Show HN: Schedule iMessage Texts from .txt Files(github.com) Annoyingly, iPhones don't have a great way to schedule messages. This around 100 lines of python to schedule iMessage texts from .txt files on your computer. If this is useful to you, please give it a try and let me know what you think. Thanks. |
I have a daily shortcut that runs at X time. Shortcut checks a calendar for events, if today contains one or more events. It will parse the text from these events (comma separated fully qualified phone numbers or iMessage accounts), and send the message contained in the body of the event.
Added bonus here is that I can also send group messages.
If I need to have the message sent on repeat, then I put the cal event on repeat.
I could possibly even have templated messages (ie, insert month and year into message), but I haven’t deep dived into that rabbit hole.
Downside here though is that you need an iOS device to always be on.
Can you provide an example or two of how you format the events in your calendar to allow them to be sent at a scheduled time by the Shortcuts app?
I have an old iPhone that runs this automation. Haven’t touched it in many months. Still runs without a hitch.
Although if the script has some dependency on iOS or macOS specific function (ie, existence of “Apple script”). Then the shortcut might not be portable between macOS <-> iOS
The message text is URL encoded, the phone number is auto-retrieved from the contact, then an sms: URL is generated and added to my reminders app. When the time comes, I simply click the link and it auto-populates in Messages, ready to send or tweak.
You could read all inbound messages from the Messages app and reply as well. You could even hook it up to a local LLM and run a small support agent.
Is there ANY reason a small business owner couldn't do this and avoid paying SaaS fees?
If an app running on my machine has subclassed the Messages app and is reading strings and sending hit strokes to the (Send) button on my behalf, how can Apple possibly rate limit this?
https://github.com/earlychildcog/automate_sms_to_participant...
People (and corporations) will pay a lot of money to have someone else manage and maintain their infrastructure.
I use it mostly with my SO as a reminder we send to each other at certain times.
Thanks!
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tell application "Messages" set phoneNumber to "+15555555555" set messageToSend to "This is a test!"
try set iMessageService to (1st account whose service type = iMessage) set iMessageBuddy to participant phoneNumber of iMessageService
if exists iMessageBuddy then
set theMessage to send messageToSend to iMessageBuddy
delay 2 -- Wait for a short time to allow the message status to update
if status of theMessage is not "delivered" then
error "iMessage not delivered"
else
log ("sent as iMessage to: " & phoneNumber)
end if
else
error "Not an iMessage user"
end if
on error
try
set SMSService to (1st account whose service type = SMS)
set SMSBuddy to participant phoneNumber of SMSService
send messageToSend to SMSBuddy
log ("sent as SMS to: " & phoneNumber)
on error
log ("ERROR: COULD NOT SEND TO: " & phoneNumber)
end try
end tryStill don’t know how they get around auto send, iMessage required user input last time I tried this
[Edit] Shortcuts still require user interaction, apparently mac does not, that's interesting
It's difficult to get most people to switch to something else and impossible to get old people to do it.
(lose your main iCloud account... 'bold move Cotton')