shortcuts-generator
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.
Why use this skill?
Use OpenClaw to programmatically build Apple Shortcuts by generating plist files. Automate workflows, custom actions, and complex triggers with this powerful developer tool.
Install via CLI (Recommended)
clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/erik-agens/shortcuts-skillWhat This Skill Does
The shortcuts-generator is an advanced technical utility for the OpenClaw agent designed to programmatically construct macOS and iOS Shortcuts. It functions by generating structured binary property list (plist) files that define the workflow logic, including action sequences, parameter configurations, and complex variable references. By supporting over 1,155 unique actions—ranging from standard workflow tasks to sophisticated AppIntents—this skill allows users to build, debug, and prototype automation workflows directly through natural language instructions. It abstracts the complexity of XML-based plist structures, enabling users to create functional .shortcut files that are compatible with Apple's native Shortcuts application. Whether you need a simple text notification or a complex multi-step automation involving data processing and system interactions, this skill provides the underlying architecture required to manifest your workflows.
Installation
To integrate this capability into your OpenClaw environment, execute the following command in your terminal:
clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/erik-agens/shortcuts-skill
Ensure your agent has the necessary filesystem write permissions to generate and store the resulting .shortcut files.
Use Cases
This skill is ideal for power users and developers who want to automate repetitive tasks across the Apple ecosystem. Common applications include:
- Batch-generating shortcuts for enterprise device management.
- Prototyping complex automation logic that would be tedious to build manually in the Shortcuts UI.
- Programmatic creation of Shortcuts based on user-provided data or dynamic workflow templates.
- Converting legacy automation scripts into modern Shortcuts format.
Example Prompts
- "Create a shortcut named 'Quick Note' that asks me for text input, saves it to a file named 'Logs.txt' in my iCloud Drive, and displays a success notification."
- "Generate a Shortcut plist that checks if my current network is Wi-Fi, and if not, prompts me to toggle cellular data."
- "Build a shortcut that takes the current clipboard contents, passes them through a URL-encode action, and copies the result back to my clipboard."
Tips & Limitations
- UUID Management: Ensure that every action generated in your workflow contains a unique UUID, as this is critical for linking outputs to subsequent input fields.
- Serialization: When referencing outputs from previous actions, use the
WFTextTokenStringserialization type to ensure the Shortcuts app correctly parses the tokens. - Limitations: This skill generates standard plists. Complex AppIntents with custom data structures might require specific manual metadata fields not fully exposed in the basic template; verify your generated file against a sample exported from the actual Shortcuts app if you encounter import errors.
Metadata
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Find the right skillPaste this into your clawhub.json to enable this plugin.
{
"plugins": {
"official-erik-agens-shortcuts-skill": {
"enabled": true,
"auto_update": true
}
}
}Tags(AI)
Flags: file-write