🔗 Alter URL Callbacks: Integrate and Automate with X-Callback-URL

Video Tutorial

Introduction to URL Callbacks

Alter’s URL callback feature allows you to seamlessly integrate Alter actions with other applications. This guide will walk you through understanding and utilizing Alter’s URL callbacks to trigger actions from external apps and vice versa.

Alter’s URL callback feature uses the x-callback-url protocol. This lets different apps talk to each other by opening special links. With it, you can trigger actions in one app from another, send information between them, and even have the app send you back to where you started when it’s done. The exact actions you can trigger depend on each app.

Understanding Alter URL Callbacks

URL callbacks enable you to trigger specific Alter actions from other apps by using a unique URL scheme. Conversely, you can create clickable links within Alter that trigger actions in other apps.

How it Works

1. Triggering Alter Actions: You can use a URL scheme to initiate an Alter action from another application.
2. Triggering External App Actions: Alter can generate clickable links that, when clicked, execute actions within other apps.

Implementing URL Callbacks

Triggering Alter Actions from External Apps

1. Locate the URL Scheme: In the Alter action editor, select an action and find the “URL Callback” section under “General”. Here, you’ll find the unique URL scheme for that action.
2. Copy the URL Scheme: Copy the provided URL scheme to your clipboard.
3. Use the URL: Paste the URL into any other application to trigger the Alter action. For example, you can paste it into a browser or a note-taking app.

Triggering External App Actions from Alter

1. Create a Clickable Link: Within Alter, create a clickable link that uses the URL scheme of the target application.
2. Define the Action: Specify the action you want to trigger in the external app by correctly formatting the URL.
3. Test the Link: Ensure that clicking the link within Alter correctly triggers the desired action in the external app.

Examples

Some of our Alter Action Callback URL

Our Search Query

alter://action/ask-web?input=What+is+Alter+MacOS

This will open a new Alter conversation and use our web model to make an AI search.

Our Business Intelligence Expert

Without Input:

alter://action/business-strategist-gpt

With Input:

alter://action/business-strategist-gpt?input=Explain+Red+Ocean+Strategy

Other examples:

• Example 1: Triggering Alter from a Browser: Paste the Alter URL scheme into your browser’s address bar and press Enter to execute the associated Alter action.
• Example 2: Triggering Bear from Alter: Create a link in Alter with the bear:// scheme to create a new note in Bear. For instance, bear://x-callback-url/create?title=Demo%20Note will create a new note titled “Demo Note” in Bear.

📱 Supported Apps

Alter supports URL callbacks with various third-party apps. Below is a small sampling of apps supporting x-callback-url. Links provided are to documentation regarding their available actions:

• 1Writer
• 2Do
• Agenda
• Appigo Todo
• Bear
• Begin
• breadwallet
• Byword
• Cal2Todo
• ClouDrop
• Command-C
• Daedalus Touch
• Daymate
• Definition
• DEVONThink
• Dispatch
• Drafts
• Due
• Editorial
• Equipd Bible
• Fantastical
• Gladys
• Google Chrome
• Google Maps
• Hook (Mac)
• iCab Mobile
• Instapaper
• iPGMail
• iZettle
• Kippster for Kippt
• Launch Center Pro
• miCal
• Missives
• Multitimer
• MyDoorOpener
• Notesy
• OmniFocus
• Opener
• Otto’s Remote
• Overcast
• Pleco
• Poster
• Prizmo
• Procraster
• RollPG
• RunJavascript
• Scanner Go
• Shopi
• Showrtpath Browser
• Silo
• Shortcuts
• Story Planner
• Streets
• Terminology
• TextCenter
• TextExpander Touch
• Textastic
• Textkraft
• TextTool
• Things
• Timepage
• Trello
• Tumblr for iOS
• Ulysses
• UpwardNotes
• VideoLAN
• Waterminder
• Where To?
• Working Copy

🧪 Testing and Troubleshooting

• Verify URL Scheme: Double-check that you have correctly entered the URL scheme for the target app.
• Encoding: Ensure that any special characters in the URL are properly encoded.
• App Support: Confirm that the target app supports URL schemes and the specific action you are trying to trigger.
• Copy the URL of the app documentation in Alter: This will ground the model to understand syntax and rules

✅ Conclusion

Alter’s URL callback feature offers a powerful way to integrate and automate workflows across different applications. By understanding and utilizing URL schemes, you can create seamless interactions between Alter and your favorite apps.