While it is clear that the Erub Tabshilin which one makes before Yom Tob allows making food preparations on Yom Tob for Shabbat, the Halachic authorities debate the question of whether the Erub Tabshilin also allows other preparations. The Hida (Rav Haim Yosef David Azulai, 1724-1807), in his Mahazik Beracha (667:2), rules that the Erub Tabshilin allows one only to prepare food for Shabbat on Yom Tob, unless one mentions explicitly when making the Erub that he wants it to cover all Shabbat preparations. Indeed, in the standard Erub Tabshilin text that appears in the Mahzorim, we recite "U’le’me’abad Kol Sorchana," stating explicitly that the Erub should permit all preparations necessary for Shabbat, and not just food preparations.

In truth, however, even if one did not, for whatever reason, recite this portion of the Erub Tabshilin text, he is nevertheless allowed to make all kinds of preparations for Shabbat on Yom Tob. Halacha follows the lenient position among the Poskim, according to which the Erub Tabshilin automatically covers all preparations, even if one did not make an explicit statement to this effect.

There are numerous examples of Shabbat preparations that become permitted through the Erub Tabshilin. The Mesader in the synagogue might want to roll the Sifreh Torah on Friday, the second day of Yom Tob, to the place where they need to be for the Shabbat morning reading. He is preparing on Yom Tob for Shabbat, which is allowed because of the Erub Tabshilin. Similarly, the attendants in charge of the Mikveh prepare the Mikveh on Friday for the women who will need to immerse on Friday night, thus preparing on Yom Tob for Shabbat. For that matter, women prepare their homes on Friday for Shabbat by straightening up, washing dishes, and so on, and this, too, is allowed because of the Erub Tabshilin. Some people will want to bring their Mahzorim home from the synagogue on Friday to use at home on Shabbat, which is also allowed because of the Erub. All these preparations are allowed even if one did not recite the phrase "U’le’me’abad Kol Sorchana," though it is certainly preferable to recite this phrase to satisfy all opinions. As mentioned, this phrase is included in the standard Erub Tabshilin text found in the Mahzorim.

Summary: The Erub Tabshilin permits all preparations that one would want to make on Yom Tob for Shabbat, even preparations that do not involve food, such as straightening up the home, preparing the Torah scrolls for the Shabbat morning Torah reading, and so on.