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Shortcuts Generator

Generate macOS/iOS Shortcuts by creating plist files.

Rating
4 (68 reviews)
Downloads
949 downloads
Version
1.0.0

Overview

Generate macOS/iOS Shortcuts by creating plist files.

Complete Documentation

View Source →

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
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>WFWorkflowActions</key>
    <array>
        <!-- Actions go here -->
    </array>
    <key>WFWorkflowClientVersion</key>
    <string>2700.0.4</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowHasOutputFallback</key>
    <false/>
    <key>WFWorkflowIcon</key>
    <dict>
        <key>WFWorkflowIconGlyphNumber</key>
        <integer>59511</integer>
        <key>WFWorkflowIconStartColor</key>
        <integer>4282601983</integer>
    </dict>
    <key>WFWorkflowImportQuestions</key>
    <array/>
    <key>WFWorkflowMinimumClientVersion</key>
    <integer>900</integer>
    <key>WFWorkflowMinimumClientVersionString</key>
    <string>900</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowName</key>
    <string>My Shortcut</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowOutputContentItemClasses</key>
    <array/>
    <key>WFWorkflowTypes</key>
    <array/>
</dict>
</plist>

Minimal Hello World

xml
<dict>
    <key>WFWorkflowActionIdentifier</key>
    <string>is.workflow.actions.gettext</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowActionParameters</key>
    <dict>
        <key>UUID</key>
        <string>A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890</string>
        <key>WFTextActionText</key>
        <string>Hello World!</string>
    </dict>
</dict>
<dict>
    <key>WFWorkflowActionIdentifier</key>
    <string>is.workflow.actions.showresult</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowActionParameters</key>
    <dict>
        <key>Text</key>
        <dict>
            <key>Value</key>
            <dict>
                <key>attachmentsByRange</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>{0, 1}</key>
                    <dict>
                        <key>OutputName</key>
                        <string>Text</string>
                        <key>OutputUUID</key>
                        <string>A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890</string>
                        <key>Type</key>
                        <string>ActionOutput</string>
                    </dict>
                </dict>
                <key>string</key>
                <string></string>
            </dict>
            <key>WFSerializationType</key>
            <string>WFTextTokenString</string>
        </dict>
    </dict>
</dict>

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:
  • The source action needs a UUID parameter
  • Reference it using OutputUUID in an attachmentsByRange dictionary
  • Use  (U+FFFC) as placeholder in the string where the variable goes
  • 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

ActionIdentifierKey Parameters
Textis.workflow.actions.gettextWFTextActionText
Show Resultis.workflow.actions.showresultText
Ask for Inputis.workflow.actions.askWFAskActionPrompt, WFInputType
Use AI Modelis.workflow.actions.askllmWFLLMPrompt, WFLLMModel, WFGenerativeResultType
Commentis.workflow.actions.commentWFCommentActionText
URLis.workflow.actions.urlWFURLActionURL
Get Contents of URLis.workflow.actions.downloadurlWFURL, WFHTTPMethod
Get Weatheris.workflow.actions.weather.currentconditions(none required)
Open Appis.workflow.actions.openappWFAppIdentifier
Open URLis.workflow.actions.openurlWFInput
Alertis.workflow.actions.alertWFAlertActionTitle, WFAlertActionMessage
Notificationis.workflow.actions.notificationWFNotificationActionTitle, WFNotificationActionBody
Set Variableis.workflow.actions.setvariableWFVariableName, WFInput
Get Variableis.workflow.actions.getvariableWFVariable
Numberis.workflow.actions.numberWFNumberActionNumber
Listis.workflow.actions.listWFItems
Dictionaryis.workflow.actions.dictionaryWFItems
Repeat (count)is.workflow.actions.repeat.countWFRepeatCount, GroupingIdentifier, WFControlFlowMode
Repeat (each)is.workflow.actions.repeat.eachWFInput, GroupingIdentifier, WFControlFlowMode
If/Otherwiseis.workflow.actions.conditionalWFInput, WFCondition, GroupingIdentifier, WFControlFlowMode
Choose from Menuis.workflow.actions.choosefrommenuWFMenuPrompt, WFMenuItems, GroupingIdentifier, WFControlFlowMode
Find Photosis.workflow.actions.filter.photosWFContentItemFilter (see FILTERS.md)
Delete Photosis.workflow.actions.deletephotosphotos (NOT WFInput!)

Detailed Reference Files

For complete documentation, see:

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:

  • Write your plist as XML to a .shortcut file
  • Run shortcuts sign to add cryptographic signature (~19KB added)
  • The signed file can be opened/imported into Shortcuts.app

Workflow for Creating Shortcuts

  • Define actions - List what the shortcut should do
  • Generate UUIDs - Each action that produces output needs a unique UUID
  • Build action array - Create each action dictionary with identifier and parameters
  • Wire variable references - Connect outputs to inputs using OutputUUID
  • Wrap in plist - Add the root structure with icon, name, version
  • Write to file - Save as .shortcut (XML plist format is fine)
  • Sign - Run shortcuts sign to make it importable

Key Rules

  • UUIDs must be uppercase: A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890
  • WFControlFlowMode is an integer: Use 0 not 0
  • Range keys use format: {position, length} - e.g., {0, 1} for first character
  • The placeholder character:  (U+FFFC) marks where variables are inserted
  • Control flow needs matching ends: Every repeat/if/menu start needs an end action with same GroupingIdentifier

Installation

Terminal bash 

openclaw install shortcuts-generator
Copied!

💻Code Examples

</dict>

dict.txt
## Core Concepts

### 1. Actions
Every action has:
- **Identifier**: `is.workflow.actions.<name>` (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:
example.txt
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>WFWorkflowActions</key>
    <array>
        <!-- Actions go here -->
    </array>
    <key>WFWorkflowClientVersion</key>
    <string>2700.0.4</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowHasOutputFallback</key>
    <false/>
    <key>WFWorkflowIcon</key>
    <dict>
        <key>WFWorkflowIconGlyphNumber</key>
        <integer>59511</integer>
        <key>WFWorkflowIconStartColor</key>
        <integer>4282601983</integer>
    </dict>
    <key>WFWorkflowImportQuestions</key>
    <array/>
    <key>WFWorkflowMinimumClientVersion</key>
    <integer>900</integer>
    <key>WFWorkflowMinimumClientVersionString</key>
    <string>900</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowName</key>
    <string>My Shortcut</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowOutputContentItemClasses</key>
    <array/>
    <key>WFWorkflowTypes</key>
    <array/>
</dict>
</plist>
example.txt
<dict>
    <key>WFWorkflowActionIdentifier</key>
    <string>is.workflow.actions.gettext</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowActionParameters</key>
    <dict>
        <key>UUID</key>
        <string>A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890</string>
        <key>WFTextActionText</key>
        <string>Hello World!</string>
    </dict>
</dict>
<dict>
    <key>WFWorkflowActionIdentifier</key>
    <string>is.workflow.actions.showresult</string>
    <key>WFWorkflowActionParameters</key>
    <dict>
        <key>Text</key>
        <dict>
            <key>Value</key>
            <dict>
                <key>attachmentsByRange</key>
                <dict>
                    <key>{0, 1}</key>
                    <dict>
                        <key>OutputName</key>
                        <string>Text</string>
                        <key>OutputUUID</key>
                        <string>A1B2C3D4-E5F6-7890-ABCD-EF1234567890</string>
                        <key>Type</key>
                        <string>ActionOutput</string>
                    </dict>
                </dict>
                <key>string</key>
                <string></string>
            </dict>
            <key>WFSerializationType</key>
            <string>WFTextTokenString</string>
        </dict>
    </dict>
</dict>
example.sh
# 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

Tags

#apple_apps-and-services

Quick Info

Category Development
Model Claude 3.5
Complexity One-Click
Author erik-agens
Last Updated 3/10/2026
🚀
Optimized for
Claude 3.5
🧠

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openclaw install shortcuts-generator

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