In this guide
Inputs and results
Keep values fixed, supply them from your shortcut, ask for them when you run, and choose which part of the result comes back.
What is an input? #
An input is a piece of information an action needs. For a GitHub issue, Owner identifies the user or organization, Repository chooses the project, and Title names the issue. Required inputs must have a value; optional inputs can be omitted when you do not need them.
Open an input in the step editor to choose its source. In a Notion, Airtable, or Jev form, tap Bind beside a field to open the same choices.
Choose where a value comes from #
Text: keep a fixed value
Type a value and save it with the action. Use this for a repository, a folder, or any detail that should stay the same between runs.
Shortcuts: receive a value on each run
Choose Param 1 through Param 10. The matching input in Execute Action supplies the value each time. Param 1 is a numbered slot, not a service-specific field name; you decide which field uses it.
Ask: prompt each time
The action asks for the value when it runs. For supported lookups, Choose From a List can offer items from the service instead of asking for typed text. The form also lets you configure what happens when that list is empty or cannot be read.
Earlier Step: reuse another step’s result
Choose a field returned by an earlier step. This choice appears only when the action has an earlier step to read from. For example, a later update can use the identifier of a record found by the first step.
With the Shortcuts source, Ask When Empty controls prompting for an empty slot. The separate Ask source asks every time.
Files use their own inputs #
A file is a photo or document, rather than a line of text. Bind a file field to File 1 through File 5 and provide the file in Execute Action. Do not put a file in a Param text slot.
When the action is configured to ask for a file, it uses a file picker. Each action’s reference lists any accepted extensions or size limits. A wrong file type is checked before the step sends it.
Put a value inside a sentence #
Some text inputs have a {} button. It opens a text editor where you can insert a value from Shortcuts or an earlier step at the cursor. The rest of the sentence stays saved with the action.
For example, a saved note can include the title returned by an earlier request. Use this when you want a whole sentence, rather than replacing the field with one value.
Choose what Shortcuts gets back #
- In the action editor, open the Output section.
- For an action with several steps, choose the result step using From.
- Open Returned Value and select the field or fields you need. Save the action.
After Execute Action runs, its Action Result can expose Text, Number, Boolean, URL, List, Selected Values, and JSON File. Which ones are filled depends on what you selected. For example, a single title is text; a collection of plain titles can be a List.
JSON File contains the complete response. JSON is a structured data format that groups named values and lists. You can use selected fields without taking that file apart yourself.