Simple Messages workflow?

[jvanster]

I've found several older mac messages workflows, but they don't seem to work very well. Is there a simple way to just call up Mac Messenger, write in a name from contacts and have that open the messages app with the contact already selected? Similar to the automatic send an email to a particular contact? 

[deanishe]

Hi @jvanster, welcome to the forum.

 

3 hours ago, jvanster said:

Is there a simple way to just call up Mac Messenger

 

No, there isn't. Apple doesn't provide any way to do that. That's why none of the workflows work very well.

[jvanster]

🙄 Imagine that! Thanks for replying though. Is Alfred planning on integrating with shortcuts once those come to the mac? Might that help?

[deanishe]

1 minute ago, jvanster said:

Is Alfred planning on integrating with shortcuts once those come to the mac?

 

It's already possible to call any API from Alfred. Whether Alfred will be able to call Shortcuts depends on Shortcuts more than Alfred.

[vitor]

5 hours ago, jvanster said:

Is Alfred planning on integrating with shortcuts once those come to the mac?

 

Shortcuts will have a command line tool and be scriptable via AppleScript, so there’s nothing that Alfred needs to do to integrate with it.

 

21 hours ago, jvanster said:

Is there a simple way to just call up Mac Messenger, write in a name from contacts and have that open the messages app with the contact already selected?

 

Realistically, how many contacts do you want to do that for? You could set them up yourself in a List Filter Input, then open sms:<contact_phone_number_OR_imessage_email>&body=<url_encoded_message>. That’ll open the message to the correct person with your prepopulated message. Example: sms:+46771793336&body=Hello%20random%20Swede!&.

 

Tip: Always end the body with a &, to keep the punctuation marks.

Edited August 4, 2021 by vitor

[rknightuk]

You could also setup a Contact Action Trigger workflow in combination with a custom contact action for the phone field. You'd still need to find contact > choose phone number > type message but it would work with all contacts. 

 

But as @vitorsaid, if it's only a few contacts you want to do this for, it may make more sense to do a list filter just with those contacts.