# DTTG, shortcuts & iPadOS27

**URL:** <https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723>\
**Category:** DEVONthink To Go\
**Created:** [September 28, 2026, 10:54am UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723 "2026-09-28T10:54:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 17\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chirurgean)\
**Post date:** [September 28, 2026, 10:54am UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/1 "2026-09-28T10:54:35Z")

</div>

Yes - it seems that I get

 ![IMG_0723](https://devontech-discourse.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/original/3X/3/3/3371286ab504d49c16831d377f292dccb3655a27.jpeg)

a new problem every OS update with shortcuts. The latest is when I attempt to use the create function of DT in shortcuts - see screenshot. This command also used to let me use a variable as a destination in DTTG so that I could put the pdf into a chosen group from a pick list any workarounds, or is this command just broken?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tbut7633](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@tbut7633](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/tbut7633)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 5:38am UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/2 "2026-09-30T05:38:00Z")

</div>

I am having the same or a similar issue. My shortcut is fairly complex, with different 3rd party apps involved, but it fails when I get to the create item action (same as you).

To isolate the issue, I made a new shortcut to create a ‘File’ with [title], in [specific group]. The file selected was one local to the iPad. The same “An unknown error occurred.” ipad OS 27 on M2 iPad Air.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chirurgean)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 6:41am UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/3 "2026-09-30T06:41:40Z")

</div>

The latest bug fix 27.01 has not fixed this problem

Shortcuts also messed up my auto crop of screenshots - I do so hate this when you eventually get a workflow working after much trial and error and then it doesn’t work any more. Back to the drawing board!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MsLogica](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/mslogica/32/23244_2.png) [@MsLogica](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/MsLogica)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/4 "2026-09-30T18:03:44Z")

</div>

> [@chirurgean](#):
>
> The latest bug fix 27.01 has not fixed this problem

A Shortcuts bug introduced in OS26 that caused problems with tags wasn’t fixed by the time Apple released OS27, at which point I realised Apple doesn’t really care that much about fixing bugs in Shortcuts… I guess they test it with what they think most users want, and then leave it there even if stuff is broken 🙄

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chrillek](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/chrillek/32/29340_2.png) [@chrillek](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chrillek)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2026, 7:52pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/5 "2026-09-30T19:52:56Z")

</div>

Hey, it took them only about five years to fix a stupid bug in the maps part of Shortcuts. Some patience, please.  
OTOH, given Apple’s record with automation: they may well abandon Shortcuts instead of fixing it. Easier.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chirurgean)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 3:55pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/6 "2026-10-01T15:55:17Z")

</div>

Well I’ve fixed the crop screenshot dimensions issue - so the remaining problem is the Create command.

The question I have, is who codes that command is it the DT team or the Shortcuts team. So who should I ask for help?

Am I right that the 3rd party dev ie DT team oroduce some ‘hooks/triggers’ within DTTG that respond to a request sent by shortcuts? Maybe the new shortcuts is sending a differently formatted request that DTTG does not understand and then throws a ‘fit of pique’ and refuses to play nice?

Thoughts on the back of a fag packet please (Brit expression)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2026, 6:08pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/7 "2026-10-01T18:08:55Z")

</div>

You haven’t chosen a file, so what do you expect the shortcut to do?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chirurgean)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 10:01am UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/8 "2026-10-02T10:01:49Z")

</div>

![IMG_0762](https://devontech-discourse.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/original/3X/0/b/0bf890d1c54e1fee0ca426375acac7972a489d43.jpeg)

The create command worked right up till when I ‘upgraded’ to ipadOS27

Tag3 = which group I would like to save my pdf in - the new Crete command only allows a preset up eg inbox etc

Tag2 = the name of the file I wish to create from the pdf held in a variable

The question I was asking - who writes the syntax of this command? DT or Shortcuts (Apple) - and to whom should I go to resolve this

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chrillek](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/chrillek/32/29340_2.png) [@chrillek](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chrillek)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 10:22am UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/9 "2026-10-02T10:22:23Z")

</div>

> [@chirurgean](#):
>
> who writes the syntax of this command?

It’s a bit complicated to figure out “who does it”:

> **[App Intents | Apple Developer Documentation](https://developer.apple.com/documentation/appintents/)**
>
> Make content and actions discoverable by Apple Intelligence and support system experiences like Siri, Spotlight, Shortcuts, and widgets.

DT announces abilities etc. Shortcuts must handle these announcements correctly. Given the track record of this app, I’d tend to think that it carries the responsibility in this case. Just a hunch, of course.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![eboehnisch](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/eboehnisch/32/38699_2.png) [@eboehnisch](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/eboehnisch)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 3:09pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/10 "2026-10-02T15:09:33Z")

</div>

Well, we cannot do anything about how Shortcuts works but expect some improvements from our side in the next major release 🙂 We’ll do what we can do.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chirurgean)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2026, 4:14pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/11 "2026-10-02T16:14:11Z")

</div>

well if the cap fits …

Shortcuts - once happenstance

twice coincidence

thrice enemy action

Funny that I trust DT more than A….. to get things done

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MsLogica](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/mslogica/32/23244_2.png) [@MsLogica](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/MsLogica)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 2:06pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/12 "2026-10-03T14:06:46Z")

</div>

I’ve just done some experimenting and it’s the option of “file” that is creating the error as far as I can tell.

I did the bare minimum for my test: title is inputted by user, and group is “ask every time”.

 ![IMG_4639](https://devontech-discourse.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/original/3X/8/b/8be2b0058ec2e139e0f6d6e33733181bb6a4e119.jpeg)

It immediately returns a system error.

But if you set the item to be a defined file type, it works fine. E.g. I’ve tested `markdown` and `text document` and both work fine.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MsLogica](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/mslogica/32/23244_2.png) [@MsLogica](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/MsLogica)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 2:09pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/13 "2026-10-03T14:09:55Z")

</div>

P.s. you had a query about choosing the group and I see you made a variable for it in your shortcut. You shouldn’t need to; if you long press on the `group` variable in the shortcut, you will see an option for “ask every time”. If you choose this, when the shortcut runs it should give you a drop down menu asking you where you’d like the new item saved.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/user_avatar/discourse.devontechnologies.com/bluefrog/32/135_2.png) [@BLUEFROG](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/BLUEFROG)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/14 "2026-10-03T16:48:08Z")

</div>

Open the action for the screen capture. Thanks.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chirurgean)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 4:52pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/15 "2026-10-03T16:52:30Z")

</div>

Thanks MsLogica

Choosing the destination works with the dropdown choice

As you say, the error is located in the create file command. If I change the type to textdocument then the shortcut finishes -however, a pdf is not saved - it is saved as a text document of a few bytes

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chirurgean)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 5:18pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/16 "2026-10-03T17:18:36Z")

</div>

Sorry - I don’t understand - open the action for the screen capture?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@chirurgean](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/u/chirurgean)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2026, 5:27pm UTC](https://discourse.devontechnologies.com/t/dttg-shortcuts-ipados27/87723/17 "2026-10-03T17:27:45Z")

</div>

![IMG_0768](https://devontech-discourse.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/original/3X/d/2/d20b8883c98c1107ea5317811bd1f05d589225fc.jpeg)

 ![IMG_0769](https://devontech-discourse.s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/uploads/original/3X/e/1/e11d7bf94054875fe9159c94f1f5220a88bead1d.jpeg)

So here are screenshots of the shortcut - I’ve removed superfluous lines to choose the destination group

Basically, I screenshot pages of the magazine on the iPad, OCR (extract) test from page 1 for a title. Then convert to pdf and attempt to save directly to DTTG into the chosen group

It should save as a pdf - no OCR yet. OCR in DTTG always gives a larger file size than OCR in DT on the Mac - so when my databases are synchronised back to my Mac, DT will then OCR to PDF+TXT, delete the simple PDF and sync the final version back to DTTG