Automation & Scripting

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Learn about scripting languages and automation frameworks available on the platform to automate repetitive tasks.

Automation & Scripting Documentation

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AppIntents EntityPropertyQuery, how does "Filter Entity where" work?
When you correctly implement EntityPropertyQuery on an AppEntity, Shortcuts will expose a "Find Entity" action that calls into entities(matching:mode:sortedBy:limit:). This is demoed in the "Dive into App Intents" session and works as expected. However, with this action, you can change the "All Entity" input to a list variable which changes the action text from "Find All Entity" to "Filter Entity where" still giving you the same filter, sort and limit options. This appears to work as expected too. But, what's unexpected is that this filter action does not appear to call any method on my AppEntity code. It doesn't call entities(matching:mode:sortedBy:limit:). One would think there would need to be a filter(entities:matching:mode:sortedBy:limit:) to implement this functionality. But Shortcut just seems to do it all on it's own. I'm mostly wondering, how is this even working? Here's some example code: import AppIntents let books = [ BookEntity(id: 0, title: "A Family Affair"), BookEntity(id: 1, title: "Atlas of the Heart"), BookEntity(id: 2, title: "Atomic Habits"), BookEntity(id: 3, title: "Memphis"), BookEntity(id: 4, title: "Run Rose Run"), BookEntity(id: 5, title: "The Maid"), BookEntity(id: 6, title: "The Match"), BookEntity(id: 7, title: "Where the Crawdads Sing"), ] struct BookEntity: AppEntity, Identifiable { static var typeDisplayRepresentation: TypeDisplayRepresentation = "Book" var displayRepresentation: DisplayRepresentation { DisplayRepresentation(title: "\(title)") } static var defaultQuery = BookQuery() var id: Int @Property(title: "Title") var title: String init(id: Int, title: String) { self.id = id self.title = title } } struct BookQuery: EntityQuery { func entities(for identifiers: [Int]) async throws -> [BookEntity] { return identifiers.map { id in books[id] } } } extension BookQuery: EntityPropertyQuery { static var properties = QueryProperties { Property(\BookEntity.$title) { EqualToComparator { str in { book in book.title == str } } ContainsComparator { str in { book in book.title.contains(str) } } } } static var sortingOptions = SortingOptions { SortableBy(\BookEntity.$title) } func entities( matching comparators: [(BookEntity) -> Bool], mode: ComparatorMode, sortedBy: [Sort<BookEntity>], limit: Int? ) async throws -> [BookEntity] { books.filter { book in comparators.allSatisfy { comparator in comparator(book) } } } } The example Shortcut first invokes entities(matching:mode:sortedBy:limit:) with comparators=[], sortedBy=[], limit=nil to fetch all Book entities. Next the filter step correctly applies the title contains filter but never calls entities(matching:mode:sortedBy:limit:) or even the body of the ContainsComparator. But the output is correctly filtered.
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1.6k
Aug ’22
Shortcut to Send Address to Tesla Navigation
Hi, new to this forum. Recently discovered how to share a location in Maps app with my Tesla to automatically start navigating. How cool is that! Being the nerd that I am, I wrote a shortcut to select a contact and share it's address with my Tesla. That way, I don't leave the Maps app in memory to use up my battery, and don't have to go to all the trouble of swiping Maps out of memory. JK. Anyway, when I share the shortcut-selected address with the Tesla, it says "Error this content could not be shared". To me this means the address as shared by the shortcut is not in the same format as when you share it directly from Maps. So the question is, how can I send a properly formatted location from my shortcut? Thanks...
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1.7k
Feb ’23
App Automatically Deleted from Applications Folder - OSX
I made an application in Script Editor and it works as expected. But the app seems to be getting automatically deleted at random times. For example, I made it a few days ago, tested it successfully, then went back today to look for it and it was gone. Tested this multiple times. I bit more detail about my process: I wrote the app in Script editor, exported it as an Application with run-only checked and no code signing after manipulating a few things (.plist file, .icns file), I then remove extended attributes and code-sign using terminal. I have an Apple developer account that I use to code-sign: xattr -cr <path_to_app> codesign -s <my_developer_account> <path_to_app_bundle> then I copy the app into my Applications folder and test it successfully a day or more later, the app is gone (and I haven't even opened it again) Ventura 13.1, Mac Book Pro 2021
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1.1k
Feb ’24
AppShortcutsProvider triggered for unsupported OS
Hi! I have an AppShortcutsProvider that has been marked @available(iOS 17.0, *), because all Intents used within it are only available in iOS 17. So the static var appShortcuts should only be accessible in iOS 17, obviously. Now this code has been released and works fine for iOS 17 users. But I just noticed that around 150 iOS 16 users have crashed in the static var appShortcuts, or more specifically, the defaultQuery of one of the Intents. This should not be possible, as neither the AppShortcutsProvider, nor the Intent is exposed to iOS 16, they are marked as @available(iOS 17.0, *). Any idea why this could happen? Here is the crash log: Crashed: com.apple.root.user-initiated-qos.cooperative 0 libswiftCore.dylib 0x3e178c swift::ResolveAsSymbolicReference::operator()(swift::Demangle::__runtime::SymbolicReferenceKind, swift::Demangle::__runtime::Directness, int, void const*) 1 libswiftCore.dylib 0x40bec4 swift::Demangle::__runtime::Demangler::demangleSymbolicReference(unsigned char) 2 libswiftCore.dylib 0x408254 swift::Demangle::__runtime::Demangler::demangleType(__swift::__runtime::llvm::StringRef, std::__1::function<swift::Demangle::__runtime::Node* (swift::Demangle::__runtime::SymbolicReferenceKind, swift::Demangle::__runtime::Directness, int, void const*)>) 3 libswiftCore.dylib 0x3e9680 swift_getTypeByMangledNameImpl(swift::MetadataRequest, __swift::__runtime::llvm::StringRef, void const* const*, std::__1::function<swift::TargetMetadata<swift::InProcess> const* (unsigned int, unsigned int)>, std::__1::function<swift::TargetWitnessTable<swift::InProcess> const* (swift::TargetMetadata<swift::InProcess> const*, unsigned int)>) 4 libswiftCore.dylib 0x3e4d9c swift_getTypeByMangledName 5 libswiftCore.dylib 0x3e50ac swift_getTypeByMangledNameInContext 6 MyApp 0x3f6b8c __swift_instantiateConcreteTypeFromMangledName (<compiler-generated>) 7 MyApp 0x640e3c one-time initialization function for defaultQuery + 146 (IntentAction.swift:146) 8 libdispatch.dylib 0x3eac _dispatch_client_callout 9 libdispatch.dylib 0x56ec _dispatch_once_callout 10 MyApp 0x64109c protocol witness for static AppEntity.defaultQuery.getter in conformance IntentAction + 124 (IntentAction.swift:124) 11 AppIntents 0x15c760 _swift_stdlib_malloc_size 12 AppIntents 0x19dfd4 __swift_destroy_boxed_opaque_existential_1Tm 13 MyApp 0x52dadc specialized ActionIntent.init(action:) + 41 (ActionIntent.swift:41) 14 MyApp 0x52df80 specialized static MyShortcuts.appShortcuts.getter + 17 (MyShortcuts.swift:17)
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1.1k
Feb ’24
AppleScript, Do Shell. How do I write the "test" command to the "script editor"?
Hello. How to write this command correctly on a Macbook, in the script editor, so that I can click the "Run script" button and the script will give the result: if there is no folder, then report that there is no folder, if there is a folder, then report that the folder exists. do shell script "test -d 'Users/user/Desktop/New folder'" Now, if the folder exists, an empty string ("") is returned, if the folder does not exist, the script editor reports that an error has occurred. In general, my task is to write a script that checks the existence of a folder.
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1.7k
May ’24
'openAppWhenRun' property causing AppIntentsExtension to fail
I have added an "App Intents Extension" target to my main application in macOS. This generated the below two files: TWAppIntent.swift import AppIntents struct TWAppIntent: AppIntent { static var title: LocalizedStringResource = "TWAppIntentExtension" static var parameterSummary: some ParameterSummary { Summary("Get information on \(\.$TWType)") } //launch app on running action static var openAppWhenRun: Bool = true // we can have multiple parameter of diff types @Parameter(title: "TWType") var TWType: String func perform() async throws -> some IntentResult & ReturnsValue<String> & ProvidesDialog { return .result(value: TWType, dialog: "Logged break.") } } TWAppIntentExtension.swift import AppIntents @main struct TWAppIntentExtension: AppIntentsExtension { } I m able to build the extension target and I my intent action is available in the shortcuts app. However, on launching a shortcut with the above created intent action. I m getting the below popups: I have identified what is causing this error. Setting the openAppWhenRun to true is causing this error. I don't get this when it is set to false. This property is supposed to launch the application, but can someone help me understand why is it happening? This is only causing the error when using this property for AppIntent Extension and not for In app handling for the AppIntent. Can we not launch our application from AppIntent extension?
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877
May ’24
AppShortcutsProvider limitedAvailability in result builder crash
My team is preparing for iOS 18, and wanted to add intents using assistant schemas that are iOS 18 and above restricted. We noticed that the result builder for AppShortcuts added support for limitedAvailabilityCondition from iOS 17.4 so we marked the whole struct as available from it. The app compiles but writing a check like below inside appShortcuts property a crash will happen in iOS 17.5 runtime. (Removing the #available) is solving this problem. if #available(iOS 18, *) { AppShortcut( intent: SearchDonut(), phrases: [ "Search for a donut in \(.applicationName)" ], shortTitle: "search", systemImageName: "magnifyingglass" ) } We tried out putting the os check above and returning shortcuts in arrays and that both compiles and runs but then AppShortcuts.strings sends warnings that the phrases are not used (This phrase is not used in any App Shortcut or as a Negative Phrase.) because the script that extracts the phrases somehow fails to perform when shortcuts are written like below: static var appShortcuts: [AppShortcut] { if #available(iOS 18.0, *) { return [ AppShortcut( intent: CreateDonutIntent(), phrases: [ "Create Donut in \(.applicationName)", ], shortTitle: "Create Donut", systemImageName: "pencil" ) ] } else { return [ AppShortcut( intent: CreateDonutIntent(), phrases: [ "Create Donut in \(.applicationName)", ], shortTitle: "Create Donut", systemImageName: "pencil" ) ] } } This is very problematic because we can't test out on TF with external users new intents dedicated for iOS 18. We filed a radar under FB15010828
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612
Sep ’24
Shortcuts Automation Trigger Transaction Timeouts
Description The Shortcut Automation Trigger Transaction frequently times out, ultimately causing the shortcut automation to fail. Please see the attached trace for details. Additionally, the Trigger is activated even when the Transaction is declined. Details In the trace I see the error: [WFWalletTransactionProvider observeForUpdatesWithInitialTransactionIfNeeded:transactionIdentifier:completion:]_block_invoke Hit timeout waiting for transaction with identifier: <private>, finishing. Open bug report: FB14035016
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2.3k
Oct ’24
ShortCuts: Send email with email address as a parameter
Hello everyone, I would like to dictate a text with Shortcuts and then send it to one of two e-mail addresses (private or business). I would like to be able to select one of two email addresses. Unfortunately, I am not able to pass an email address as a parameter to the Send email function. Is it possible to do this? I'm new to apple and I'm all but not a programmer. So take pity on me :) Best, Niko
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461
Dec ’24
Apple Mail and Drag&Drop
I have been trying to accept drops from Apple Mail which do supply data with type identifiers : com.apple.mail.email The problem is that even though the drop says it does contain items for com.apple.mail.email it does provide the items for com.apple.mail.email. Mail dropped from Microsoft Outlook however confirms to the protocols and returns the items for com.apple.mail.email Is this a known issue with Apple Mail and is there are reason for what seems to be a non-compliance to it own standards in Apple Mail?
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425
Dec ’24
Help with app automation permissions
Hi, I am trying to make an app that uses Spotify's web API to play songs. For the web API to work, Spotify needs to be running, and my Mac has to be recognized as an active device. For my Mac to be recognized as an active device, I have to play a song for a very short amount of time (under a second). I want to make my app automatically do that on launch. I already wrote the AppleScript in Automator, and it worked. It successfully launched Spotify, played a song for 0.5 seconds, then hid itself. After writing the code, I tried to implement it into my app to run on startup, but I ran into a problem. The app only started the Spotify app on my mac, and gave me an error that told me it wasn't running. What do I do? Is this an issue with the permissions of the app, or something else? I have given the app the "Apple Events" entitlement. This is the error I am getting. Note that the app opens Spotify, after which it gives me this. Error: { NSAppleScriptErrorAppName = Spotify; NSAppleScriptErrorBriefMessage = "Application isn\U2019t running."; NSAppleScriptErrorMessage = "Spotify got an error: Application isn\U2019t running."; NSAppleScriptErrorNumber = "-600"; NSAppleScriptErrorRange = "NSRange: {31, 8}"; } This is the function I am trying to use to do the actions with Spotify: func runAppleScript() { let appleScript = """ tell application "Spotify" activate if player state is not playing then play track "spotify:track:5XSKC4d0y0DfcGbvDOiL93" delay 1 pause end if end tell tell application "System Events" tell process "Spotify" set frontmost to true delay 1 keystroke "h" using {command down} end tell end tell """ var error: NSDictionary? if let scriptObject = NSAppleScript(source: appleScript) { scriptObject.executeAndReturnError(&error) } if let error = error { print("Error: \(error)") } } Any help is appreciated. Thank you in advance.
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433
Jan ’25
AppleScript nd adobe indesign
I have a bunch of images sized 540px on the long side (some portrait, some landscape). The other side could be any size, but will be less than 540. There are no square images. I want to be able to choose a folder containing the images, and want the script to do the following for each image: Place it at the center of the current page of the active indesign document. Scrape the filename from the image (without the extension), apply the pre-existing Paragraph Style 'Caption' to the text, and center the text 36 points (not pixels) below the image. Group the image and the text. Then create a frame with white fill, 540x600 pixels in size, send it to back, center it with the group created above, and group them. I've been pulling my hair out. Just can't get it to work.
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391
Jan ’25
Automation for message received
I would like to run an automation that sends a text message to my personal phone whenever my work phone receives a text message. In the “Message Contains” field of the message automation, an input is required. I put in a space, but that won’t work if someone sends me a one word text. Any suggestions?
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296
Jan ’25
Dynamically creating and modifying shortcuts
I am needing to add/delete shortcuts in our app without using the Add to Siri button. But have been stymied at every turn. The most recent example is some code that uses an "AppShortcutCenter" call, supposedly added in iOS 17. But there is no such thing as that which I can find. What gives, and what's needed to do custom shortcuts on demand programmatically?
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381
Jan ’25
Changing pad colour in Image Events
I'm trying to use Image Events instead of Photoshop to manipulate a bunch of images. I need to extend the canvas and have the padding be white. I've tried pad theImage to dimensions {545, 545} with pad color {65535, 65535, 65535} But that does nothing. If I remove the 'with pad colour...' part, it works but the pad defaults to black. I've looked everywhere, but there doesn't seem to be a solution. Is there one?
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346
Feb ’25
AppleScript help
Hello everyone, I would like to use AppleScript to transform a .csv file. To make things easier to understand, I'm attaching two files: 1- The original file in csv format 2- The file as I'd like it to look after I've run it through the script. Here are the steps involved 1-Open the file in numbers (Note: the file is located in the download folder). 2-Delete the first 6 lines 3-Delete all font styles and cell colors 4-Combine all cells in the nature of operation column of the same operation belonging to the same date in the first cell of the operation, deleting all spaces in the text is not necessary for each operation. 5- Delete all empty lines. I hope I've made my request clear. If any of you have the knowledge to do this, if it can be done at all, I'd be very grateful for their help in writing the script. Thank you in advance. 1.csv 2.csv
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415
Feb ’25
Check to make sure iTunes is playing - AppleEvent timed out. (-1712)
Hi folks, I've got some music that I want playing on iTunes all the time on an older system, but it'll sometimes stop. I tried making a Applescript to check and play the music/playlist again if it stops, but I keep getting a timeout error. This is the AppleScript: repeat tell application "iTunes" if player state is paused then tell application "iTunes" to play end if delay 30 end tell end repeat I get this error: AppleEvent timed out. iTunes got an error: AppleEvent timed out. (-1712) I can't figure out why I'm getting a timeout error... anyone have any ideas?
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375
Feb ’25