
Use the Choose from Menu action in Shortcuts on Mac
The Choose from Menu action lets you decide what a shortcut should do when itβs run. You choose from a predefined list of options to have each option run a different series of actions. This allows shortcuts to maintain their rigid structure but remain flexible (depending on the runtime context).
Whereas the Choose from List action presents a list of items to pick from when you run a shortcut (such as an image or a song name), the Choose from Menu action presents a list of options, making it possible for the shortcut to do different things depending on what you choose when you run the shortcut. Think of the Choose from Menu action as creating a fork in the road of your shortcutβthe shortcut is sent in a different direction depending on the chosen option, resulting in a unique behavior.
Each menu option in the Choose from Menu action has a corresponding markerβa tag below the Choose from Menu action in the shortcut editor. Each marker represents a different pathway the shortcut may take at that point. Place the actions that you want the shortcut to perform under the marker for a specific menu choice. For example, if you add a Choose from Menu action with two optionsββNice to meet youβ and βGreat seeing you againββyou could add a Text action under the βNice to meet youβ marker and enter the text string, βIt was great meeting you today!β When you run the shortcut, choosing βNice to meet youβ passes the text string βIt was great meeting you today!β out of the Choose from Menu action into the next action in your shortcut.
Note: Although you may notice a line in the center of the screen that connects each action, the shortcut actually skips the actions for the options you didnβt select. Choose from Menu lets you pick only one option, and that selection determines which actions are used.
Tip: You can also use variables in the names of each menu option to make them dynamic. For example, you can add the Current Date variable to the βGreat seeing you againβ option. When you run the shortcut and choose βGreat seeing you again,β the current date is automatically added.