Passing tags to new "update item metadata" shortcuts action

[pfarrelle]

I want to pass a list of tags to the shortcuts action.

The interface allows for adding one tag at a time manually in the parameters to the action. However I generate a list of tags at run time into a variable that I would like to pass to DTTG.

This works via the x-callback url if I comma separate my tags, e.g. “tag1,tag2” adds two tags: tag1 & tag2.

If I pass the same variable to the action, then I get a single tag created which is “tag1,tag2”.

Is there any way to pass a variable containing multiple tags to the new action?

I hope so, since it’s easier to code and runs faster, perhaps because I don’t have to URL encode the parameters.

[pfarrelle]

I found that I can programmatically create a list in Shortcuts and pass that list (instead of a comma separated string) as a variable with success.

In retrospect that makes sense, and what I would have tried had I not been fixated on the URL parameter format.

[BLUEFROG]

Can you post a screen capture of the routine in the shortcut you used?

[pfarrelle]

Here are two screenshots. First, setting the itemTags variable, then using it to update the metadata.

and this adds the single tag tag1,tag2 to the item in DTTG.

[mendel]

@pfarrelle can i ask how you are creating lists and succeeded in getting multiple tags? Maybe a screenshot of the working shortcut?

[pfarrelle]

Unfortunately I never did.

To summarize: At the time I could add multiple tags via the url scheme but in shortcuts I get a single tag that contains “tag1, tag2” instead of two tags: “tag1” and “tag2”.

I really wanted to be able to read/modify/update tags via shortcuts, as I do in AppleScript, but that also wasn’t possible.

I don’t have a solution other than having to do those tasks at my Mac which is very inconvenient at times.

I haven’t retried in the last 9 months, and am unable to do so right now, but I would love to see this functionality added via shortcuts.

[BLUEFROG]

This is possible via a Repeat.

[pfarrelle]

Jim - I appreciate you pointing out the repeat process, but any more thoughts on the ability to retrieve tags, modify tags, then write back the modified tags, all in shortcuts?

[BLUEFROG]

My example is all in a shortcut, including retrieving the tags.

Adding tags expects a list, even a list of one item. So you passsing some,text or `some;other;text’ is just a string line item in the list. My approach resolves the issue and is still performant since it’s a pretty low level operation for the loop to handle.

[P12]

Hi @BLUEFROG. I’m trying to reproduce the shortcut you have shown us here but I am missing what’s going on inside the Update Item Metadata action.

Everything I’ve tried just overwrites the existing tag(s) on each repeat loop (so I end up with just the final tag on its own).

Update: I answered my own question. You just need to pass the list of tags as a list (not just as text) to the action field as shown here: List of feature requests for iOS (and future macOS) Shortcut actions - #9 by BLUEFROG

I thought I tried this but I must have been confused…