Create a Shortcut to open a file

[Speed38]

Before iOS 16, I went to great pains to learn how to create a shortcut that would open a particular file in my iCloud Drive. I just tried to follow them in iOS16 and, sigh, Apple has changed things and they no longer work Here they are:

Making a shortcut to view a document:

• First move the document to which you want to make a shortcut into your iCloud Drive’s Shortcuts folder, noting the exact and complete name of this document. E.g. Vaccination.jpg

• On iPhone, go to the Shortcuts app > All Shortcuts.

• Tap the <Plus> button (top right) to create a new shortcut.

• Tap <Add an Action>.

• Next, in the Search box enter the word “file” (w/o quotes) then tap on <Search>

• Next, scroll down to <Get File> Note: There no longer is a Get File choice! I can't proceed beyond this page. Previously when I did so, I could continue to follow these directions, as follows:

• Next tap on [choose from menu]

• Next window, turn off <Show Document Picker>.

• Next, in File Path /Shortcuts/ tap the word <example> and enter the precise & entire name (i.e., My File.pdf) the file to which you are making the shortcut.

• Next, tap on plus sign <+> then tap in the Search box and type <view> then and tap on Search then tap on <Quick Look> and then tap on the blue “arrow”, bottom right of the window which should display the document to which you are creating a shortcut.

• Next, hit <Done>.

• Now, tap on <Next>, upper right, and name your shortcut and, if you’d like, assign it an icon. (To assign an icon, tap on the Shortcut icon next to the name you just gave your document then tap on <Glyph> and pick an icon that makes sense and then, if you’d like assign a color in the next window then click Done, at the top right..)

• To add the shortcut to the Home Screen, in the Shortcut.app:

• Tap on your new shortcut,

• Tap on the ellipsis (three dots in a circle) icon

• Tap on <Add to Home Screen>

• Tap on <Add>

• Tap on <Done>

• If you make a second shortcut, on your iPhone/iPad screen you can drag and drop the second one on top of the first one to make a Shortcuts folder.

 

[NoBoMac]

Get File from Folder is the new action. Same, yet different. No doc picker option, replaced with fields that you would/would not put a “Ask each time” variable.

 

[Speed38]

Thanks for that tip. I thought that might be the answer and here is how I have recast those instructions to share with family and friends. If I could test your patience...do you see any errors in these? Thanks again.
Making a shortcut to view a document:





• First move the document to which you want to make a shortcut into your iCloud Drive’s Shortcuts folder, noting the exact and complete name of this document.

• On iPhone, go to the Shortcuts app > All Shortcuts.

• Tap the <Plus + > button to create a new shortcut.

• Tap [Add an Action].

• In the Search box enter the word “file” (w/o quotes) then tap on [Search]

• Scroll down to [Get file from folder]

• Next screen will show [Shortcuts at path] & where you see [example.txt], enter the fullname of the file you want to access.

• Go to [Next Action Suggestions]

• See [Documents] at bottom of screen, pull up and go to

• Files category and click on [Open File] and click [Done]

• Then hit Done at top

• Hit [Done] and finished shortcut shows up in Shortcuts app

• Tap on horizontal ellipses and name it.

 

[NoBoMac]

Looks ok, as Get File from Folder returns same thing, basically acts the same as the old action.

 

[Speed38]

Thanks very much once again!

 

[Nitou22]

I managed to do it on iOS 17.6.1 (sorry I'm French, & my iPhone is in French, so apologies if few translations mistakes underneath)

On your beautiful iPhone, open the Shortcuts app

• Tap the <Plus + > button to create a new shortcut.

• Tap "Add an Action".

• Select "Document" (in blue on the right column)

• Scroll down and under "Files", choose "Open the file"

• Now, select the file you want to open automatically with your shortcut by tapping on "File" (in blue), and choose your file

• Do the same by tapping on "App", and choose "folder "

• On the top of your screen, with the name of your shortcut, tap on the little arrow going down to open options (rename, choose an icon, a Color, ...)

• To finish beautifully, choose "on Home Screen" as well. Then click "OK"

• You're done ! 😁