/generate-shortcuts-skill

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 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

<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.<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 val