How can I use iPadOS shortcuts and TD Snap to send a text message?

Please note: Shortcuts are frequently changed by Apple so we cannot guarantee that the shortcut in this article will work exactly as described.   As Apple changes Shortcuts, you may need to refer to Apple or other third party resources for help with creating shortcuts.  If help is needed with TD Snap or creating the button, please contact Tobii Dynavox for support.

This article describes how to set up a button that will send whatever text is in the message window to a specific phone number.  It is great for sending a one-off text message to a contact or sending a text message to a caregiver or family member that may be in another room.

First, we'll need to create the shortcut.

1. Open the Shortcutsapp on your TD Pilot, TD Navio, or iPad.
2. Select All Shortcuts from the menu on the left.
3. Choose the +at the top of the screen to start creating a new shortcut.  (If you are using a TD Pilot, the "Bring your face into view." message may be covering the +, so make sure the eye tracker is not covered and your face is in view.  Once you select the +, you can cover the eye tracker back up if needed.)
4. Select New Shortcut to drop down the menu in order to name your shortcut.
5. Choose Rename and name the shortcut Send Text, then choose Done.
6. If you want to change the icon, you may do so by selecting the same drop down and select Choose Icon.
7. In the Search Actions field (over on the right), type Send.  
8. Choose Send Message from the list that pops up under where you typed.
9. On the left, next to the Sendaction, choose the Message.  Right above the keyboard you will see Select Variable.  Choose Clipboardfrom the list of variables.
10. Hold your finger down on Recipients.  A small menu will appear.  Choose Shortcut Input.  A new set of actions will appear over the Sendaction.  You do not need to change anything there.
11. In the Search Actions field, type Open App
12. Choose Open App from the list that popped up.
13. On the left, next to the Openaction, choose App.
14. Choose TD Snap from the list of apps that opens.
15. Now we need to add one more action, so type Stopin the Search Actions field
16. Choose Stop and Output
17. That's all for creating the shortcut.  Choose the <(back) button in the upper left corner.  You should see your app, Send Text, in the list of apps now.

Now you can create your button in TD Snap.  This button will have two actions.

1. Open TD Snap and go into Edit view on the page you'd like to add the button.
2. Select a button and label it whatever descriptive label you like.  You can also choose a symbol to use if you are using a page with symbols.
3. Remove the default action by choosing the red dot to the left of that action and choose Delete.
4. Select Add Action.
5. Search for the action Copy Message Window Text, then select it.  That will be your first action.
6. Select Add Action and search for Launch Application.
7. Choose Launch Application.
8. Swipe to the left and choose Shortcuts
9. Below the list of Applications, enable Advanced.
10. If you named your shortcut Send Text, type the following Command Line Argument. name=Send Text&input=text&text=[this is where you will type in the phone number of your contact].For example, if you named the shortcut, "Send Text" and want the button to send a text message to (781) 555-1212, the command line argument would be, name=Send Text&input=text&text=+17815551212
11. Choose the <Back button.  
12. Choose Done.
13. The first time you use the button, you may get a prompt to ask if you want to allow the message to be sent.  This message will only pop up the first time and will not pop up again.