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}tellapplication"Things3"try-- "selected to dos" (unhyphenated) gets your highlighted items reliablysethighlightedTaskstoselectedtodosonerrordisplay dialog"No tasks selected! Please click and highlight at least one task in Things before running this service."buttons{"OK"}withiconcautionreturninputendtrysetselectedCounttocountofhighlightedTasksifselectedCountis0thenreturninputsetexportFoldertochoose folderwithprompt"Select folder to save "&selectedCount&" individual Markdown tasks:"repeatwithidxfrom1toselectedCountsetaTasktoitemidxofhighlightedTasks-- UNBOX PROPERTIES RECORD: This removes application vocabulary dependencies entirelysettaskRecordtopropertiesofaTasksettaskTitletonameoftaskRecordsettaskNotestonotesoftaskRecordsetrawCreationDatetocreationdateoftaskRecordsetrawModificationDatetomodificationdateoftaskRecordsetformattedCreateDatetomyformatISOdate(rawCreationDate)setformattedModDatetomyformatISOdate(rawModificationDate)-- BYPASS CHECKLIST ITEMS WORD: Querying the record contents via sequential countingsetchecklistStringto""trysetrawChildrentoeveryitemofaTasksetchildCounttocountofrawChildrenifchildCount>0thenrepeatwithchildIdxfrom1tochildCountsetaChildtoitemchildIdxofrawChildrensetchildRecordtopropertiesofaChildsetitemTitletonameofchildRecordsetitemStatustostatusofchildRecordifitemStatusiscompletedthensetchecklistStringtochecklistString&"- [x] "&itemTitle&returnelsesetchecklistStringtochecklistString&"- [ ] "&itemTitle&returnendifendrepeatelsesetchecklistStringto""&returnendifonerrorsetchecklistStringto""&returnendtry-- Handle file sanitization and duplicate safeguardssetsafeTitletomysanitizeFilename(taskTitle)setfileNametoformattedCreateDate&" - "&safeTitle&".md"setfilePathto(exportFolderas string)&fileNamesetfileExiststofalsetellapplication"Finder"ifexistsfilefilePaththensetfileExiststotrueendtellsetshouldWritetotrueiffileExiststhentellapplication"System Events"activatesetuserChoicetodisplay dialog"The file \""&fileName&"\" already exists. Do you want to overwrite it or skip?"buttons{"Skip","Overwrite"}defaultbutton"Skip"withiconcautionifbutton returnedofuserChoiceis"Skip"thensetshouldWritetofalseendifendtellendif-- Generate the precise layout schema requested with .md extensionifshouldWritethensetfileContentto"# "&taskTitle&return&return&¬
"title: "&taskTitle&return&¬
"created at: "&formattedCreateDate&return&¬
"modified at: "&formattedModDate&return&¬
"subtasks/checklist:"&return&checklistString&¬
"notes:"&return&return&taskNotestrysetfileReftoopen for accessfilefilePathwithwritepermissionset eofoffileRefto0writefileContenttofileRefas«class utf8»close accessfileRefonerrortryclose accessfilefilePathendtryendtryendifendrepeatdisplay dialog"Process complete! Successfully exported "&selectedCount&" tasks."buttons{"OK"}defaultbutton"OK"endtellreturninputendrun-- Helper function to format date entries to YYYY-MM-DD text fieldson formatISOdate(theDate)iftheDateismissing valuethenreturn"Unknown"setytoyearoftheDateas stringsetmtotext-2through-1of("0"&(monthoftheDateasinteger))setdtotext-2through-1of("0"&dayoftheDate)setoldDelimtoAppleScript's text item delimiterssetAppleScript's text item delimitersto"-"setfinalStringto{y,m,d}as textsetAppleScript's text item delimiterstooldDelimreturnfinalStringendformatISOdate-- Helper function to strip illegal character flags from filenameson sanitizeFilename(theString)setillegalCharsto{":","/","\\","*","?","\"","<",">","|"}repeatwithcharinillegalCharssetAppleScript's text item delimiterstocharsettheListtotextitemsoftheStringsetAppleScript's text item delimitersto" -"settheStringtotheListas stringendrepeatreturntheStringendsanitizeFilename

🛠️ How to Install It

1. Open the Shortcuts app on your Mac.
2. Click the + (Plus) icon in the top toolbar to create a new shortcut.
3. Rename the shortcut in the top-left corner (e.g., Export Selected Tasks to Markdown).
4. Look at the right-hand sidebar and click the Shortcut Details icon (the icon looks like three toggle sliders).
5. Under the Shortcut tab, check the boxes for Use as Quick Action and Services Menu.
6. 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"
7. In the right-hand search bar, look for Run AppleScript and drag that action into your main workflow window.
8. 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:

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

🚀 How to Use It

1. Open Things 3.
2. Highlight the specific tasks you want to export (hold Cmd to click individual tasks, or hold Shift to select a block of tasks).
3. Right-click on one of your highlighted tasks.
4. Hover over Services (or Quick Actions at the bottom of the list) and click your shortcut name.
5. 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!