Siri Shortcuts in Todo Cloud

Siri Shortcuts in Todo Cloud

There are two different ways to to use Siri with Todo Cloud:

1. Siri Commands – Pre-programmed commands that require absolutely no set up
2. Siri Shortcuts – Shortcuts you can create to enable Siri to perform actions you do on a regular basis

Siri Shortcuts allows you to speed up the things you do on regular basis by creating your own shortcuts with optional voice activated Siri commands, making it easier than ever to use Todo Cloud. If you want to learn more about using Siri in general, please visit our Using Siri with Todo Cloud page.
There are four different types of shortcuts you can create in Todo Cloud:

• Add Task
• Add Project
• Add Checklist
• Show List

Your shortcuts are automatically added to the Shortcuts app, allowing you to create multi-step workflows using all of your favorite apps.

 Add Task, Project and Checklist Shortcuts

The task, project and checklist shortcuts were designed to give you as much flexibility as possible, making the productivity possibilities basically limitless. These shortcuts give you the ability to pre-define a task, project or checklist that you create on a regular basis and give you the ability to automatically create them using a customized Siri command or the push of a button.

Understanding the shortcut options

There are a variety of different options available to you when creating a shortcut. You can fill in as much or as little information as you would like. Here is a brief overview of each option:

1. Title – This option defines the title for your task, project or checklist. If you leave this blank, you can add a unique title each time you run your shortcut. For more advanced users, there is an import from clipboard option. If you use this option, whatever is in your clipboard when you run the shortcut will become the title for your task, project or checklist.
2. Sub-tasks / Items (option not available in task shortcut) – Each separate line you input will become a sub-task in your project or an item in your checklist.
3. Due – This will assign a due date to your task, project or checklist.
4. Tags – This option allows you to assign tags to your task, project or checklist.
5. List – This option allows you to choose the list your task, project or checklist will be assigned to.
6. Finish in Todo Cloud – This option will open Todo Cloud before completing your shortcut, allowing you to add more detail to your task, project or checklist each time you run your shortcut. If you turn this option off, the shortcut will be executed in the background without opening Todo Cloud.Saving options
7. Add to Siri – This will give you the ability to add a custom Siri command to your shortcut. After adding a Siri command, your shortcut will be saved and added to the Shortcuts app so that you can also use your shortcut in workflows with your other favorite apps.
8. Add to Shortcuts app – This option will allow you to save your shortcut without adding a Siri command. If you choose this option, you will need to build a workflow in the Shortcuts app before you will be able to use your shortcut.

Building your shortcut

There are two different methods you can use when creating a task, project or checklist shortcut:

1. A shortcut that is ready to go – This is most useful in situations where you repeatedly perform the exact same actions and no customization is necessary.
2. A shortcut with preset options – This is most useful in situations where you need to make minor tweaks to your shortcut each time to make it function exactly how you need it to.

A shortcut that is ready to go

To best illustrate this approach, we are going to look at a real life example.
Scenario: Bill enjoys fishing and goes on fishing trips often. He tries to pack the the exact same equipment every time he goes, but often leaves important items at home so he wants to create a shortcut that will automate this process.
Bill does the following to set up his shortcut:

• Step 1: Clicks on the Siri button from the home screen
• Step 2: Selects ‘Add Checklist’
• Step 3: Fills in the following information:
  -Title: Fishing Trip Packing List
  -Items: Fishing pole, Tackle box, Fishing license, Camping chair, Cooler with drinks, Food, Snacks, Sunscreen, -First aid kit (Bill likes to keep his list simple, but you can add as many checklist items as you want)
  -Due: Tomorrow
  -Tags: Fun
  -List: Personal
  -Finish in Todo Cloud: De-activated because he does not need to add any additional information to this checklist.
• Step 4: Clicks ‘Add to Siri’ , which will also add this shortcut to the Shortcuts App
• Step 5: Records a Siri command using the words, “I’m going fishing”

Now that this shortcut has been created, all Bill needs to do each time he decides to go fishing is say, “Hey Siri, I’m going fishing” and Siri will automatically add this checklist to Todo Cloud. Since the Finish in Todo Cloud option was turned off, this shortcut will run without Bill ever opening the Todo Cloud app.
A shortcut with preset options
We will look at another real life scenario to illustrate this approach.
Scenario: Kelsey is married and has 3 children, all of which eat an enormous amount. She is constantly inputting new grocery items into Todo Cloud. She feels like the process is repetitive because she needs to input the due date, tags and list each time she enters a new grocery item. She wants to create a shortcut that will help her speed up this process.
Kelsey does the following to set up her shortcut:

• Step 1: Clicks on the Siri button from the home screen
• Step 2: Selects ‘Add Task’
• Step 3: Fills in the following information:
  -Title: leaves blank (The title will change based on what item Kelsey needs to buy)
  -Due: Next week
  -Tags: Grocery
  -List: Shopping List
  -Finish in Todo Cloud: She enables this option because the title will change each time depending on which item Kelsey needs to buy.
• Step 4: Clicks ‘Add to Siri’ , which will also add this shortcut to the Shortcuts App
• Step 5: Records a Siri command using the words, “Add a grocery item”

Next time Kelsey needs to add something to her grocery list, she will say “Hey Siri, add a grocery item”. Siri will automatically open Todo Cloud with the due date, tags, and list pre-entered, so all Kelsey needs to do is input the title and press enter.

Show list Shortcut

The show list shortcut is very powerful, yet very simple to use and comprehend. It gives you the ability to open the app to a specific list by using a customized Siri command. When you select the option to create a ‘Show list’ shortcut you will see a complete list of all of your current lists, including your smart lists. By clicking on any of your lists, you will have the ability to attach a Siri command to your list.
Example: Whitney is constantly opening the app to her Errands list throughout the day to add and complete items in her list. To speed up this process, Whitney decides to create a Show List shortcut.
Whitney does the following to set up her shortcut:

• Step 1:  Clicks on the Siri button from the home screen
• Step 2: Selects Show List
• Step 3: Clicks on her Errands list
• Step 4: Records a Siri command using the words, “Show my Errands list”

Now instead of scrolling through her phone to find Todo Cloud then clicking the errands list, all Whitney needs to do is say, “Hey Siri, show my Errands list” and the app will open directly to her list.

Building workflows in the Shortcuts app

For more advanced productivity users, this feature opens up an endless world of possibilities. Users still have a lot to learn about using the Shortcuts app, but it is already being utilized to automate almost every task you can imagine from your iPhone. Each time you create a shortcut in Todo Cloud that shortcut is shared with the Shortcuts App. You can then go into the Shortcuts App to combine your Todo Cloud shortcut with shortcuts from all of your other favorite apps, triggering multiple shortcuts with one Siri command or by pushing a button on your iPhone.
There are several online communities that can help you learn how to use the Shortcuts App and create your own shortcuts. Here are links to a few of the most useful.
routinehub.co
Reddit.com
shortcutsgallery.com
Facebook Group – Siri Shortcuts