Actions

Add an Action to a task to make a call, send a message, open a website, or get directions.

Adding an Action

In the task editor, click the action button in the property row, or press ⌘B (Task > Edit Action), to open the Pick an Action popup, a grid of six icon chips with shortcuts ⌥1 to ⌥6:

• Call: opens your chosen calling app for the saved number or contact.
• Message: opens Messages (SMS / iMessage) with the contact pre-filled.
• Mail: opens a new email pre-addressed to the contact.
• Visit: opens an address or saved map location in your chosen map app.
• URL: opens a website in your default browser, or a supported app link in its app.
• Google: runs a web search using the saved search text, on your locale's Google domain.

Each type asks for whatever it needs (number, email, address, URL, or search text). For Call, Message, Mail, Visit, and URL actions you can pick a contact directly from the Contacts app where contact details are available. If the contact you pick holds several matching values, such as two phone numbers or more than one address, 2Do shows a short menu of the labeled choices so you can say which one the action should use.

Choose the calling and map apps under Advanced in 2Do > Settings > General. Set Default Calling App to Always Ask if you want to pick an app for each call. See Advanced settings for each choice, including how WhatsApp works.

Opening Apps and Running Shortcuts

URL actions can also run shortcuts saved in Apple's Shortcuts app.

1. Create and test the shortcut in Apple's Shortcuts app. To open another app, add its Open App action and choose the app.
2. In 2Do, open Task > Edit Action (⌘B) and choose URL (⌥5 when the action picker is showing).
3. Enter the shortcut's link. For a shortcut named Open Project, use shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=Open%20Project.
4. Press Return to finish editing. Perform the task's action when you want to run the shortcut.

The shortcut must be available under that name on the Mac where you run it. If you rename it in Shortcuts, update the task's action too. A task synced from iPhone or iPad can use the same link, provided its shortcut and the apps it uses are also available on your Mac.

This example does not pass the task's title, notes, or address to the shortcut. For other names or to supply input, use Apple's documented Shortcuts URL format.

To create these tasks from another app, see Shortcut and App Links in the URL Handler.

Performing an Action

Once a task has an action, an action icon appears at the right edge of the task row. It marks the task as actionable; it isn't a button. To run the action:

• Task > Perform Action in the menu bar.
• Right-click the task → Perform Action.
• Press P when the task list has focus.
• Click the action icon in the task editor's hint bar.

tip

For Mail actions, the email opens addressed to the contact with an empty body. Copy-paste from the task notes if you want context in the message itself.

Editing or Removing an Action

• Task > Edit Action (⌘B): change the action type or the destination.
• To remove an action, open the same Pick an Action popup and click the red trash chip.

Google (Search) Actions

The Google action is particularly handy for research tasks. Enter the search text you want 2Do to use; performing the action runs that query on your locale's Google domain. The search term is independent of the task title, so the task can read one way and search for another.

tip

Use Google actions for research tasks. Save the query once, and performing the action runs it later with no typing needed.

Combining Actions and Locations

A task can carry both a Location and an Action. A common combo:

• Location: Home Depot, 123 Main St
• Action: Visit pointing at the same address
• Tag: errands

Now the task can appear in the Nearby panel, and performing its action opens your chosen map app when you're ready to go.