# Streamline Your Workflow: Using Markdown with Apple Apps
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Chapter 1: Introduction to Markdown in Apple Apps
Markdown is a versatile text formatting tool that enhances productivity by allowing users to keep their hands on the keyboard. This is particularly beneficial when you're in a focused state of mind. Various applications, including GoodNotes, Day One, and Ulysses, support Markdown, making it a popular choice for formatting text efficiently.
However, Apple Mail and Apple Notes do not natively support Markdown, which can be frustrating. Fortunately, with Apple Shortcuts, you can easily integrate basic Markdown functionality into these apps. In this article, I will guide you on how to implement this using two specific shortcuts that either send Markdown text to Mail or Notes or transform clipboard content.
Section 1.1: Setting Up Shortcuts for Markdown
To get started with Markdown in Apple apps, you’ll need to enable external shortcuts. Navigate to Settings > Shortcuts > Private Sharing.
Next, create a new shortcut and ensure it’s accessible from the Share Menu, allowing it to accept any type of input. While the shortcut is designed to handle text only, making it available for all input types ensures it can be used across various applications.
Section 1.2: How to Use the Markdown Shortcut
To utilize the shortcut, simply access it via the Share Menu. Here’s an example text you can try:
# Some Interesting Poetry The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe -----------------------------------------
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary...
Copy this text to your clipboard, then open the Share Menu. Look for the "MarkdownTransform" option, and select your preferred application.
Quickly convert Markdown to rich text using shortcuts on your iPhone for seamless integration into your workflow.
Section 1.3: Transforming Clipboard Content
There’s a simpler shortcut that processes whatever is in your clipboard, converting it into rich text format and copying it back. This allows you to create Apple Notes with Markdown effortlessly.
Copy your Markdown text, activate the shortcut from the Share Menu, and it will replace the Markdown with rich text suitable for Apple Notes.
Chapter 2: Final Thoughts on Markdown Integration
While this method for integrating Markdown into Apple Mail and Notes is relatively basic, it effectively meets essential needs. You can also choose to send the rich text directly to the clipboard for use in any application.
Although this implementation isn’t sophisticated, it opens the door for greater productivity. Perhaps one day, Apple will fully embrace Markdown support.
Learn my top hack for writing emails using text shortcuts on your Apple Mac to improve your communication efficiency.