How to Use Applescript to Simplify Your Workflow: Mail Yourself iCal Todos

In today’s fast-paced world, staying organized and managing our daily to-do lists is essential. With the advent of technology, there are several tools and applications available to help us manage our tasks efficiently. One of the best tools available for Mac users is Applescript. Applescript can perform various functions to automate and simplify your workflow. In this article, we will discuss how to use Applescript to receive a remote Todo entry via email, and have it automatically moved to iCal.

Firstly, what exactly is Applescript? Simply put, it is a scripting language developed by Apple Inc. It enables users to write scripts to automate and control various applications and processes on their Mac. In other words, Applescript provides a way for users to customize the behavior of their applications to make them work more efficiently and effectively.

Now, let’s dive into how Applescript can help you manage your to-do list effectively. With just a few lines of code in Applescript, you can set up Mail to receive a remote Todo entry via email, and then have it automatically moved to iCal.

To get started, you will need to open up the Script Editor application on your Mac. You can find it in the Utilities folder, located within the Applications folder. Once it’s open, you can start writing your script.

Here’s an example of the script you can use:

“`Applescript
using terms from application “Mail”
on perform mail action with messages theMessages for rule theRule
tell application “Mail”
set theTodo to content of theMessages
set {TidyText, TidySubject} to processSubjectAndBodyOfMessage(subject of theMessages, theTodo)
my add2iCal(TidyText)
move theMessages to mailbox “Todo” of account “iCloud”
end tell
end perform mail action with messages
end using terms from

on processSubjectAndBodyOfMessage(theSubject, theBody)
set searchString to “TODO:”
set theTodo to “”
set thePos to offset of searchString in theSubject
if thePos is not 0 then
set theTodo to theSubject
set theTodo to text ((thePos + (length of searchString)) + 1) through end of theTodo
else
set theTodo to theBody
end if
set TidyText to theTodo
set TidySubject to theSubject
return {TidyText, TidySubject}
end processSubjectAndBodyOfMessage

on add2iCal(theText)
tell application “iCal”
make new todo at end of todos with properties {summary:theText}
end tell
end add2iCal
“`

Once you have created this script, save it in a location where you can easily access it. You can then create a new rule in Mail to process emails that contain a to-do list. In this example, the minimum subject check required is for the email to begin with ‘TODO:’. However, you can customize this further as required by adding other checks.

Next, set the action to ‘Run Applescript’ and point it to the script you just created. This way, when you receive an email with a ToDo list that begins with ‘TODO:’, Mail will automatically apply the rule to it, triggering the script to run.

This script will then extract the content of the message and process it accordingly. It will add the Todo to iCal, and then move the email to a mailbox named ‘Todo’ in your iCloud account.

With this script in place, you can easily record a quick to-do list from anywhere you have access to the internet. You can receive to-do lists from colleagues or family members and have them automatically added to iCal, eliminating the need to copy and paste each item manually.

In conclusion, Applescript is a powerful tool that can help you streamline your workflow and manage your daily to-do lists more efficiently. With just a few lines of code, you can easily process emails containing to-do lists and have them automatically added to iCal. This hack is incredibly useful, especially for busy professionals who are always on the go. You can customize the script as required to suit your needs and preferences, making it an indispensable tool for daily task management. So why not give it a try?