shortcuts-dev-tip

Keyboard hotkeys (macOS)

Tips & tricks to minimize # of actions used

When using “Set Dictionary Value” to create a dictionary, you can leave the dictionary field blank on the right instead of adding a separate “Dictionary” action and referencing it.
When handling nested dictionaries and arrays, use Dot Notation (e.g., myDict.key1.key2 or myArray.0.key) to access values directly in one step—instead of chaining multiple “Get Value from Dictionary” actions. This approach makes complex data structures much easier to manage, especially when dealing with data from APIs or JSON.
When formatting dates, wrap literal characters—such as punctuation, 'T', 'Z', or any static text—in single quotes to treat them as fixed text. This allows you to build custom date-time formats like yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss'Z' in a single step without chaining multiple Format Date actions. For example, use yyyy'_Week_'ww to combine the year and week number in a single action, rather than using 2 separate Format Date actions for yyyy and ww.

Using the ‘Match Text’ action with the regular anchor ^keyword provides more reliable results compared to using the built-in ‘Begins With’ condition.
On macOS, you can instantly replace selected text in place—no need to copy and paste manually. Just select the text and trigger your shortcut with a keyboard shortcut. This is especially helpful for repetitive formatting tasks like slugifying or hyperlinking text.

Add a “Stop This Shortcut” action at the end of each shortcut to prevent unintended side effects, especially when dealing with conditional logic or automation.
- Why It’s a Good Practice: * Prevents Unwanted Execution: Ensures that no additional actions run accidentally, especially if the shortcut is triggered by another shortcut or automation. * Improves Debugging: Clearly marks the endpoint, making it easier to understand where execution stops. * Avoids Redundant Processing: If a shortcut continues running unnecessarily, it can consume resources or cause unexpected behavior.
- When You Might Skip It: * If a “Stop and Output” Action Exists: This already terminates the shortcut and returns a value, so an additional stop action isn’t needed. * For Simple Shortcuts: If your shortcut only has a few actions and no branching logic, it may not be necessary.
- In general, if your shortcut has multiple conditions, loops, or external triggers, adding “Stop This Shortcut” at the end is a good habit.

Use Siri to run a shortcut by simply saying its name. For example, say, ‘Hey Siri, Turn off Color Filters.’