) - Complete plist structure - [ACTIONS.md](ACTIONS.md) - All 427 WF*Action identifiers and parameters - [APPINTENTS.md](APPINTENTS.md) - All 728 AppIntent actions - [PARAMETER_TYPES.md](PARAMETER_TYPES.md) - All parameter value types and serialization formats - [VARIABLES.md](VARIABLES.md) - Variable reference system - [CONTROL_FLOW.md](CONTROL_FLOW.md) - Repeat, Conditional, Menu patterns - [FILTERS.md](FILTERS.md) - Content filters for Find/Filter actions (photos, files, etc.) - [EXAMPLES.md](EXAMPLES.md) - Complete working examples ## Signing Shortcuts Shortcuts MUST be signed before they can be imported. Use the macOS `shortcuts` CLI: ```bash # Sign for anyone to use shortcuts sign --mode anyone --input MyShortcut.shortcut --output MyShortcut_signed.shortcut # Sign for people who know you shortcuts sign --mode people-who-know-me --input MyShortcut.shortcut --output MyShortcut_signed.shortcut ``` The signing process: 1. Write your plist as XML to a `.shortcut` file 2. Run `shortcuts sign` to add cryptographic signature (~19KB added) 3. The signed file can be opened/imported into Shortcuts.app ## Workflow for Creating Shortcuts 1. **Define actions** - List what the shortcut should do 2. **Generate UUIDs** - Each action that produces output needs a unique UUID 3. **Build action array** - Create each action dictionary with identifier and parameters 4. **Wire variable references** - Connect outputs to inputs using `OutputUUID` 5. **Wrap in plist** - Add the root structure with icon, name, version 6. **Write to file** - Save as `.shortcut` (XML plist format is fine) 7. **Sign** - Run `shortcuts sign` to make it importable ## Key Rules 1. **UUIDs must be uppercase**: `A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890` 2. **WFControlFlowMode is an integer**: Use `0` not `0` 3. **Range keys use format**: `{position, length}` - e.g., `{0, 1}` for first character 4. **The placeholder character**: `` (U+FFFC) marks where variables are inserted 5. **Control flow needs matching ends**: Every repeat/if/menu start needs an end action with same `GroupingIdentifier`

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