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Take Control of Shortcuts, 2nd Edition
Automate your iPhone, iPad, or Mac!
Version 2.1, updated January 30, 2023
Automation is no longer just for advanced computer users! Apple's Shortcuts app lets anyone with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac automate day-to-day tasks, from the simple to the complex. This book is a complete introduction to Shortcuts, covering every aspect of building, installing, debugging, running, syncing, and sharing shortcuts. It also includes step-by-step recipes for creating numerous useful shortcuts yourself.
Apple's Shortcuts app brings extensive automation capabilities to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, using a drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blanks interface much like Automator—but much more powerful. It lets you perform sequences of tasks, including ones that span various apps, with just a tap, a click, or a voice command—or even automatically when certain conditions are met. Shortcuts can save you time and effort, help you accomplish previously complicated tasks, and let you customize your device to better meet your needs. Apple finally brought Shortcuts to the Mac in macOS 12 Monterey. (The book now includes coverage of macOS Ventura, iOS 16, and iPadOS 16.)
But for all its utility, Shortcuts is not self-explanatory, so it can be challenging to figure out its quirks and create effective, time-saving automations. That's where Take Control of Shortcuts comes in. Written by automation expert Rosemary Orchard, this book opens the world of automation to users at every level.
With Rosemary's help, you'll learn how
Navigate the Shortcuts Understand the user interface (on each platform) and terminology, then install and run your first shortcut.Run Discover many different ways to run a shortcut, from tapping or clicking an icon to using Personal or Home automations, Siri, and Apple Watch.Build Start with simple, one-step shortcuts and work your way up to complex shortcuts with input, output, variables, conditionals, loops, and more. Debugging advice is also included.Install and sync Download and install shortcuts others have written, sync your shortcuts across your devices, and share them with other people.Then, to both illustrate the main principles you've learned and give you practical tools to get you started, Rosemary walks you step by step through the creation of 25 sample shortcuts, most which you can also download and install using links in the book. Examples
Event templatesA daily overviewConverting and sharing imagesAdding a song to a playlistLogging expensesTurning on lights automatically when you get homeDisabling rotation lock just for YouTube on an iPhoneReminding you about upcoming deadlines 15 minutes after you arrive homeAutomatically setting seasonal scenes for HomeKit lightsThe book also discusses how Shortcuts can use REST APIs to talk to various web services (with detailed examples), and numerous complementary apps that work in conjunction with Shortcuts.
Whether you're completely new to automation or already have significant programming experience, you'll find plenty of useful information in this friendly, practical guide.
Version 2.1, updated January 30, 2023
Automation is no longer just for advanced computer users! Apple's Shortcuts app lets anyone with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac automate day-to-day tasks, from the simple to the complex. This book is a complete introduction to Shortcuts, covering every aspect of building, installing, debugging, running, syncing, and sharing shortcuts. It also includes step-by-step recipes for creating numerous useful shortcuts yourself.
Apple's Shortcuts app brings extensive automation capabilities to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, using a drag-and-drop, fill-in-the-blanks interface much like Automator—but much more powerful. It lets you perform sequences of tasks, including ones that span various apps, with just a tap, a click, or a voice command—or even automatically when certain conditions are met. Shortcuts can save you time and effort, help you accomplish previously complicated tasks, and let you customize your device to better meet your needs. Apple finally brought Shortcuts to the Mac in macOS 12 Monterey. (The book now includes coverage of macOS Ventura, iOS 16, and iPadOS 16.)
But for all its utility, Shortcuts is not self-explanatory, so it can be challenging to figure out its quirks and create effective, time-saving automations. That's where Take Control of Shortcuts comes in. Written by automation expert Rosemary Orchard, this book opens the world of automation to users at every level.
With Rosemary's help, you'll learn how
Navigate the Shortcuts Understand the user interface (on each platform) and terminology, then install and run your first shortcut.Run Discover many different ways to run a shortcut, from tapping or clicking an icon to using Personal or Home automations, Siri, and Apple Watch.Build Start with simple, one-step shortcuts and work your way up to complex shortcuts with input, output, variables, conditionals, loops, and more. Debugging advice is also included.Install and sync Download and install shortcuts others have written, sync your shortcuts across your devices, and share them with other people.Then, to both illustrate the main principles you've learned and give you practical tools to get you started, Rosemary walks you step by step through the creation of 25 sample shortcuts, most which you can also download and install using links in the book. Examples
Event templatesA daily overviewConverting and sharing imagesAdding a song to a playlistLogging expensesTurning on lights automatically when you get homeDisabling rotation lock just for YouTube on an iPhoneReminding you about upcoming deadlines 15 minutes after you arrive homeAutomatically setting seasonal scenes for HomeKit lightsThe book also discusses how Shortcuts can use REST APIs to talk to various web services (with detailed examples), and numerous complementary apps that work in conjunction with Shortcuts.
Whether you're completely new to automation or already have significant programming experience, you'll find plenty of useful information in this friendly, practical guide.
- GenresProductivity
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 1, 2023
I read the first edition of this book a couple of years ago, I think. I just read this new edition to refresh my memory on some stuff. This is a pretty good introduction for anyone who wants to figure out how to do some interesting stuff with Shortcuts on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
December 17, 2022
A great get-started guide that goes way beyond the basics
Rosemary Orchard could be sitting next to you, explaining how to create a shortcut. The book is exceptionally well written without being condescending.
It gives you the confidence to write and use short cuts
Rosemary Orchard could be sitting next to you, explaining how to create a shortcut. The book is exceptionally well written without being condescending.
It gives you the confidence to write and use short cuts
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews