Editing Openai/6945998f-2220-8000-9477-424a0c33133c (section)

=== Assistant: You can absolutely do this with iOS Shortcuts, and once it’s set up it’s shockingly reliable. ===
You can absolutely do this with iOS Shortcuts, and once it’s set up it’s shockingly reliable. I’ll give you the clean, no-fluff, works-in-the-real-world setup specifically for the OPM operating status Atom feed.

We’re going to:
# Check the OPM feed
# Compare it to the last version you saw
# Send a local notification if it changed
# Run it automatically via Automation

==== - An iPhone or iPad running iOS 16+ (17/18 is fine) ====
* The OPM feed URL (official):

<syntaxhighlight>https://www.opm.gov/rss/operatingstatus.atom

</syntaxhighlight>

==== ### ====

Go to Shortcuts → My Shortcuts → +

Name it something obvious, like:
“OPM Status Watch”

===== - Tap Add Action =====
* Search for Get Contents of URL
* URL: ``<code> https://www.opm.gov/rss/operatingstatus.atom <syntaxhighlight>- Method: GET
* Leave everything else alone

This pulls the live OPM status feed.

===== - Add action → Get Text from Input =====
* Input: Contents of URL

This converts the feed into raw text so we can compare it.

===== - Add action → Get File =====
* Enable Ask Where to Save → OFF
* File Path: </syntaxhighlight> opm_last_status.txt <syntaxhighlight>- Location: Shortcuts

⚠️ The first time this runs, the file won’t exist — that’s fine.

===== - Add action → If =====
* Condition: - Text → is not - File

In plain English: “If the feed text is different from the last saved version…”

===== Add this inside the IF: =====

Show Notification
* Title: </syntaxhighlight> OPM Operating Status Changed <syntaxhighlight>- Body (simple but useful): </syntaxhighlight> Tap to check the new DC-area operating status. <syntaxhighlight>
This is a local push notification — instant, no internet service needed once the shortcut runs.

===== - Add action → Save File =====
* Input: Text from Step 3
* File Path: </syntaxhighlight> opm_last_status.txt </code>``
* Location: Shortcuts
* Overwrite: ON

This updates the “last known” status so you don’t get repeat alerts.

===== In the Otherwise section: =====
* Add Nothing or just leave it empty

No alert = no change.

===== Your shortcut is now built. =====

==== Without automation, the shortcut won’t run on its own. ====

===== Tap Create Personal Automation =====

===== Set something realistic for OPM: =====
* Time: 5:30 AM
* Repeat: Daily

You can add another automation later (e.g., 10:00 AM) if you want redundancy.

Tap Next

===== - Select OPM Status Watch =====
* Tap Next

===== This is critical. =====
* Toggle Ask Before Running → OFF
* Confirm Don’t Ask

Tap Done

==== 1. Go back to My Shortcuts ====
# Tap OPM Status Watch
# The first run will: - Save the feed - Possibly show a notification (normal)

From now on:
* You’ll only get notified when OPM changes the feed.

==== - OPM updates the feed almost immediately when status changes ====
* Your alert fires on the next automation run
* If you want near-real-time: - Add multiple automations (e.g., 5:30, 6:00, 6:30 AM)

Apple limits how frequently automations can run, so this is the realistic sweet spot.

==== - iOS won’t let Shortcuts run every 5 minutes nonstop ====
* This is still far more reliable than the abandoned OPM app
* Local notifications mean: - No spam - No third-party services - No data harvesting

==== I can help you: ====
* Parse the feed and display the actual status text
* Only alert for closures / delayed openings
* Add a lock screen widget
* Mirror alerts to Apple Watch

Just tell me what you want next and how far you want to push it.