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Send a capture to BusyCal

Quick Capture for BusyCal

Catch a task or plan in Capture before sending it to BusyCal. Create a BusyCal event or task from a Capture, with an optional calendar, task priority, and a save-without-editing option.

To send a capture to BusyCal, open Capture Settings, choose Export, and add BusyCal as a destination. Install BusyCal on the device where you use Capture. Choose Event or Task, and optionally enter a calendar or task list name. Text and phone captures become the event or task text, which BusyCal reads for the date and time. A selected Capture date is added to the text, for example “November 13 2026 at 2:00 PM”. BusyCal is offered as a destination for Text and Links captures.

A quick capture workflow for BusyCal

  1. 01Catch it

    Write or share the thought into Capture while it is fresh.

  2. 02Keep moving

    Save the Capture without stopping to organize the destination.

  3. 03Send to BusyCal

    Use your configured export action when the capture is ready.

What gets sent to BusyCal

  • Text and phone captures become the event or task text, which BusyCal reads for the date and time.
  • A selected Capture date is added to the text, for example “November 13 2026 at 2:00 PM”.
  • Tasks start with “-” and end with !, !!, or !!! for Low, Medium, or High priority.
  • A configured calendar is added as “/Calendar name”.
  • Links use the fetched page title, or the URL when no title is cached, and add the URL in angle brackets.

Set up BusyCal in Capture

  1. Open Capture Settings, choose Export, then tap Configure if this is your first destination or Add new destination.
  2. Choose BusyCal from the app picker.
  3. Install BusyCal on the device where you use Capture.
  4. Choose Event or Task, and optionally enter a calendar or task list name.
  5. Review the destination name and icon, then tap Save.

Supported Capture types

This destination appears only for content it can receive.

TextLinks

Fields and options

Field or optionWhat it changes
TypeEvent (default) or Task.
PriorityTask only; None (default), Low, Medium, or High.
CalendarOptional calendar or task list name; blank uses BusyCal’s default calendar.
Save without editingiOS, iPadOS, and visionOS only; saves the event or task right away instead of opening BusyCal’s editor.

Example: a quick capture to BusyCal

Set Type to Task, Priority to High, and Calendar to “Home”, then export “Call the plumber” with 13 November 2026 at 14:00 selected. Capture sends “-Call the plumber November 13 2026 at 2:00 PM!!! /Home” for BusyCal to read.

Send the capture

  1. Open an existing Capture and choose its configured BusyCal export action.
  2. Capture hands off only the supported types listed above. Complete any confirmation or compose screen shown by BusyCal.

Limits and troubleshooting

Limits

  • Images and files are unsupported.
  • BusyCal reads the date and time from the text; tasks without a date stay undated.
  • Save without editing is not available on macOS.
  • Capture does not check that the calendar name exists.

Troubleshooting

  • If the item lands in the wrong calendar, check the exact calendar or task list name.
  • If BusyCal opens its editor on iPhone or iPad, turn on Save without editing.
  • If Capture shows “Couldn’t open BusyCal”, install BusyCal on this device.

More places for quick notes

2Do icon2Do Amazing Marvin iconAmazing Marvin Apple Calendar iconApple Calendar

Checked against Capture 3.5, last verified 12 November 2026.