Shortcut Actions

Actions are the individual steps you add to a shortcut in the Shortcuts app. Combine them to build your own automations. The actions below are grouped the same way they appear in the Shortcuts app when you search for Benkyo Box. The Inputs column lists what each action asks for.

Common Inputs

A few inputs come up again and again. You can type these in, or pass them in from the result of an earlier step.

• Folder destination — Create, import, and annotation actions let you choose where cards go. Pick an existing Folder, or set Existing or New Folder to new folder and type a Name. Leave the folder unset to use Unsorted.
• Cards and Folders — Actions that change or read items take cards or folders. Set them by hand, or feed them in from Card, Folder, or Get Cards from List.
• List Type — Actions that work on a list accept Recents, Unsorted, Today, or Folder. Choose Folder and a Folder to target one folder.
• Score — Easy, Good, Hard, or Don't Know.

Create Cards and Folders

Action	What it does	Inputs
Create Card	Create a new card with a text or image question and answer in a folder.	Question and Answer (each text, an image, or audio), Question Type, Answer Type, and a Folder destination.
Create Folder	Create a new folder, optionally inside another folder.	Folder Name, and an optional parent Folder destination.

Import Cards

Action	What it does	Inputs
Import Cards from Text	Import cards from a plain text file into a folder.	Text (a plain-text file), and a Folder destination.
Import Cards from CSV	Import cards from a CSV file into a folder.	CSV File (.csv or .tsv), and a Folder destination.
Import Cards from Anki Deck	Import cards from an Anki deck (.apkg) into a folder.	Anki Deck (.apkg), and a Folder destination.
Extract Cards from Text or Link	Use AI to create flashcards from text or a web link. Requires Advanced Learner.	Text or Link, and a Folder destination.
Open Quick Entry	Open Quick Entry to review and import cards typed or pasted as text.	Optional Text, Open in Extract Mode, and a Folder destination.
Open Text Import	Import cards from a text file, reviewing them in the app first.	Text, Open in Extract Mode, and a Folder destination.
Open CSV Import	Import cards from CSV, reviewing them in the app first.	CSV, and a Folder destination.
Open Anki Deck Import	Import cards from an Anki deck, reviewing them in the app first.	Anki Deck (.apkg), and a Folder destination.

Study and Score Cards

Action	What it does	Inputs
Study Folder	Open a folder and start studying.	Folder.
Study List	Open a list — Recents, Unsorted, Today, or a folder — and start studying.	List Type, and a Folder when you pick Folder.
Study Card	Show a card with its answer hidden, reveal it, then set a score. Requires iOS, iPadOS, or macOS 26.	Card, an optional Score, and Start Hidden.
Score Cards	Score cards with Easy, Good, Hard, or Don't Know. Only cards Ready to Study can be scored.	Cards, and a Score.
Show Study Progress	Show today's progress: cards studied, cards remaining, and your next study date.	None.

Manage Cards and Folders

Action	What it does	Inputs
Move Cards	Move cards to a folder or to Unsorted.	Cards, and a Folder (leave empty for Unsorted).
Reset Cards	Reset cards' study progress back to their initial state.	Cards.
Swap Question and Answer	Swap a card's question and answer. Does not work on annotation cards.	Cards.
Set Folder Property	Update a folder's name, deadline, or hidden state.	Folder, the Property to change (name, deadline, or hidden from studies), and the matching value — Name, Deadline, or Hidden from Studies. Deadline and hidden from studies require Advanced Learner.
Delete Cards	Permanently delete cards. This cannot be undone.	Cards, and Confirm before deleting.
Delete Folders	Permanently delete folders. This cannot be undone.	Folders, and Confirm before deleting.

Get Card and Folder Details

Action	What it does	Inputs
Get Cards from List	Get the cards in a list — Recents, Unsorted, Today, or a folder — without opening the app.	List Type, a Folder when you pick Folder, and a Filter (All, Ready to Study, or Finished).
Get Card	Pass a card along as output, with its answer hidden or visible.	Card, and Show Answer.
Get Folder	Show a folder and pass it along as output.	Folder.
Get Details of Cards	Get a specific property of a card, such as its question or answer.	Card, and the Detail to read (question or answer).
Card	Pick one or more cards to feed into another action.	Cards.
Folder	Pick one or more folders to feed into another action.	Folders.

Open and Navigate

Action	What it does	Inputs
Open Folder	Open a folder.	Folder.
Open Card	Open a card in its folder.	Card, and Edit Mode.
Open List	Open a list of cards — Recents, Unsorted, Today, or a folder.	List Type, and a Folder when you pick Folder.
Open Calendar	Open the calendar to today or a specific date.	An optional Date, and Start Studying.

Annotate Images

Action	What it does	Inputs
Annotate Image	Create an annotation card from an image in a folder.	Image (PNG or JPEG), the Annotations to add, and a Folder destination.
Create Annotation	Build a single rectangular annotation — its position and answer — to pass to Annotate Image.	X Position, Y Position, Width, Height, and Answer.
Create Annotations	Build a list of annotations to pass to Annotate Image.	Existing Annotations to append to, plus X Position, Y Position, Width, Height, and Answer.

Change Settings

Action	What it does	Inputs
Change Setting	Change an app setting, such as the theme, sound effects, or study reminders.	The Setting to change, then its value — Theme, Theme Mode, Sound Effects, Scoring Sounds, Notification Sound, Answer Visibility, Gauge Direction, Incomplete Study Reminders, Group Notifications by Folder, or Final Study Interval.