ClariRec Shortcuts and URL Scheme

Global hotkeys cover interactive capture. When you want ClariRec inside a larger Mac workflow — Shortcuts, shell scripts, or another app — use App Intents or the clarirec:// URL scheme.

Both paths follow the same local-first / BYOK rules as manual use. They process only the clipboard image, image file, or text you explicitly provide.

What you can automate

Action Shortcuts (App Intent) URL scheme
OCR the clipboard image OCR Clipboard Image clarirec://ocr or clarirec://ocr/clipboard
OCR an image file OCR Image File clarirec://ocr/file?...
Translate text Translate Text clarirec://translate?text=...

Shortcuts actions return text to the shortcut. URL scheme OCR/translate results are typically copied to the clipboard; OCR can optionally keep or skip the result window.

Shortcuts app

  1. Install ClariRec from the App Store and open it once.
  2. Open the Shortcuts app.
  3. Add an action and search for ClariRec (or the intent titles below).
  4. Wire the returned text into Notify, Copy to Clipboard, files, or another app.

Intent reference

OCR Clipboard Image
Recognizes text from the image currently on the clipboard. No parameters. Returns a string.

OCR Image File
Parameter: Image File (public.image). Returns recognized text as a string.

Translate Text
Parameters: Text (required), Target Language (optional). Uses your configured translation engine (on-device model, Apple Intelligence when available, or BYOK). Returns translated text.

Siri phrases registered by ClariRec include forms such as “OCR clipboard with ClariRec” and “Translate text with ClariRec” — availability depends on system language and Shortcuts indexing.

Example shortcut ideas

  • After a system screenshot lands on the clipboard → OCR Clipboard Image → append to a daily note
  • Pick an image in Finder → OCR Image File → copy result
  • Pass selected text into Translate Text → show notification

clarirec:// URL scheme

Use these from Terminal, Alfred, Raycast, or any app that can open URLs. ClariRec must be installed.

Clipboard OCR

clarirec://ocr
clarirec://ocr/clipboard
clarirec://ocr/clipboard?silent=true
clarirec://ocr?open=false
  • Default: open the result window (open defaults to true)
  • silent=true or open=false: skip the result window (clipboard-oriented flow)

File OCR

clarirec://ocr/file?url=file:///absolute/path/to/image.png
clarirec://ocr/file?path=/absolute/path/to/image.png&silent=true

Accepted file query keys: url, file, or path (file URL or filesystem path).

Sandbox note: file OCR only works for files ClariRec can actually access under macOS sandbox rules. Prefer files the user selected, or paths the app is allowed to read. If access fails, use Shortcuts OCR Image File with a file chosen in the shortcut instead.

Translate text

clarirec://translate?text=Hello%20world
clarirec://translate?text=Hello%20world&target=English
clarirec://translate?text=Hello%20world&language=Japanese&copy=false
Query Meaning
text Required. Text to translate (URL-encoded)
target or language Optional target language label
copy Defaults to true; set false to skip copying the result

Boolean query values accept true / false, 1 / 0, yes / no, on / off.

Shell examples

open "clarirec://ocr?silent=true"

open "clarirec://translate?text=$(python3 -c 'import urllib.parse,sys; print(urllib.parse.quote(sys.argv[1]))' "Hello world")&target=Chinese"

Engines and Pro boundaries

Automation does not invent a separate privacy model:

  • Default System OCR stays local
  • BYOK remote OCR execution still requires Pro (or legacy access) when that engine runs
  • Translation uses your selected translation provider; BYOK translation remains free to use with your own key
  • macOS system translation is a view-layer engine and is not the path used by Shortcuts / URL Scheme translation. For automation, prefer the local model, Apple Intelligence (when available), or a BYOK provider

Privacy

Shortcuts and URL calls only process the inputs you pass. ClariRec does not operate servers that receive those images or texts. Details: Local OCR for macOS and the Privacy Policy.

Troubleshooting

Shortcuts cannot find ClariRec actions
Open ClariRec once after install/update, then relaunch Shortcuts.

File URL does nothing
Check the path encoding and sandbox access. Try the Shortcuts file intent with an explicit file parameter.

Translation via URL/Shortcuts fails with system translation selected
Switch the translation engine to local model, Apple Intelligence, or BYOK for automation paths.

Pro error on remote OCR
Provider setup is free; executing remote OCR through automation still follows the Pro gate.

Screenshot OCR · Translate · API keys · FAQ

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