A Look At the New Shortcuts App For Mac

[@brucewayne4160]

Thank you for making this video ! For me, it's the feature I'm looking the most forward to

[@aarishwani6602]

You are an absolute gem. Apple should pay you for solving all our Mac problems.

[@xeniagavero497]

Hi, is there an automation shortcut in a Macbook? I badly want where it notifies me when I’m on a low battery in my mac the same as what my iphone does.

[@HansolJang]

so great. I want you to introduce for us more possibilities of shortcuts. thanks a lot always.

[@massimobaita7178]

Thank You very much, Gary!

[@sanjitselvan5348]

Well explained. Thanks

[@DanielVasilios]

Did you make my most made mistake and call Monterey for Mojave? 🤪 Great video!

[@macmost]

Seems like I did.

[@DanielVasilios]

@@macmost I do it ALL the time. 🙈😅

[@philgaskill1448]

Actually the other way around, but then who's counting? 🤪

[@donaldgendron512]

I am running macOS 12.3.1, and my screen for "Shortcuts" is not tmatch yours on the video.

[@olafk8232]

great intro! Thanks

[@Abdullah-zl9ub]

Do shortcuts show up in spotlight as i cant find them there. Also does assigning a shortcut key work always as im having issues when the app is running is not shortcuts

[@macmost]

No, they don't show in Shortcuts. For keyboard shortcuts to work, you need to be in the app(s) that you set the Shortcut to in its settings. I find you sometimes need to use the Shortcut with the Services menu first for the keyboard shortcut to work.

[@Lorenzo-1810]

Thank you Gary! Is it possible to turn off MacBook from iPhone using Shortcuts? If yes, how? Thanks

[@macmost]

Not that I can think of, no. Why would you want to do this though? If I knew WHY, maybe I could suggest something.

[@Lorenzo-1810]

@@macmost I just want to launch a shortcut to turn off the mac from the iphone

[@macmost]

@@Lorenzo-1810 I don't see any way to do that. Why do you need to do that at all, though? Let your Mac sleep. There is usually no need to ever turn it "off." kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKTVhaN7qr14qsU

[@Lorenzo-1810]

@@macmost Ok, thank you for your reply!

[@Harald111th]

Great Video, good explanation, thank you 🙏

[@zetzerx]

hey there! hoping you can help, i tried looking everywhere but can't seem to figure this out. How do you set a trigger for an action? For example, I want that anytime it's 11:00 PM - the brightness is set to 5 % . Can you please explain how to achieve that? thank you!

[@macmost]

You can't. Well, you can if you are an app developer, want to set up Automator (not Shortcuts) actions to run from Calendar alerts, or know how to access some more arcane parts of the system in the Terminal. But in general you can't.

[@zetzerx]

@@macmost gotcha, fair enough. thanks for the prompt reply!

[@AhmedMunye]

Thank God. I don't have an iPad, so I've been building all of my Shortcuts Workflows using my iPhone only. Really looking forward to not having to do that anymore.

[@fool4jc777]

Hi Gary. Can I use Shortcuts to open a stopwatch/timer website and then click on the "countdown" option and then to insert the time of 60 seconds, for example? I have created a Shortcut to open the website, but I don't know how to proceed from there.

[@macmost]

No easy way to do that. You'd have to experiment with the options that site has, or spend a lot of time playing with AppleScript/JavaScript code to simulate clicking and typing. Why not just ask Siri on your iPhone to do this: "Set a timer for 60 seconds."

[@fool4jc777]

@@macmost Yeah, but I use it in my classroom and the this way the students can see the timer on the wall (I project the website on the classroom wall).

[@macmost]

@@fool4jc777 Ah, I didn't know that from your original question. This is why it is so hard to answer tech questions. Rarely does the questioner provide the "big picture." So how about an app? There are many stopwatch apps in the Mac App Store. Maybe one will help you. You could also program your own stopwatch in JavaScript to show on a web page, but I don't know your level of programming skill so I don't know if that is an option for you.

[@fool4jc777]

@@macmost I'm watching a JavaScript video on KZbin now. I've already created a Shortcut to open the Stopwatch website. Now I simply need to program my Macbook / create a JavaScript to: 1. Click on the "Timer" button 2. Click on the "6" and "0" buttons (60 seconds) 3. Then "Set" 4. Finally "Start" All this would probably take even a novice 2 minutes to do. What's 5 steps below a novice, because that's where I am in programming abilities? If you have any advice or sites that could help me know what to do. I've learned I need to "Inspect" the Stopwatch website

[@macmost]

@@fool4jc777 2 minutes? No. This is difficult. Websites aren't set up to be controlled by shortcuts. Figuring out how the web page is constructed and triggering the right items on the page is very difficult. Plus you have to fight security as controlling one thing with another on a computer has to be done just right if it can be done at all. Otherwise malicious apps could control and destroy easily. This is not easy. If I were doing it, as a programmer, I would just create my own web page to show a 60-second timer. That would probably be quicker.

[@BarsnJoysticks]

Amazing video! I just made an image converter/resizer both in one!

[@drvoodoo3073]

This looks cool but I don't see a definite advantage over Automator? It looks like they both do the exact same thing unless I'm missing something?

[@macmost]

They are very similar. One big advantage of Shortcuts is iCloud and compatibility with iPad and iPhone. You can create a Shortcut on one, and depending on what features it needs, use it on the others. Shortcuts will also be easier for new users to adopt and probably easier for developers to support in their apps. too.

[@permisiontodance1636]

your download KZbin :( activated in KZbin in your iPad and iPhone because in Mac OS Monterrey ?

[@macmost]

Sorry, I'm not following what you are asking here.

[@madmotorcyclist]

Is AppleScript the underlying foundation for shortcuts?

[@biagiolucci467]

Are you able to launch a shortcut with a keyboard hotkey ? Thank you, always helpful

[@macmost]

Yes. You can do that now with Automator Services (Quick Actions) since they are menu items and you can set a keyboard shortcut to anything that is in a menu. But it seems that the new Shortcuts app may allow you to do that without even going to System Preferences.

[@xrayder2788]

How can I install the shortcut application on Mac?

[@macmost]

It is part of macOS Monterey. Get Monterey starting Monday.

[@Supirole]

Is it possible to use it to move files based on the file name? (I've tried Automator, but since I'm using it into Google Drive folders, it's not working correctly)

[@macmost]

Not sure what you are trying to do, but you can examine the file name and move based on that. Just requires more coding skills. I wouldn't try this with files that are being controlled by a external force (a cloud service).

[@diamondbreak]

You are true genius.

[@GMBethHarmon]

How do I connect actions? For example, I'm trying to recreate the resize images shortcut at 4:07. How do I link the Resize action to the Ask For action? There's no connecting grey line between them when I try it.

[@macmost]

It gets complex. Sometimes they link. Sometimes you have to select the slot inside the action, then add the object. I'll be doing more videos in the future that will show things like that.

[@GMBethHarmon]

@@macmost Thanks. Seems very finnicky and unintuitive at the moment. Had to mess around with the order I added the actions to the shortcut, as well as toggling and untoggling the variables in the actions to get it all working.

[@GMBethHarmon]

Looking forward to the tutorials too, btw!

[@vishwajeetbabbar7622]

Hi sir, how to use shortcuts for Automating Application Installations? I made it somewhat with automator app and it successfully Mount the DMG files for the installation. I have to automate the following steps after this:- 1) Select the Pkg filed inside the dmg one by one. 2)Install the pkg. [ I think using system events and ES Move (x,y) or using clickick i can continue the prompt dialoge box installer ] 3) now i wonder how to SELECT the NEXT pkg file and REPEAT this orocess automatically?? Sir can you help to make this pls? I think shortcuts app may be useful!

[@macmost]

I can't think of a way to do this with Shortcuts. Experiment if you like, but the idea is to create Shortcuts for something you need to repeat often. How often do you need to install apps like this that it would be worth it to develop a Shortcut?

[@bommaritohawaii]

Do you how to use Shortcuts to view all "Recent Files" in chronological order? The current OS has the "Recent" shortcut in the sidebar by default but I need a keyboard shortcut (can't do that) and more dynamic viewing of an ongoing flow of the thousands of files I work with daily.

[@macmost]

In the Files app on an iPhone (or iPad?) what do you need, though? What do you mean by "more dynamic viewing?"

[@bommaritohawaii]

@@macmost not able to create a keyboard shortcut for “recent files”. Not able to create shortcut link on desktop. I use Alfred too but also don’t know the keyboard commands for this. I can setup a smart folder on Mac OS for recently edited etc within a folder but I want recents for entire partition

[@SurajKumar-sc7ws]

I can't find Shortcuts app for Mac in App Store. can you help me plz.

[@macmost]

It is part of macOS Monterey.

[@lorensims4846]

Shortcuts is so popular on the iPhone and iPad is was natural for them to bring it to the Mac. The Shortcuts actions will be shared between your devices. Shortcuts is much more powerful on the Mac because the Mac has so many more automation capabilities. More Mac-specific actions are planned and it will import your Automator actions. They mentioned the Shortcuts app is also scriptable and they are planning a shell command to launch Shortcut actions.

[@AhmedMunye]

Yes. A million times yes.

[@mvhinshaw3]

Here’s your next course topic: Introduction to Shortcuts on the Mac. You can just use your Automator course as an outline. I, for one, would buy it! 😊

[@macmost]

Yes, already thinking about it. Probably late in the year after my general Monterey course is done.

[@unicornonthecob4302]

Did you mean to say Monterey instead of Mojave?

[@JoeSiegler]

When you run a resize image through the shortcut, is the way to keep EXIF info?

[@macmost]

Did you check to see if it did? If not, that would be something Apple would need to add.

[@JoeSiegler]

@@macmost I can't as I don't have this yet. thought perhaps you might know.

[@mohammedkhisham]

Hey Gary wait.....its not yet released...How Do i experince montery ?

[@macmost]

It will be released in the fall.

[@mohammedkhisham]

@@Marsh.x that’s mostly for the developers

[@mohammedkhisham]

@@Marsh.x but waiting for official public release

[@HaeDreyK]

i just want my macbook to say something when being pluged in to the charger... but How?

[@macmost]

You can't trigger Shortcuts like that. At least not yet.

[@MauroPoggi]

Thank you Gary! Just a question: I find my launchpad very messy, apparently apps are presented in a random way . Is there any possibility to personalize the order of presentation? Thanks

[@macmost]

Yes. You can arrange them any way you want and even organize them into folders. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKPSlWCalrapbq8

[@guilhermemazorra1746]

Hello sir how do I add a shared shortcut from a friend? He sent me an icloud file with his shortcut, how can I add this to may shortcut app?

[@macmost]

If you click on it it should launch Shortcuts and show you a description and a way to add it.

[@guilhermemazorra1746]

@@macmost Yeah but when I click on it, it takes me to the apple store with the shortcut app to install, but it is already installed, thats whats bugging me, What should I do?

[@macmost]

@@guilhermemazorra1746 Sounds like maybe the link is bad?

[@guilhermemazorra1746]

@@macmost would kindly make a link to a simple shortcut and send me here so can confirm that :) Thabks for the reply !

[@macmost]

@@guilhermemazorra1746 I have one under this video: macmost.com/macos-shortcuts-capture-text-from-your-screen.html

[@loisskiathitis8926]

Another informative video tutorial! Thank you, Gary!👍🏻❤️

[@richardanddeborahransom904]

Tips on buying a new Mac?

[@geeksified]

I didn't know Mojave had a Shortcut app.

[@macmost]

It doesn't. The Shortcuts app is new in macOS Monterey.

[@nobilkwt7222]

00:21 * Monterey macOS Monterey and not macOS Mojave 😂

[@junaidtariq7466]

Gary can I please have the link to your siri shortcuts course? I can't find it on your website

[@macmost]

I don't have a Siri Shortcuts course. I did one on Automator last year. Maybe you are thinking of that?

[@junaidtariq7466]

@@macmost yes you're absolutely right

[@Trackhoe075]

Don’t understand the use of short cuts what’s the point of this looks like a lot of steps and not short cuts for sure

[@TC_Conner]

Fourth!!

[@Trackhoe075]

And this is useful why again? Lol don’t make me laugh

[@Trackhoe075]

Lol lol lol lol