Export selected Things3 todos to Markdown files using AppleScript (Rightclick -> Services)

I have been using Things as a place to dump ideas/tasks containing a lot of Markdown output (AI chat logs) in the task notes. Now I want to feed those all those tasks/notes into some AI for post-processing. But sadly, Things doesn't make it easy to export a set of selected tasks, and especially not if you want to preserve the notes and maybe add a bit of custom formatting to them (like including the modified_at aka. update_at date from Things' SQLite database which is not otherwise visible in the Things GUI).

Since I couldn't find any good existing equivalent for doing this, I worked a bit today with Gemini AI to create this AppleScript to export selected Things3 todos to separate Markdown files.

(Note that it doesn't include all info/metadata Things3 stores about a todo task (since I didn't need it for my purpose), like tags, deadline, repeating, parent project, parent area, etc. But it should be easy enough to add it by asking Gemini about it and to update the script.)

It took some time, resolving several rounds of bugs in the AppleScript. But now it worked for me. So I thought I ought to share it here, in case someone else has a similar need and it may be of use to others.

I got Gemini to write a summary of what it does, and to give some installation instruction for the newbies.

Hope this may help!

Script name suggestion for the shortcut you need to save (with the script) in your macOS Shortcuts app:

Export selected Things3 todos to Markdown files

Script Description

This self-contained macOS Quick Action (Service) runs natively within Apple Shortcuts to batch-export highlighted Things 3 tasks into individual Markdown files. It uses specific syntax patterns to remain fully human-readable while ensuring it successfully passes the strict Apple Shortcuts compiler without errors.

The script performs the following core steps:

Unhyphenated Targeting: Uses selected to dos to capture your highlighted tasks, sidestepping the common hyphenation-based compiler bugs.
Vocabulary Unboxing: Dynamically loops through task entries using index integers (item childIdx of rawChildren) and generic properties record calls. This ensures the compiler never strips out hidden vocabulary or throws a plural class name error.
Subtask Status Detection: Automatically extracts nested checklists, converting completed subtasks to - [x] and incomplete ones to - [ ].
File Collision Handling: Prompts you to pick an output directory and cross-references existing names using Finder. If a match is found, it triggers a popup letting you Overwrite or Skip that specific task.
ISO File Naming: Automatically strips out illegal file system characters (, /, :, etc.) and names each file using a clear date prefix template: YYYY-MM-DD - Sanitized Task Title.md.

Export File Output Format

Each task generates an individual .md document formatted precisely to the structure defined in your final logic loops:

# Project Implementation Workflow Strategy

title: Project Implementation Workflow Strategy
created at: 2026-06-02
modified at: 2026-06-02
subtasks/checklist:
- [x] Gather requirement files
- [ ] Email technical architecture diagrams
- [ ] Schedule development window sync
notes:

This is the start of your actual task notes content. Because of the 
two linebreaks appended after the label, it starts on its own line 
and safely retains any original rich text or markdown formatting you 
originally used inside Things 3.

The AppleScript to put in your macOS Shortcut:

on run {input, parameters}
  tell application "Things3"
    try
      -- "selected to dos" (unhyphenated) gets your highlighted items reliably
      set highlightedTasks to selected to dos
    on error
      display dialog "No tasks selected! Please click and highlight at least one task in Things before running this service." buttons {"OK"} with icon caution
      return input
    end try

    set selectedCount to count of highlightedTasks
    if selectedCount is 0 then return input

    set exportFolder to choose folder with prompt "Select folder to save " & selectedCount & " individual Markdown tasks:"

    repeat with idx from 1 to selectedCount
      set aTask to item idx of highlightedTasks

      -- UNBOX PROPERTIES RECORD: This removes application vocabulary dependencies entirely
      set taskRecord to properties of aTask
      set taskTitle to name of taskRecord
      set taskNotes to notes of taskRecord

      set rawCreationDate to creation date of taskRecord
      set rawModificationDate to modification date of taskRecord

      set formattedCreateDate to my formatISOdate(rawCreationDate)
      set formattedModDate to my formatISOdate(rawModificationDate)

      -- BYPASS CHECKLIST ITEMS WORD: Querying the record contents via sequential counting
      set checklistString to ""
      try
        set rawChildren to every item of aTask
        set childCount to count of rawChildren
        if childCount > 0 then
          repeat with childIdx from 1 to childCount
            set aChild to item childIdx of rawChildren
            set childRecord to properties of aChild
            set itemTitle to name of childRecord
            set itemStatus to status of childRecord

            if itemStatus is completed then
              set checklistString to checklistString & "- [x] " & itemTitle & return
            else
              set checklistString to checklistString & "- [ ] " & itemTitle & return
            end if
          end repeat
        else
          set checklistString to "" & return
        end if
      on error
        set checklistString to "" & return
      end try

      -- Handle file sanitization and duplicate safeguards
      set safeTitle to my sanitizeFilename(taskTitle)
      set fileName to formattedCreateDate & " - " & safeTitle & ".md"
      set filePath to (exportFolder as string) & fileName

      set fileExists to false
      tell application "Finder"
        if exists file filePath then set fileExists to true
      end tell

      set shouldWrite to true
      if fileExists then
        tell application "System Events"
          activate
          set userChoice to display dialog "The file \"" & fileName & "\" already exists. Do you want to overwrite it or skip?" buttons {"Skip", "Overwrite"} default button "Skip" with icon caution
          if button returned of userChoice is "Skip" then
            set shouldWrite to false
          end if
        end tell
      end if

      -- Generate the precise layout schema requested with .md extension
      if shouldWrite then
        set fileContent to "# " & taskTitle & return & return & ¬
          "title: " & taskTitle & return & ¬
          "created at: " & formattedCreateDate & return & ¬
          "modified at: " & formattedModDate & return & ¬
          "subtasks/checklist:" & return & checklistString & ¬
          "notes:" & return & return & taskNotes

        try
          set fileRef to open for access file filePath with write permission
          set eof of fileRef to 0
          write fileContent to fileRef as «class utf8»
          close access fileRef
        on error
          try
            close access file filePath
          end try
        end try
      end if
    end repeat

    display dialog "Process complete! Successfully exported " & selectedCount & " tasks." buttons {"OK"} default button "OK"
  end tell
  return input
end run

-- Helper function to format date entries to YYYY-MM-DD text fields
on formatISOdate(theDate)
  if theDate is missing value then return "Unknown"
  set y to year of theDate as string
  set m to text -2 through -1 of ("0" & (month of theDate as integer))
  set d to text -2 through -1 of ("0" & day of theDate)

  set oldDelim to AppleScript's text item delimiters
  set AppleScript's text item delimiters to "-"
  set finalString to {y, m, d} as text
  set AppleScript's text item delimiters to oldDelim
  return finalString
end formatISOdate

-- Helper function to strip illegal character flags from filenames
on sanitizeFilename(theString)
  set illegalChars to {":", "/", "\\", "*", "?", "\"", "<", ">", "|"}
  repeat with char in illegalChars
    set AppleScript's text item delimiters to char
    set theList to text items of theString
    set AppleScript's text item delimiters to " -"
    set theString to theList as string
  end repeat
  return theString
end sanitizeFilename

🛠️ How to Install It

Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac.
Click the + (Plus) icon in the top toolbar to create a new shortcut.
Rename the shortcut in the top-left corner (e.g., Export Selected Tasks to Markdown).
Look at the right-hand sidebar and click the Shortcut Details icon (the icon looks like three toggle sliders).
Under the Shortcut tab, check the boxes for Use as Quick Action and Services Menu.
At the very top of your main workflow screen, a new configurations bar will appear. Change it to read exactly: "Receive Text and Files from Quick Actions"
In the right-hand search bar, look for Run AppleScript and drag that action into your main workflow window.
Delete all placeholder text inside the code box completely, paste your final script into it, and close the Shortcuts app.

⚙️ Activate it in macOS System Settings

Sometimes macOS keeps new Quick Actions disabled until you manually toggle them on:

Open your Mac's System Settings app.
Navigate to Keyboard > click the Keyboard Shortcuts... button.
Select Services in the left column, then expand the Text section on the right.
Locate your shortcut name (e.g., Export Selected Tasks to Markdown) and check the box next to it. Click Done.

🚀 How to Use It

Open Things 3.
Highlight the specific tasks you want to export (hold Cmd to click individual tasks, or hold Shift to select a block of tasks).
Right-click on one of your highlighted tasks.
Hover over Services (or Quick Actions at the bottom of the list) and click your shortcut name.
Select your target export folder from the popup window.

The script will instantly process your tasks, ask you what to do if file names clash, and generate your .md files cleanly.

Hope it may help or inspire someone!

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