Actions
Edit text you have already written by selecting it and speaking the change you want, without leaving the app you are in.
Actions edits text that is already on screen. Select it in any app, hold the Actions hotkey, say what you want changed, and Epilude replaces the selection with the result.
Runs in the cloud, and needs sign-in
Your command and the selected text are sent to the Epilude cloud to be transformed, so Actions needs a signed-in account. It works with Local mode too: your dictation and Cleanup still run on your Mac, and only the text you select for an Action is sent. Turn that off any time with Cloud assist for Actions in Settings → Modes. Actions is part of a trial or subscription, so it isn't available on the Pay Once plan.
Turning on Actions
Open Actions in the Epilude sidebar, then click Set up Actions. A short guided setup walks you through choosing a hotkey and running your first edit; finishing it turns Actions on.
The default hotkey is ⌃⌥E. It is separate from the hotkey used to dictate, so the two never compete.
Using Actions
Select the text
Highlight the text you want changed, in any app.
Hold the Actions hotkey
A widget appears to show Epilude is listening.
Say the change, then release
Epilude transforms the selection and pastes the result over it. Your clipboard is restored to whatever was on it before.
Press ⌘Z to undo an Action, the same as any other edit.
What you can say
Commands are plain language, and there is no syntax to learn.
| Say this | Epilude does this |
|---|---|
| "Make this shorter" | Tightens the selection |
| "Fix the grammar" | Corrects errors without changing the meaning |
| "Translate to French" | Translates the selection |
| "Rewrite as three bullet points" | Restructures into bullets |
| "Make it more formal" | Adjusts the tone |
Naming the output you want gives better results. "Rewrite this as three bullet points" works better than "make it a list".
Cancelling a run
A quick tap with nothing spoken cancels. Your selection and clipboard stay untouched.
Troubleshooting
- "Actions requires sign-in"? Sign in from the menu bar or the main window, then try again.
- Actions says cloud assist is off? Dictation is in Local mode with cloud assist switched off. Turn Cloud assist for Actions back on in Settings → Modes, or switch Dictation to Cloud mode.
- Actions says it needs a subscription? Actions runs on Epilude's cloud model, which is part of a subscription rather than the Pay Once plan.
- The selection was not picked up? Check the text is actually highlighted. Some web apps need a moment after selecting, so pause before pressing the hotkey.
- "No changes made" appeared? The result came back identical to what you selected. Try a more specific command.
- The result landed in the wrong place? Click into the text field again to restore focus, then run Actions on the same selection.
Next steps
- Shortcuts — Save trigger words that expand into longer phrases
- Adjusting your hotkeys — Change the keys that trigger Actions