Transaction & Shortcuts Setup
Follow these steps to set up a Shortcut for logging scheduled transactions in BalanceTrackr with full flexibility.
This guide demonstrates how to use the Email trigger with specific keywords in the email subject line. This is particularly useful if you frequently receive emails about upcoming bills, as the information from these emails can be automatically logged in the background to BalanceTrackr.
While you can also use other triggers to capture transaction information, this setup focuses on the email trigger. Shortcuts becomes incredibly powerful when combined with Apple Intelligence.
📱 Device Requirements
This guide requires Apple Intelligence.
Apple Intelligence is available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, and will be available on all iPhone 16 models and later.
These devices have the necessary A17 Pro or newer chips required for the AI features, which include on-device processing for enhanced security and speed.
Open the Shortcuts app
Launch the built-in Shortcuts app on your iPhone.
Tap "Automation" at the bottom
Switch to the Automation tab to create a new shortcut.
Tap the "New Automation" or the plus icon and choose "Email"
Tap the New Automation or the + icon at the top right, then select Email.
Add keyword and configure automation
Add a keyword in "Subject Contains". Click Run Immediately to make the shortcut run completely in the background. Tap Next.
Tap Create New Shortcut to start the setup.
Get Text from Input
Search for "Get Text from Input" and tap it to add it.
Tap Input and select Shortcut Input.
Select Content.
Use Model with Apple Intelligence
Search for "Use Model" and tap "On-Device".
Click in the box and remove the text so it says: "Request…". Write the following text:
Remove the large TEXT and select the variable that shows a yellow text symbol and the word Text.
Click the little chevron next to model and select "Text" from the Output selector.
Get Dictionary Values
Search "Dictionary" and select "Get Dictionary from Input".
Search "Dictionary" again and select "Get Dictionary Value".
In the Key field write "recipient".
Click the Dictionary after "in", and rename the Variable Name to "AI Dictionary".
Now click the Dictionary symbol (red circle in picture 2 in this step) and click "Duplicate". Change the field "recipient" to "dueDate" and "amount".
Create Account and Category Routing Dictionaries
Make two new Dictionaries. This is to be used as routing options for the accounts and categories you have based on the Recipient from the emails. This way you can get emails from multiple senders, and the payments will be charged to the correct accounts.
Search "Dictionary" and select that option. Click "Add New Item" and select "Text".
Write the Recipient's name in the Key, ex "Electrical Power Company" and in the Text field write the name of the account you want this Recipient to be deducted from. In my example I use "House". Add as many recipients as you would like, and they will all be routed to the correct account.
Again Duplicate the newly created Dictionary. This new Dictionary is going to select the correct category you want the payment to have. The Key is the same as the first Dictionary, and the Text is the category you want to use.
Important!
Keep in mind that the account and category name must MATCH 100% with the names used in the BalanceTrackr app.
Get Account and Category Values
Now you will have to search "Dictionary" again, and again select "Get Dictionary Value".
The action will automatically select the last Dictionary you created. Tap "Key" and then tap "Select Variable". Scroll upwards and find the first "Get Dictionary Value" that have the text "Get Value for recipient in AI Dictionary". Tap the "Dictionary Value" under. Give the variable a name, like "Recipient Value" and slide the sheet down to save it.
Then click the "Dictionary" after "in", and rename the Variable Name to "Accounts".
Duplicate this Get Dictionary Value. Clear the "Accounts" name you just created, and click the text "Dictionary". Then click "Select Variable" and select the "Dictionary Value" for the second Dictionary.
Click the "Dictionary" after "in", and rename the Variable Name to "Categories".
Configure BalanceTrackr Action
Search "BalanceTrackr" and select "Log scheduled transaction".
Click "Amount" and then click "Select Variable". Scroll upwards and find the "Dictionary Value" that is after the "Get Value for amount in AI Dictionary". Click the newly added "Dictionary Value" and rename it to "Amount Value".
Click Type and select if the transaction should be an Expense or Income.
Click "Account" and then click "Select Variable". Scroll upwards and find the "Dictionary Value" that is after the "Get Value for Recipient Value in Accounts". Click the newly added "Dictionary Value" and rename it to "Account Value".
Click "Category" and then click "Select Variable". Scroll upwards and find the "Dictionary Value" that is after the "Get Value for Recipient Value in Categories". Click the newly added "Dictionary Value" and rename it to "Category Value".
Click "Date" and then click "Select Variable". Scroll upwards and find the "Dictionary Value" that is after the "Get Value for dueDate in AI Dictionary".
Click the "Dictionary Value" and rename it to "dueDate Value".
Click "Time" and write the clock you want the transaction to happen this date. In my guide I use 12:34.
Click "Description", scroll to the right in the "Select Variable" line and select "Recipient Value". This will be the note for the transaction in BalanceTrackr.
If all have been entered correctly, these three pictures show how it should look like.
Now press the big white check mark on blue background at the top right corner, and the automation is saved and ready to be used! It should then run in the background when an email with the selected keywords enters your email, and magically it should be entered into BalanceTrackr.
Pro Tip
Set up notifications in BalanceTrackr to get notifications about the transactions that have been entered.
Pro Tip 2
To see exactly what information Apple Intelligence extracts from your emails, use the "Append to Note" function for testing.
Create a new note in the Notes app, then add the "Append to Note" action to your shortcut. Select the variables and text you want to capture (like recipient, due date, and amount), and choose the note you created as the destination.
When the automation triggers, all extracted information will be appended to your note. This is an excellent way to see the actual values that will be used in your routing dictionaries, ensuring the correct accounts and categories are selected when the shortcut runs in the background.
