Am I too stupid for Shortcuts?

[boltjames]

There are too many people confusing “Siri Shortcuts” and “Shortcuts.app”.

These two things have almost nothing to do with each other apart from some Siri Shortcuts appearing as possible actions in “Shortcuts.app”.

Weak move by Apple. They promote Shortcuts as a major new feature, you excitedly download the new iOS release, look and look to find it's not on the homescreen, you go into Settings and do a search and you wind up on Siri Shortcuts, and then spend 5 frustrating minutes trying to figure it out before doing a Google search to get informed that it's a new App and you have to download it from the App Store. Disappointing.

 

[SoYoung]

I'm disappointed with Siri shortcut or just "shortcut" whatever you call it. This is definitively not the way Apple show it in the iOS 12 presentation. The app is not intuitive and for what I tested, it is very limited at the moment.

 

[Cigsm]

It’s by far more powerful then Alexa or google

I'm not impressed with Shortcuts so far. I find too limiting compared to what's on Android.

 

[TheSkywalker77]

Shortcuts has a ton of potential. Give Apple some time to update it and for third party apps to develop for it. I think it'll be a success with some time!

 

[gwhizkids]

I'm disappointed with Siri shortcut or just "shortcut" whatever you call it. This is definitively not the way Apple show it in the iOS 12 presentation. The app is not intuitive and for what I tested, it is very limited at the moment.

It is not at all limited. But you’re correct that it’s not intuitive.

 

[matttye]

Awesome! Can't thank you enough, the Alarm 'on' function works perfectly.

Now....is there a way to add to this Shortcut the opposite actions at exactly 7:45AM when the Alarm goes off? So the flow would be like this:

[I tap the Nite Time Shortcut and...]

1. Reduce Volume to 0%
2. Reduce Backlight to 0%
3. Enable Do Not Disturb
4. Enable Alarm set for 7:45 AM

[Then the Shortcut would do nothing until 7:45 AM and then...]

5. Increase Volume to 100%
6. Increase Backlight to 50%
7. Disable Do Not Disturb

Is it possible to create a Shortcut with this type of 'delayed' action and, if so, how?

There is a ‘wait’ action that lets you pause for a specified number of seconds before continuing.

 

[gwhizkids]

There is a ‘wait’ action that lets you pause for a specified number of seconds before continuing.

Ah, so the Shortcut would pause all night (lots of seconds!) and pick up again in time to turn everything off. Nice solution!

 

[matttye]

Ah, so the Shortcut would pause all night (lots of seconds!) and pick up again in time to turn everything off. Nice solution!

And there’s a “number” input you can select which lets you specify a number. There are 3600 seconds in an hour so just multiply that by the number of hours you want to pause for. Set the “number” input to that and then pass the number to the wait action.

Hope that makes sense! I’ve only played with shortcuts a little so I’m familiarising myself with the terminology still.

 

[Lerxt]

Is there any site I can visit that explains how to use shortcuts. It’s totally unintuitive. How do I start...?

 

[gwhizkids]

And there’s a “number” input you can select which lets you specify a number. There are 3600 seconds in an hour so just multiply that by the number of hours you want to pause for. Set the “number” input to that and then pass the number to the wait action.

Hope that makes sense! I’ve only played with shortcuts a little so I’m familiarising myself with the terminology still.

So this ️ (it does work but the big downside is you have to press the “add” button a very long time to get even to 3600. Might be better to use “ask when run”)

 

[iterva]

Is there any site I can visit that explains how to use shortcuts. It’s totally unintuitive. How do I start...?

These two might be a good place to start:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT209055

https://support.apple.com/sv-se/guide/shortcuts/welcome/ios

 

[StuMcBill]

I've made a shortcut to get my travel time from work to home, send it in a text message, but I can't figure out how to get it to send a message when I actually get home?

 

[gwhizkids]

Is there any site I can visit that explains how to use shortcuts. It’s totally unintuitive. How do I start...?

Start with this: https://www.macstories.net/linked/getting-started-with-workflow/

It’s for a Workflow (Shortcuts' predecessor), but is a good starting point. There is Apple help documentation now too (search and you’ll find it). Also try The Automators podcast and related forums.

 

[HobbesInVA]

IMHO, the issue is that Apple needs to educate its users about Siri Shortcuts. Apple assumes its users know how to use shortcuts but that's likely not the case since its a new feature and Shortcuts requires users to download an app.

I was expecting Shortcuts to be baked into the iOS. This points to bad implementation of a great idea!

 

[gwhizkids]

I've made a shortcut to get my travel time from work to home, send it in a text message, but I can't figure out how to get it to send a message when I actually get home?

You can’t do location triggered things yet with Shortcuts. I think using it wth Launcher Pro might work though.

 

[gwhizkids]

IMHO, the issue is that Apple needs to educate its users about Siri Shortcuts. Apple assumes its users know how to use shortcuts but that's likely not the case since its a new feature and Shortcuts requires users to download an app.

I was expecting Shortcuts to be baked into the iOS.

Agree 100%. I’ve been using it all during the beta and it’s still unintuitive as to where to find some of the 3rd party shortcuts.

 

[StuMcBill]

You can’t do location triggered things yet with Shortcuts. I think using it wth Launcher Pro might work though.

Ah ok cool, I'm not being daft then!

 

[matttye]

Is there any site I can visit that explains how to use shortcuts. It’s totally unintuitive. How do I start...?

Do you have any kind of programming background? If not, you’re going to struggle to understand it without learning the basics of computer programming. If you do it will make sense.

When you look at the actions available in a shortcut, if you press the “i” button next to the action you will find help text which describes what it’s used for. This is quite helpful

 

[HobbesInVA]

Do you have any kind of programming background? If not, you’re going to struggle to understand it without learning the basics of computer programming. If you do it will make sense.

When you look at the actions available in a shortcut, if you press the “i” button next to the action you will find help text which describes what it’s used for. This is quite helpful

You make a good point about needing a programming background or at least a background in mathematics. However, I think this is where Apple missed an important user story.....Shortcuts needs to be simple enough that any user can understand its function and how to use it. Not every person has a Comp Sci degree or programming experience; it needs to be customer friendly.

My wife and my parents would quickly be frustrated by Shortcuts and abandon it. I fear Shortcuts may face the same fate as 3D Touch.

 

[matttye]

You make a good point about needing a programming background or at least a background in mathematics. However, I think this is where Apple missed an important user story.....Shortcuts needs to be simple enough that any user can understand its function and how to use it. Not every person has a Comp Sci degree or programming experience; it needs to be customer friendly.

My wife and my parents would quickly be frustrated by Shortcuts and abandon it. I fear Shortcuts may face the same fate as 3D Touch.

Anything as complicated as shortcuts can never be simple unfortunately.

If you make it simple you will reduce the functionality!

 

[HobbesInVA]

Anything as complicated as shortcuts can never be simple unfortunately.

If you make it simple you will reduce the functionality!

That's a valid point. I trust Apple will simply the IFTTT process. Android does a decent job with IFTTT and has a more robust library.

 

[boltjames]

Does anyone know if there are Shortcut commands for:

Keyboard Clicks to 'off'
Lock Sound to 'off'

Thanks.

 

[gwhizkids]

Thanks. Is there a glossary for these commands? No idea what an "ask when run" means or what it does.

Apple has documentation for Shortcuts. I don’t have the link offhand but it’s in one of the other Shortcuts threads.

Re “ask when run” that is simply a prompt for you to enter something (a value, text, etc..,) when the Shortcut is running. In the case of the screenshot below, I tapped “1 second” on the dimmed out part and got the option to pick “ask when run” allowing me to insert a “seconds” value while the Shortcut is running, rather than building it in.

 

[gwhizkids]

Does anyone know if there are Shortcut commands for:

Keyboard Clicks to 'off'
Lock Sound to 'off'

Thanks.

You can only turn volume (system) on and off presently. I’d like that one too!

 

[boltjames]

You can only turn volume (system) on and off presently. I’d like that one too!

Damn, thanks.

For my "Night Time" shortcut all I need is a way to turn off Keyboard Clicks and Lock Sound so I don't have to flip the mute side switch every night.

Silly idea- is there a way to use a third party app that can turn those two Sound features to 'off' and then create a Shortcut action to trigger that? Or is there no app out there that can turn those 'off'?
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Start with this: https://www.macstories.net/linked/getting-started-with-workflow/

It’s for a Workflow (Shortcuts' predecessor), but is a good starting point. There is Apple help documentation now too (search and you’ll find it). Also try The Automators podcast and related forums.

Thanks gwhiz....you have been extremely helpful.

Is there a simple command one can use to automate a Shortcut? Something that says "trigger Shortcut Wake Up Time at 7:45AM" which would then turn my backlight to 50%, volume to 100%, disable DND, enable Wi-Fi, etc? Or must all Shortcuts be triggered by a screen click?