Voice and Siri
Hands-free ways into PoopDeck: the Siri shortcuts.
What you can do by voice#
At the helm you often have one hand free, or none. With PoopDeck you can:
- Talk to Siri to start or end a voyage, hear your position, add a task or log maintenance, usually without opening the app. See Siri phrases.
PoopDeck's own voice features — the microphone buttons for dictating into fields, voice capture and AI capture — are switched off in this version.
Siri phrases#
Say Hey Siri (or hold the side button), then one of the phrases below. Where a phrase has [vessel], say your vessel's name as it appears in PoopDeck; the other phrases use your active vessel — the one selected on the Dashboard.
PoopDeck registers these with iOS automatically when it is installed. Nothing needs setting up.
Every PoopDeck phrase either changes your records or reads out your position, so each one works only when your iPhone is unlocked. On a locked phone, Siri asks you to unlock it first.
| Shortcut | Phrases |
|---|---|
| Start Voyage |
Start a voyage on [vessel] in PoopDeck Begin tracking on [vessel] in PoopDeck Cast off on [vessel] in PoopDeck Start a voyage in PoopDeck Begin tracking in PoopDeck Start the log in PoopDeck Cast off in PoopDeck |
| End Voyage |
End the voyage in PoopDeck Stop tracking in PoopDeck Finish the log in PoopDeck Tie up in PoopDeck |
| Where Am I |
Where am I in PoopDeck Read my position from PoopDeck |
| Add Task |
Add a task to [vessel] in PoopDeck Create a task for [vessel] in PoopDeck Add task to [vessel] in PoopDeck Add a task to PoopDeck Create a task in PoopDeck Remind me in PoopDeck Add to my list in PoopDeck |
| Add Maintenance Entry |
Log maintenance on [vessel] in PoopDeck Add maintenance to [vessel] in PoopDeck Record a service on [vessel] in PoopDeck Add maintenance to PoopDeck Log maintenance in PoopDeck Record a service in PoopDeck Add a maintenance entry to PoopDeck |
The same five shortcuts appear in the Shortcuts app under PoopDeck. From there you can add one to the Home Screen, or assign it to the Action Button on iPhones that have one (Settings, Action Button, Shortcut).
Start Voyage by Siri#
Start Voyage creates a new voyage on the vessel and starts GPS breadcrumb tracking.
- Say Hey Siri, cast off in PoopDeck (or any Start Voyage phrase).
- If PoopDeck's Location is set to While Using, Siri asks Open PoopDeck to start tracking? and PoopDeck opens, because iOS lets While Using tracking begin only from the open app. Once started, tracking keeps recording with the screen locked.
- PoopDeck takes a GPS fix and names the departure from it — the town and region, such as Annapolis, MD. With no GPS it uses Unknown departure; if the position cannot be turned into a place name, At sea.
- It saves the voyage with today's date and starts tracking.
- Siri answers Voyage started from [place]. Tracking now. (or Voyage on [vessel] started from [place]. Tracking now.).
When Siri refuses
| Siri says | Why, and what to do |
|---|---|
| A voyage is already being tracked. End it first before starting a new one. | This phone is already tracking. End that voyage first. |
| [port] is still active. Open PoopDeck to complete it, then start the new one. | One voyage per boat can be active at a time. Complete the open one in the Captain's Log. |
| Location access is off for PoopDeck, so it can't track a voyage. Turn it on in Settings → PoopDeck → Location. | Location is set to Never for PoopDeck. Choose While Using in Settings, PoopDeck, Location. |
| Voyage #N was created but tracking didn't start. Open PoopDeck to begin tracking or delete the entry. | The voyage exists; open it and tap Start Tracking, or delete it. |
| The sample boat can't be changed. Open PoopDeck and pick one of your own boats first. | The active vessel is the read-only sample boat, Nepenthe. Select one of your own boats on the Dashboard. |
| Open PoopDeck and pick a vessel first. | No active vessel. Choose one on the Dashboard, or say the vessel's name in the phrase. |
Start Voyage from Siri does not offer the pre-departure checklist. Run it from the Safety tab before you leave if you want it on record.
End Voyage and Where Am I#
End Voyage
Stops GPS tracking on the voyage this phone is tracking and marks the voyage complete, so its positions and track are frozen like any completed voyage. Siri answers, for example, Voyage to [port] ended and marked complete. On a leg of a trip, only the leg is completed: Leg to [port] ended and marked complete. The trip stays open. If the voyage could not be marked complete, Siri says Tracking stopped, but the voyage is still open. Open PoopDeck to mark it complete.
If nothing is being tracked: No voyage is currently being tracked. If the voyage stopped a moment earlier some other way: The voyage already ended a moment ago. Open PoopDeck to review the log.
Open the voyage afterwards to check the arrival and add the narrative; notes stay editable on a completed voyage. To change its positions, reopen it.
If the vessel has a float plan still open, the next time you open PoopDeck it asks Close your float plan? — and if notifications are on, a notification reminds you to open the app. Nothing is closed until you tap Mark arrived.
Where Am I
Reads your position aloud and saves nothing. Siri answers, for example, Your position is 38.9784° north, 76.4922° west. If a voyage is being tracked it adds It's already on your active voyage trail.
If the phone cannot get a fix: Couldn't get your position. Make sure Location is enabled for PoopDeck.
Where Am I is read-only on purpose. A phrase like "log my position" would suggest a waypoint was saved when it was not; at sea you need to be able to trust that what Siri says it did, it did.
Add Task and Add Maintenance Entry#
Add Task
- Say Hey Siri, add a task to PoopDeck.
- Siri asks What's the task? Say the title, for example Replace the anchor light bulb.
- Siri answers Added [title]. Tap PoopDeck to set a due date.
The task is saved as open, medium priority, on the active vessel (or the vessel you named). Set the due date, assignee and the rest in the app.
Add Maintenance Entry
- Say Hey Siri, log maintenance in PoopDeck.
- Siri asks What did you service? Say the component, for example raw water impeller.
- Siri answers Logged [component]. Tap PoopDeck to add details.
The entry is dated today with category Other. Open it in the Maintenance tab to add the description, costs, parts and hours.
Siri never fills in an hour meter. Engine hours are left blank unless you set them yourself, because a reading must come from the gauge, not from a guess.
Setting more fields in the Shortcuts app
Both shortcuts take extra fields that Siri does not ask for by voice. In the Shortcuts app you can build your own version with them filled in:
| Shortcut | Fields |
|---|---|
| Add Task | Title, Priority (High, Medium, Low), Category, Notes, Vessel |
| Add Maintenance Entry | Component, Notes, Category (defaults to Other), Engine Hours, Vessel |
Leave Vessel blank to use your active vessel.
Errors
- Open PoopDeck and sign in to continue. — the phone is signed out.
- I need a description for that. — Siri heard an empty title or component.
- Couldn't reach PoopDeck. Check your connection and try again. — no connection.
- Couldn't save: … — the save was refused; the reason follows.
Permissions voice features use#
| Permission | Used by | Where to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Location: While Using or Always | Start Voyage by Siri. With While Using, Siri opens PoopDeck to begin tracking. | iOS Settings, PoopDeck, Location |
| Location: While Using or Always | Where Am I | iOS Settings, PoopDeck, Location |
| Siri | All Siri phrases | iOS Settings, Siri (and Siri & Search for PoopDeck) |
PoopDeck's Settings tab shows the current location permission under Notifications & Location, Location access — for example While using the app. Voyage tracking keeps recording with the screen off. Auto-log asks for Always when you turn it on.
Common questions#
Siri says it doesn't know how to do that in PoopDeck.
Use one of the exact phrases above and include "PoopDeck". Open PoopDeck once after installing or updating so iOS indexes its shortcuts, and check that Siri is allowed for PoopDeck in iOS Settings.
Siri doesn't recognise my vessel's name.
Say it exactly as it is written in PoopDeck, or use a phrase without a vessel and make sure the right boat is selected on the Dashboard.
Can Siri log a waypoint or my position into the voyage?
No. Where Am I only reads your position. If a voyage is being tracked, your position is already in its breadcrumb trail.
Do the Siri shortcuts work offline?
Add Task and Add Maintenance Entry need a connection; without one Siri says Couldn't reach PoopDeck. Where Am I works from GPS alone.