
## What can I automate with Alfred?
If you buy the [Alfred Powerpack](https://www.alfredapp.com/powerpack/) you can create your own [Alfred Workflows](https://www.alfredapp.com/workflows/). The workflow UI recently had an overhaul with the release of Alfred 5. If you don't fancy creating your own workflows from scratch you can search and download 1000s of user contributed workflows at [Packal](https://www.packal.org/) or the new [Alfred Gallery](https://www.alfredforum.com/forum/51-submit-your-workflows-to-alfred-gallery/).

## How much does Alfred cost?
Alfred is free to download and use. If you want to get the most out of Alfred we recommend upgrading to the Powerpack - it currently costs [&pound;34 GBP for a single license](https://www.alfredapp.com/shop/).

## How can I automate with Alfred?
To learn how to automate with Alfred you can start with our tutorials below. If you prefer to hack around install some workflows from [Packal](https://www.packal.org/) or the [Alfred Gallery](https://www.alfredforum.com/forum/51-submit-your-workflows-to-alfred-gallery/) and see how they were put together by opening the workflow in the editor in Alfred.


Alfred is a Mac app that is classified as an app launcher - but it does so much more than this. In-built workflows, Shortcut launchers, text replacement and much more - Alfred can do it all.

Alfred

## Automation overview
Alfred is primarily known as an app launcher tool for Mac – but you can do much more than that. Here we show how you can automate the creation of Trello cards via Make.

[How to use Alfred to add Trello cards via Make - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwPFqn6hkV8)

## Flow diagram

![Flow diagram of automation](https://mermaid.ink/svg/pako:eNpVkE1rwzAMhv-K8Ai0kBZ26shhUNrmttPKBsMXJVZb09gKtjMoIf99SrKu7GJ9Pa8kq1c1G1KFyrLeepuKXqt0IUdaFVpVGMXJ4Tf3gcFi1VCUIgjYBusw3HbccJj4p81zWZaHWRKpZm_-18vty26_0WoYhizTXvtzwPYCx_3oY3MKZBbbySy1d3ilxZs865qdxClQ0_DiOJnlQwGrFbQYIxhMCIlh1MC3Rfik6sJ8FeAVxm5zz5GvA2EiqDEYYA9zT6h4jLto_RmsTyTbJSvlUT9PV7lyFBxaIzfrtQd43Etc-e5VK-0H4bpW9qGDsYmDKk7YRMoVdonfb75WRQod3aG9RRnl_qgW_RfzPR5-AAn1j78)

```mermaidignore
graph TD

alfred(Alfred)
make(Make.com)
trello(Trello)

alfred -- pass data to Make via Webhook --> make
make -- create card on Trello board using integration --> trello
```


## How to recreate this Alfred/Trello automation
### Resources
- [Alfred](https://www.alfredapp.com/).
- [Make](https://www.make.com/en).
- [Paw](https://paw.cloud/) or [Postman](https://www.postman.com/) (or any other app for making HTTP requests).
- 
### Step 1: Create a webhook trigger in Make

First, create a new Make scenario. In the scenario click the **Add** icon and select **Webhooks**.

![Create a webhook trigger in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/mwEqEu.png)
**Note:** A webhook is an HTTP callback function/request that facilitates communication between two APIs. In this instance the Webhook will allow communication between Alfred and Make.

Select **the Custom webhook** option under the “Triggers” section.
![Custom Webhooks option screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/gwriPM.png)


A “Webhooks” dialogue box will appear. Click **Add** and enter a **Webhook name**, then click **Save**.
![Create a webhooks dialogue box in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/hW0VUe.png)


Click **Copy address to clipboard.** This Webhook URL will allow you to trigger the workflow from outside of Make.
![How to copy a Webhooks address in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/eCTdZT.png)

Open your API testing tool and paste the link in the request input – make sure that it is a **POST** request. 
![How to link Paw with a Webhooks using an address screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/mOX6Eh.png)
**Note:** The status of the “Webhooks” dialogue box created on Make will read “Successfully determined”. This notification means that Make is receiving the HTTP request.

Here’s how it will appear:
![Webhooks dialogue box notification screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/0Dxpls.png)

Now let’s add a parameter for the Make webhook. Create a key/value pair with the key of `content`  in the body of your curl request/ In this example we are using Paw. We will use the content parameter later to pass values into Trello.
![How to set a Parameter key in Paw screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/Z0TCtL.png)


Go back to the Webhooks dialogue box and click **Redetermine data structure.** Check if the status of the Webhook reads "successfully determined".
![How to refresh a scenario in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/6vokPB.png)


### Step 2: Connect Trello to the Make Webhook

Open Make and click the **Add New Module** icon. Select **Trello**.
![How to connect make with Trello screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/IjtusN.png)

Click **Create a card**
![Create a Card option in the Trello node screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/HRg5LN.png)

Click **Add** in the "Connection" section
![Add command in trello node screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/4ey5Jy.png)


A “Create a connection” dialogue box will appear. Enter your Trello connection and click **Save.**
![How to connect Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/3xpQCL.png)

Go to **Enter a List ID**. Click **Select** to automatically bring up your Trello board names in the next text box.
![Trello List ID in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/ObjTWb.png)

The **Board** text box will contain a list of your existing Trello boards. Select a board name to connect to the webhook.
![Board section on the Trello node in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/vd5Ixu.png)

The **List** text box will contain column names from your chosen Trello Board. Click the **Down Arrow** and select a column to add a card.
![How to view Trello columns in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/OJjwVR.png)

In the **Name** text box, click the **Down Arrow** and select the name of the Parameter Key created earlier for the Webhook. 
![How to connect Paw with Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/RDuEXe.png)

Click OK to close the Trello node, then click the **Run once** icon in Make.
![Run Once command in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/4lfMS5.png)

The status of the scenario will read, "The request was accepted." To indicate that the Trello card has been created. Here is how it will appear:
![Example of a working scenario in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/zjAa1L.png)

Check Trello to see that the Parameter value you entered in your HTTP Request app:
![Example of an Automated Trello board screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/WT3OPn.png)

### Step 3: Automate Trello card creation with Alfred

This last step will show you how to use Alfred to trigger this automation. You will be able launch Alfred and use the keyword **idea** followed by your idea text to add it to Trello.

Open Alfred and go to **Workflows.** Click the **Add** icon at the bottom of the window.
![Add new workflow icon in Alfred screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/ee2Glv.png)

Select **Blank Workflow**.
![Add a blank workflow command in Alfred screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/dxsoxB.png)

Enter a name for the workflow in the “Name” section and fill in your bundle id. Click **Create** when done.

![How to name a workflow in Alfred screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/iHByDo.png)

Notice that the Workflow created will appear in the Workflow menu.
![Alfred workflow panel screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/44n30I.png)


Right-click any part of the window and select **Inputs**, then click **Keyword.**
![How to add a keyword workflow in Alfred screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/vkKIF1.png)

Enter the keyword trigger the “Keyword” section and type the title/hint that will appear when you are entering your idea. Click **Save** when done.
![How to name a workflow in Alfred screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/HihAvQ.pn)

Finally, connect Alfred with Make using a curl (HTTP request).
![How to add an argument to a workflow in Alfred screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/0TNoEN.png)

We will use a curl command. Right-click the workflow, select **Actions** and click **Run script.**
![How to add a new script in Alfred screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/NF2pV9.png)


A dialogue box will appear. The Parameter `$query` represents the text you entered after “idea” in the Alfred input box.
![Alfred Query script screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/PVIj35.png)


Open Paw/your HTTP Request app and copy the curl request code.
![Request script in Paw screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/bMppEL.png)

Paste the code in the Alfred and change the text string we used for testing to the parameter `$query`. The code should appear as below.
![Request script in Paw screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/GMg70F.png)


Lastly, go to Make and click **Run** **once** to type in a Trello card.
![Run Once command in Make screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/sxSKqM.png)


Type your hotkey followed by your new Trello card in the text box, and it will appear on the Trello board. Magic.
![Example of an automated Trello board screenshot](https://ry.d.pr/i/33cPjf.png)







Learn how to quickly add cards to your Trello lists with Alfred

The quickest way to create Trello cards using Alfred

## Overview

[Use Alfred's snippets to create quick templates for daily tasks - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my3-yZPdYPM)

## Daily standup note with Alfred automation flow diagram
![Daily standup not with Alfred automation flow diagram](https://mermaid.ink/svg/pako:eNpVkEFrwzAMhf-K0Ai00A526shhUJLmOAYtOwxf1FhtTR3b2A5bCPnvc9JmZRjs96zvCaQeaysZc8yyXhkV815gvHDDAnOBRwpJrOD-90le0VFzSEVIoPOqId8VVls_8U-bl6qqdrdI4Noa-b9ebV-LciNwGIYsE2Y8Z0_uAody1JF_4uJDkzJwSBLebeSwFCZoqq-L_XgnR_rkWS6207Occ7BeQ2FdB3fzBlPqHh6rsXMMLJ9DJCNbNzG3XnPPkfq2_hqgobOqH11whQ37hpRMq-qFAXisKck05VWgMEPiWicp8k6qaD3mJ9KBV0httPvO1JhH3_IMlYrS9M0f5ch8WTv74Rer-ovJ)
```mermaidignore
graph TD

text(Plain Text Notes)
slack(Slack)
alfred(Alfred)

text -- Copy text --> slack
slack -- type ed.standup --> alfred
alfred -- works magic --> slack
```

## How to recreate this automation
### Step 1: Create an Alfred snippet
Go to the preferences in Alfred and open up `Snippets` in the `Features` section. Create a snippet similar to this:
![Alfred snippet example](https://ry.d.pr/VBA7Pb.png)

Plain text format of the example in the video:
```
*{date:EEEE} Standup - {date:long}*
{clipboard}
```

### Step 2: Copy your notes
![Highlighted notes](https://ry.d.pr/Fqs2lw.png)

### Step 3: Go to Slack and type your trigger keyword
Type in your keyword - mine is `ed.standup` - and hit enter.
![Slack example](https://ry.d.pr/g0JI9s.png)


Creating a daily standup note using Alfred snippets

## Overview
When talking in Slack (or similar) people may reference (but not link) Jira issues that we want to view. Here we use Alfred's Universal Actions to construct a URL from the ticket ID and open it in your browser. 

[The easiest Alfred workflow to open Jira tickets on a Mac - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WY8NYo91zdw)

## Automation flow diagram for opening Jira tickets using Alfred
![Automation flow diagram for opening Jira tickets using Alfred](https://mermaid.ink/svg/pako:eNpVkMFqwzAMhl9FeARa1h526shhUNrmsNNgY4fhi2qrjVvHDooCCyHvPrtdN4qx9cv69BtrVCZaUqUqitEFJ-WoldTUkFalVnvskljA790nssO9py4VIYEtuwZ52EQf-cI_rJ6qqtpdWzoyMdj7erV-3mxXWk3TVBQ65HVkbGv42GbdenRB6Ftmb1lBliDOnEmA6UBMwdBcB_QHJjtbX0LKT45x9pqO-Z0LLJdQu2Pt05ar2SOcaYCujiymz8ALXM1uprknthQ66NmDdUxG_HAB8ytqoRriBp1NMxt1APifV5Lpu2etdJgS17cWhXbWSWRVHtB3tFDYS3wfglGlcE83aOswjaH5o1oMXzHe8ukHh5WRIQ)

```mermaidignore
graph TD

plaintext(Plain text ticket reference)
alfred(Alfred)
jira(Jira)

plaintext -- highlight text + key shortcut --> alfred
alfred -- opens url directly --> jira
```

## How to recreate this automation for use in your own workflows
### Resources
* [Alfred Universal Actions (alfredapp.com)](https://www.alfredapp.com/universal-actions/)
* [Jira | Issue & Project Tracking Software | Atlassian](https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira)

### Step 1: Create an Alfred Workflow
Create an Alfred Workflow that takes in your keyword and opens it in a browser. It's only 2 steps - `Universal Action` and `Open URL`. 
![Alfred Workflow](https://ry.d.pr/q2S2K5.png)

**Universal Action node**
![Universal Action Node](https://ry.d.pr/azLWcK.png)

**Open URL node**
![Open URL Node](https://ry.d.pr/bdmZYa.png)
_* note - you may need to change the URL construction to match your implementation of JIRA _

### Step 2: Spot unlinked Jira reference
I come across these release notes in Slack and want to check out one of the tickets.
![Plaintext Jira ticket reference](https://ry.d.pr/tcj9ot.png)

### Step 3: Highlight ticket
![Highlight ticket in text](https://ry.d.pr/JPsmtG.png)

### Step 4: Hit your Alfred Universal Action hotkey
Select the workflow you just created and your Jira ticket will open.
![Select Alfred Workflow](https://ry.d.pr/FSRGxC.png)


Plain text Jira ticket reference can be annoying. Use this tutorial as the easiest way to open Jira issues with Alfred.

The easiest Alfred workflow to open Jira tickets on a Mac

## Overview
Sometimes we want to quickly split content into chunks to share on Twitter. I'm going to show you how we can paritally automate this flow using Alfred, a bit of scripting and Typefully.

This automation uses Alfred to consume a markdown file and split it into Twitter sized chunks on your clipboard. You can then use this to insert into Typefully or your favourite Twitter thread creator.

## Step 1. Use Alfred to trigger the process
Create an Alfred workflow that takes in a markdown file and runs a script on it. The script should output the tweets to the clipboard. You can see my Alfred workflow and the script on [GitHub here](https://github.com/rymawby/tiny-automations-source/tree/main/content-to-tweets-converter). ![Alfred Workflow](https://ry.d.pr/7nXeLl.png)

The script should not only split the text into tweet sized chunks but also sanitise the data. My script is very simple it splits into tweet sized chunks and removes markdown image syntax but leaves the image link.

If you wanted to improve on this you could look into using Abstract Syntax Trees or even something like GPT-3.

## Step 2. Add the human touch
Paste into a text editor to view the tweets. I have mine separated by two new lines as the Typefully app uses this to denote a new tweet. You will want to modify and make it more suitable for the Twitter audience. ![Adding the human touch](https://ry.d.pr/iOnWyA.gif)

## Step 3. Paste into your thread maker
I currently use Typefully for my threads. It separates tweet by 2 carriage returns - but this split is triggered when you type the Threads in rather than simply pasting. I use a simple Keyboard Maestro command that types in my clipboard for me.
![Keyboard maestro shortcut for typing your clipboard](https://ry.d.pr/iLqC0r.png)

The script I'm using here is fairly simple but can be improved and iterated upon.

Use Alfred to split your content into Twitter friendly chunks.

Markdown file to Twitter thread using Alfred and Typefully

## Automation overview
We use Alfred to quickly get a tweet out using Make (note - we wrote this when Make was actually called Integromat so you may find a few references to Integromat rather than Make in the code samples). Using Make allows us not to have to use our own Twitter app and we do not need to go through the Twitter approval process.

## Automation flow diagram for tweeting from Alfred

![Automation flow diagram for tweeting from Alfred](https://mermaid.ink/svg/pako:eNpdkDFrw0AMhf_KoWJwIBnSDCkeCiGJp3ZpS4dyi-KTkyO-OyPLhGD833t2a0O7iPekTw-kDopgCDJIks56K1mnQS7kSEOm4YRNFEv12_tEtniqqIlDFcGarUO-70MVeOQftus8z48_Kw0VwZu_83z3tD9sNfR9nyTaa39mrC_q5W3QSg21EarX6a4qmcxiajymr3il2W7Sj5sVIV7821OrlSparlQRnENvon9WY8CcNCByIxJlfRlmYANLcMQOrYnf6MbU-RNRxkOuGrTvI9fWBoWOxkpgyEqsGloCthLe776ATLilCTpYjCe6marRf4Uw-f4bk4GA4Q)
```mermaidignore

graph LR

  

step1(Alfred)

step2(Make)

step3(Twitter)

  

step1 -- curl command --> step2

step2 -- tweet info --> step3

```

## Step 1: Alfred
### The trigger
Here we create a keyword trigger using the word "tweet" with the settings below. This will pass anything after the word tweet into our workflow where we are going to use a curl command that passes our tweet to a Make webhook.
![](https://ry.d.pr/sEnqoS.png)

### The curl command
We use a `POST` curl command that references the Make webhook we are going to create in step 2. We use a `run script` action in Alfred and the following curl command in the action.

```shell

curl --location --request POST 'https://hook.integromat.com/my-webhook-url' \

--header 'Content-Type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded' \

--data-urlencode 'tweet={query}'

```
![](https://ry.d.pr/DK84tO.png)

## Step 2: Make
We create a new webhook trigger in our Make scenario. We copy the url address to our clipboard and add it to our curl command above in Alfred. This will allow Alfred to pass the tweet information to our Make webhook and trigger the scenario.
![](https://ry.d.pr/fa969q.png)

Click on `Re-determine data structure` .
![](https://ry.d.pr/jVQc0C.png)

While the little `Stop` icon has a spinner running next to it test your tweet from Alfred.
![](https://ry.d.pr/baD5UO.png)

You should see `Succesfully determined` in green.
![](https://ry.d.pr/6FUE4N.png)

Next add your Twitter module and with the `Status` containing your tweet determined via the curl command.
![](https://ry.d.pr/ndpOXq.png)

Finally save and turn on your scenario and run immediately
![](https://ry.d.pr/O2UZyf.png)

You can now tweet directly from Alfred

Always wanted to tweet from Alfred? We show you how.

Learn how to automate with Alfred

What can I automate with Alfred?

How much does Alfred cost?

How can I automate with Alfred?