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Using OpenTodo Switch from another appVersion 0.13.0

Switch from Apple Reminders

Apple Reminders has no export button. There are two ways over.

On this page

First choice: CalDAV#

If you want to keep using the Reminders app on your iPhone or Mac, connect it to OpenTodo with CalDAV: your OpenTodo projects appear as Reminders lists, and what you add on either side shows up on the other. Then move reminders into those lists. Nothing needs to be exported.

Or: save your reminders with a Shortcut#

To bring everything in at once, build this Shortcut in the Shortcuts app (iPhone, iPad or Mac):

  1. Find Reminders where Is Completed is any value (leave the other filters empty).
  2. Repeat with Each item in Reminders. Inside the repeat:
    • Format Date of Repeat Item → Due Date, format ISO 8601, Include ISO 8601 Time on. Do the same for Creation Date and Completion Date.
    • Dictionary with these keys (all Text unless stated): identifier = the formatted creation date followed by Title; parent = Parent Reminder → Creation Date (formatted) followed by Parent Reminder → Title; list = List; title = Title; notes = Notes; dueDate, creationDate, completionDate = the formatted dates; isCompleted (Boolean) = Is Completed; priority = Priority; flagged (Boolean) = Is Flagged; tags = Tags; url = URL.
  3. After the repeat: Combine Repeat Results with ,, then Text with [, the combined text, and ].
  4. Save File with that text, named reminders.json (turn off Ask Where to Save to put it in your Shortcuts folder in Files or iCloud Drive).

Run it once. The file holds every reminder of every list.

Import into OpenTodo#

  1. Open Settings → Data → Import data (or press g then Shift+I).
  2. Choose reminders.json. The preview shows Apple Reminders (JSON from the Shortcut).
  3. Check the warnings and select Import.

The import preview of an Apple Reminders file: the detected format, the lists that become projects, and the first reminders with their due dates.

What carries over#

  • Each list becomes a project. Reminders, the default list, goes to your Inbox or the target project.
  • Titles, notes (as the description) and subtasks.
  • Priority High, Medium and Low become p1, p2 and p3.
  • Flagged reminders get the label flagged; tags become labels.
  • The URL becomes a link attachment.
  • Due dates, with the time when the reminder has one; completed reminders with their time.

The full mapping is in Import formats.

What the Shortcut cannot read#

Shortcuts does not give access to repeat rules, early reminders, location alerts, images or the sections of a list, so those are not in the file. Set repeat rules and reminders again in OpenTodo where you need them.

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