Link to a Smart Folder (or: linking to hashtags)

joaoalm · 2024-11-18T16:59:05+00:00

First of all, thank you for coming up with F ✱ N and for sharing it with the world. I’ve been implementing your workflow very consistently* I’m specially f...

James-Ashby

GretchenCawthon This works for showing folders on an iPad and an iPhone. Thanks for the tip!

Also, it turns out you can use this technique to open another app from a note using a shortcut with the open app action. I can now open my password manager from my ✱ Home note.

GazzaBruno

I am struggling to understand this. Could someone please take the time to show step-by-step how to set this up?

Overall I love this system and really want to fully implement it. But even the early steps setting up hashtags and collections and hubs have been slow work for me. I hope a beginner's user manual eventually comes out showing novice users how to do it.

tvillemw

It sounds like you need help with the Shortcuts app which is separate from Notes.

Once you've opened the Shortcuts app, look for a plus sign to create your own shortcut. There will be a field that asks to Search Actions. Enter Notes there for a list of actions you can use in Notes, the action you want is Show Notes Folder. Select it to add that action to your shortcut, then click on the highlighted word Notes for a list of your folders and smart folders. Select the folder you want to show. Give your new shortcut the name you want to use in links from your notes.

James-Ashby

Goal: Create a link in a note that will open a folder (including a Smart Folder) in notes

2 steps:

Create a shortcut that will open a folder in notes: see the response above. You might want to avoid including spaces in the shortcut name.
Add a link in the note that will run the shortcut using this format: shortcuts://run-shortcut?name=<name of shortcut>

James-Ashby

James-Ashby If you want the link to work on multiple devices you may need to add logic to the shortcut to check for the device being used. Here is an example of this sort of shortcut which will open the same folder (called _NextActions) on an iPhone or an iPad:

![](blob:https://forum.myforevernotes.com/dd1c8674-a3c7-44cb-a741-53317a85fa29)

To make the shortcut work you need to edit the shortcut on both platforms pointing the shortcut to the desired folder for that platform.

jahumada55

GretchenCawthon nogu I tried this shortcut to be able to open a smart folder for iPhone, iPad and Mac. But when I reset the folder on the iPhone, it does not work on the iPad and vice versa (it does work on the Mac). I know I need to setup another if statement for the IPhone or iPad but should it be nested within the first one? or a separate one? Thank you!

James-Ashby

jahumada55 I think you just need one more if after the first otherwise

GretchenCawthon

jahumada55 they will need to be nested like this. The last one defaults to my MacBook so no device name is needed.

jahumada55

Thank you @GretchenCawthon that worked! I was putting the if statements sequentially rather than nesting them. I also used "Device Model" instead of device name.. (because I only one of each device). Nice!

jahumada55

Just sharing the final workflow for others:
![](blob:https://forum.myforevernotes.com/f53d8703-a5ee-4262-9fb5-3558f4293b0f)

reyespoint

Matthias This is great. Has anyone put in a feature request to Apple re: direct links to SmartFolders in notes? Seems like what the Forever✱Notes system really needs to be complete.

-J-

reyespoint

Works better if we all do 😉

https://www.apple.com/feedback/notes/

ScatteredBoomer

reyespoint

Hmmm. I have coded it exactly as above. Copied the link generated by Shortcuts. Pasted it into my ✱ Home note. Clicked on the link…it takes me out of Notes, and shows the action in Shortcuts. NOT what I was looking for - which was to open the Smart Folder in Notes.

Confused here.

One note: I see that when you click on the shortcut it does populate the Smart Folder in Notes. Not really worth it though - since I only have the single Smart Folder ATM. Having the shortcut interrupt my flow in Notes is sub optimal.

reyespoint

reyespoint yes. I did it a few days ago. Seems like an obvious feature request. Links to both regular and smart folders is what I requested.

RianSvindal

Matthias sorry but this is not working for me. A video would be a big help.

Keith-H

Sorry this still does not work. I have triple check everything the short cut will open the notes app, but not the specified smart folder.

James-Ashby

This is the link on my home note:

![](blob:https://forum.myforevernotes.com/79fea874-b419-4684-958f-9bb1706a4085)

This is the shortcut called by the link:

![](blob:https://forum.myforevernotes.com/cd21c23c-687a-43c2-b3dd-1fe1d36f7a8e)

It works on both my iPhone and iPad. When the link is clicked it opens the _NextActions Smart Folder

GabeIngram

I’ve tried this multiple times, and did all sorts of device look ups, etc. Turns out, this is a documented issue with Notes, on the Apple discussion board. The folder shortcut or tags shortcut will not work if Notes is open on another device. I have verified this. If I just make the normal shortcut, run it on my iPhone, it works. Try it on my iPad, it fails. then I close notes on my iPhone, and now the iPad works. Open Notes on my iPhone, now it fails on iPhone. Did the same process with my Mac. Turns out because of the way that iCloud Syncs shortcuts and actions, the Notes app does not allow it to work on 2 open devices at once.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255144490?sortBy=rank

Matthias

GabeIngram Interesting. For me it doesn't matter if I have multiple instances of the app open. Links with URL scheme or shortcuts open any note for me.

« Previous Page