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So as some of you may know there is an app for android called Tasker and it is by far the most powerful app out to date.
"Tasker is an application for Android which performs Tasks (sets of Actions) based on Contexts (application, time, date, location, event, gesture) in user-defined Profiles, or in clickable or timer home screen widgets.
This simple concept profoundly extends your control of your Android device and it's capabilities, without the need for 'root' or a special home screen"
As powerful and amazing as this app is, it's pretty hard to use unless your very tech savvy and I have been searching the Net for some how-to guides but their doesn't seem to be much out there. So I wanted to create this thread and have people post their own little tips/mods that they have set-up with Tasker so that newbies such as my-self can have a place to go if they need help getting Tasker to perform certain functions.
I just download the app last night and haven't had much time to mess with it yet, but once I get the hang of it I will start posting what I'm doing.
Anybody that uses Tasker please feel free to add on to the thread and lets make this the ultimate "How-to" guide for people trying to unlock the full potential of this amazing app.
How long did it take you to develop this app?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
firemedic1343 said:
How long did it take you to develop this app?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@OP, one that I made that I find useful scans the SD card for new media whenever it's mounted.
PROFILE:
Event - Card Mounted (Priority: Normal, Card Title: <blank>, Frequency: 1)
Task - Media -> Scan Card
Task - Alert -> Flash (Text: Scanning for new media..., Long: <unchecked>, If: <unchecked>)
This one turns off the lockscreen when using Music or Pandora (you have to make two separate profiles!)
PROFILE:
Application - Music/Pandora
Task - Display -> Keyguard (Set: Off, If: <unchecked>)
I also spent a lot of time developing a task that would turn airplane mode on for 45 minutes, turn it off for 15 minutes, then turn it back on and repeat until stopped. Everything works except Tasker stops all timers when the phone sleeps, so unless I want to put a partial wake-lock on it (which would defeat the whole battery-saving purpose of the profile in the first place), it doesn't work
Gregalous said:
@OP, one that I made that I find useful scans the SD card for new media whenever it's mounted.
PROFILE:
Event - Card Mounted (Priority: Normal, Card Title: <blank>, Frequency: 1)
Task - Media -> Scan Card
Task - Alert -> Flash (Text: Scanning for new media..., Long: <unchecked>, If: <unchecked>)
This one turns off the lockscreen when using Music or Pandora (you have to make two separate profiles!)
PROFILE:
Application - Music/Pandora
Task - Display -> Keyguard (Set: Off, If: <unchecked>)
I also spent a lot of time developing a task that would turn airplane mode on for 45 minutes, turn it off for 15 minutes, then turn it back on and repeat until stopped. Everything works except Tasker stops all timers when the phone sleeps, so unless I want to put a partial wake-lock on it (which would defeat the whole battery-saving purpose of the profile in the first place), it doesn't work
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Both setups seem very useful, ima check them out. Thanks for the input!
About the one you can't get to work. I'm pretty sure I actually saw something similar to it the other day on another website, not 100% sure though. I think it was a profile that allowed you to basically turn off all of you're data and have it come back on for a short period of time to gather texts and stuff...
Ima going to look for it for you to see if i can find it...
In the mean time I found a few useful profiles here http://lifehacker.com/5606284/three-handy-tasker-profiles-from-our-readers
I would post them but theres actually quite a bit if you look in the comments and the post itself.
Once I think of something "original" i'll post it
You also might want to check the official Tasker pages. There is also a Wiki with step-throughs (link on left side of main page).
http://tasker.dinglisch.net/
This is the only app I have been able to find that will let you remotely turn the GPS on. IMO that alone was worth the money, now I don't have to waste time writing an app for it.
I've been working on something to activate the GPS and send the phone's location, available wifi networks, etc, over a text message. Haven't figure out how to make it update the GPS location or turn on 3G yet though. Anyone know anything about android bridge scripts and if they would be able to do this?
Vegasden said:
You also might want to check the official Tasker pages. There is also a Wiki with step-throughs (link on left side of main page).
http://tasker.dinglisch.net/
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Click to collapse
Wow. thanks a lot for the link. i have been looking for some sort of wiki or help for tasker for a while now but apparently I wasn't looking in rite places.
Thanks again.
Also, Mobile Defense, if installed in system apps allows you to remotely turn on gps and track your phone, however, they have temporarily closed down the beta. I've always had it on my android phones and it's pretty amazing. Much better than lookout for tracking your device.
tasker is a great app. i use it on a dialy basis. save so much battery life
SiL3nTKiLL said:
tasker is a great app. i use it on a dialy basis. save so much battery life
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What works for you? Some example scripts please please. thanks.
Here is more info on tasker setup.
I tried some of these and they worked great.
http://lifehacker.com/5601133/push-...d-to-awesome-heights-with-these-tasker-setups
http://lifehacker.com/5599116/how-to-turn-your-android-phone-into-a-fully+automated-superphone
maps to start gps and gps logger
hi everyone,
i'd like to start maps, and have:
- Gps turned on
and
-an app called GpsLogger to start.
The problem i get is that, once Gps is turned on and GpsLogger is opened, if i get back to Maps by long-pressing the home button the whole automation starts again, leading me to GpsLogger again..
Could anyone help please?
Thanks!
I downloaded Tasker the other day to accomplish one thing only. I wanted my wife to be able to get through to me whenever she called me. I work shift work so my phone is set to Silent at odd times when I am resting, so the various dings and rings don't interrupt my sleep. Fearful of her not being able to get a hold of me in an emergency, I set this up:
Profile: Priority Call (named by me)
Context: Incoming Call - Very simply, I used the magnifying glass to select her contact from my phone, and it input her name in the box.
Task: Silent Mode - Mode set to OFF
This profile checks all incoming calls and then turns Silent Mode OFF and allows the call to ring through. When the call is done, the phone returns to Silent Mode. NOTE: I also had to set up a separate task to turn the phone to silent in the first place. For some reason, Tasker would not recognize the phone as being in "Silent Mode" if I used the volume down button to put it in silent mode. So I just added a shortcut to the Tasker task of putting the phone to silent on my homescreen. Now when I go to bed, I hit the shortcut and I am able to be undisturbed until I wake again, unless my wife calls. I could see this being very useful for people with teenagers that are out or babysitters with children.
This task can also be useful if you sleep at defined hours, because you can set the phone to automatically turn to silent at X hour, and turn silent mode off at X hour. Just some ideas.
I am now searching for ways to completely automate the phone by making it turn on my GPS and Bluetooth when I am away from home, as well as turn these off and turn my wifi on when I am at home. Several attempts with no knowledge of this app have been unsuccessful so far. More to follow.
Robert
OnDutyTactical said:
I downloaded Tasker the other day to accomplish one thing only. I wanted my wife to be able to get through to me whenever she called me. I work shift work so my phone is set to Silent at odd times when I am resting, so the various dings and rings don't interrupt my sleep. Fearful of her not being able to get a hold of me in an emergency, I set this up:
Profile: Priority Call (named by me)
Context: Incoming Call - Very simply, I used the magnifying glass to select her contact from my phone, and it input her name in the box.
Task: Silent Mode - Mode set to OFF
This profile checks all incoming calls and then turns Silent Mode OFF and allows the call to ring through. When the call is done, the phone returns to Silent Mode. NOTE: I also had to set up a separate task to turn the phone to silent in the first place. For some reason, Tasker would not recognize the phone as being in "Silent Mode" if I used the volume down button to put it in silent mode. So I just added a shortcut to the Tasker task of putting the phone to silent on my homescreen. Now when I go to bed, I hit the shortcut and I am able to be undisturbed until I wake again, unless my wife calls. I could see this being very useful for people with teenagers that are out or babysitters with children.
This task can also be useful if you sleep at defined hours, because you can set the phone to automatically turn to silent at X hour, and turn silent mode off at X hour. Just some ideas.
I am now searching for ways to completely automate the phone by making it turn on my GPS and Bluetooth when I am away from home, as well as turn these off and turn my wifi on when I am at home. Several attempts with no knowledge of this app have been unsuccessful so far. More to follow.
Robert
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Click to collapse
Here you go...
These two pages on the Tasker Wiki will show you how to do a lot of what you want, and even find stuff you didn't know you needed.
http://tasker.wikidot.com/profile-index
http://tasker.wikidot.com/step-throughs
Trying Tasker out and did as instructed, but no dice:
1) Profile: Context: Hardware:Headphones In | Action: App: Player Pro
The Notification menu notes Tasker and Profile, but nothing happens.
(Notes: Initially, I had the Player Pro widget enabled. I disabled it, but no dice. I had enabled a Kill App Task: PowerAMP & Set Music Volume to 15, but no dice. Deleted features...still no dice.)
2) Profile: Wifi Analysis | Context: Application: Wifi Analyzer | Action: Net: Wifi: Set On| Exit Task: Wifi: Set Off
Nothing.
(Note: I removed the Exit task, but no dice. [The idea's to enable wifi when I launch Wifi Analyzer, and have it turn off when I exit])
3)MPlayer Autotoggle | Context: Application: PlayerPro or PowerAmp | Action: Kill App ....and this is where this one goes awry. The idea's to avoid having both PlayerPro and PowerAmp on at the same time. So if one's on, the other's off.
I killed this profile (3) and tried again with the previous two, but still...nothing.
What am I doing wrong?
==
Note: I also had Fast Reboot Enabled, but thought that it might be getting in the way, so I uninstalled. Still nothing.
The only other application that might be getting in the way is Watchdog lite, but I really doubt it....
1) I've had issues on one of my devices where the Load App feature wouldn't work if I was in the launcher. Try to add a second task like Alert-Vibrate to see if that triggers. If so you're narrowed it down to it being the action.
If that's the case, try downloading QuickShortcutMaker and AutoShortcut. Instead of using LoadApp, select AutoShortcut under plugins and then QuickShortCutMaker's entry under that again. Try to find the intent that loads the app, try it out before you exit the config screen. Maybe that works where load app doesnt.
2) Try to run the task manually, e.g just a task with wifi on. See if Tasker is at all able to toggle your WiFi on.
3) What do you mean this is where it gets awry? You mean it doesnt work or you don't know how to set it up? Easiest thing to do would be to have two profiles, one for each app running which will try to kill the other
I'm trying to write a tasker script for Extreme Power Saver while at work. Secure settings has a feature, but doesn't seem to work. I'm hoping I can just have tasker execute a terminal (command line) script to activate EPS.
I accomplished this by launching an activity via secure settings. I can't detail exactly how I did it at the moment but it wasn't difficult, just tinker with the secure settings plugin. If I have some free time tomorrow, I'll explain in more detail.
TidusWulf said:
I'm trying to write a tasker script for Extreme Power Saver while at work. Secure settings has a feature, but doesn't seem to work. I'm hoping I can just have tasker execute a terminal (command line) script to activate EPS.
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I just tried this and it seams to work.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/htc...wer-saving-t2808839/post53988422#post53988422
jsaxon2 said:
I just tried this and it seams to work.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/htc...wer-saving-t2808839/post53988422#post53988422
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I saw that. but I don't want to have another app just for one command, when I use tasker already for 3 others. I want to keep it all together.
I've been using tasker to start epsm for months.
My setup I have is profile for screen off, run task Epsm
Tasks
Epsm
Run shell script
am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.htc.htcpowermanager/com.htc.htcpowermanager.extremepowersaver.ExtremePowerSaverConfirmActivity
And be sure to check run as root obviously.
Enjoy
And yes that can be ran in terminal however since you already use tasker you can automate it however you like
Thought I would elaborate a bit on this.
You can us the
am start
command to launch any app activity.
If you need to find what activity any app has just check their manifest inside the apk.
The only thing I haven't been able to figure out that I really would like to is to shut it off via terminal.
If you think of it logically the epsm is just a launcher so you can kill it via kill-server or force-stop command which will in fact bring you back home to your standard launcher however non of the setting will revert.
Same for if you instead just launch the default launcher via am start.
So if you can isolate exactly what triggers are sent (which I haven't isolated just yet(well I have but haven't been able to emulate via shell)) let me know if you have any progress or ideas.
:edit
i knew if i just sat down for a minute without distractions i would get it
easier and cleaner way to do it would be with the broadcast call
so to enable
Code:
am broadcast -a com.htc.intent.action.HtcPowerSaver.ExtremeAutoModeOn
to disable just
Code:
am broadcast -a com.htc.intent.action.HtcPowerSaver.ExtremeAutoModeOff
sent from space
runandhide05 said:
Code:
am broadcast -a com.htc.intent.action.HtcPowerSaver.ExtremeAutoModeOn
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Thank you. I have a profile that checks for BUSY activities in my google calendar (such as my work schedule), so I just hit SCRIPT and put in the code (and checked run as root). works great. Thank you very much for your assistance with this.
TidusWulf said:
Thank you. I have a profile that checks for BUSY activities in my google calendar (such as my work schedule), so I just hit SCRIPT and put in the code (and checked run as root). works great. Thank you very much for your assistance with this.
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Click to collapse
No problem. I'm about to sit down and find the intent for the normal power saving profile as well because I find myself slightly annoyed waiting for extreme power saving mode to exit. So maybe a profile for extreme during off peak hours and just power saving during peak usage hours
for normal power saving mode its
am broadcast -a com.htc.intent.action.HtcPowerSaver.AutoModeOn
and Off for off of course
sent from space
Having some issues with tasker on the pixel 3. I had the pixel 1 with android pie and had no issues. I migrated my profile and the tasks work if i play them manually but don't seem to work automatically 99% of the time. They also show green as if they should be active. It seems to have something to do with having the screen off. I have battery optimization turned off for the app and I have messed around with a few other settings. Does anyone know the magic combination to get it working? Or any idea what else may be wrong?
Example screnario...I get into my car, bluetooth connects, i wait and pandora doesnt turn on. I unlock the phone and go into tasker, the profile is green as if it is active but Pandora isn't playing. I then open the task and hit the play button and everything works as it should.
I can live without most of my tasks but I really miss Pandora automatically playing and exiting when connected to my bluetooth.
EDIT: My other tasks are hard to verify they aren't working. It seems that they may be working some/most of the time but Pandora has yet to launch while the screen is off. I have smart lock enabled so the phone should unlock when connected to my bluetooth.
huviduc said:
Having some issues with tasker on the pixel 3. I had the pixel 1 with android pie and had no issues. I migrated my profile and the tasks work if i play them manually but don't seem to work automatically 99% of the time. They also show green as if they should be active. It seems to have something to do with having the screen off. I have battery optimization turned off for the app and I have messed around with a few other settings. Does anyone know the magic combination to get it working? Or any idea what else may be wrong?
Example screnario...I get into my car, bluetooth connects, i wait and pandora doesnt turn on. I unlock the phone and go into tasker, the profile is green as if it is active but Pandora isn't playing. I then open the task and hit the play button and everything works as it should.
I can live without most of my tasks but I really miss Pandora automatically playing and exiting when connected to my bluetooth.
EDIT: My other tasks are hard to verify they aren't working. It seems that they may be working some/most of the time but Pandora has yet to launch while the screen is off. I have smart lock enabled so the phone should unlock when connected to my bluetooth.
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Check to see if accessibility is enabled for Tasker. If memory serves me correctly it needs to be enabled in order to launch an app. I might be wrong about that but it can't hurt to try it. Android settings>accessibility
robocuff said:
Check to see if accessibility is enabled for Tasker. If memory serves me correctly it needs to be enabled in order to launch an app. I might be wrong about that but it can't hurt to try it. Android settings>accessibility
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I checked and it wasn't enabled. Enabled it but unfortunately the same issue happens. If i have the screen on everything works perfectly fine, screen off nothing happens. I am using always on display if that matters, its the only difference from my pixel 1 setup but I don't see why it would matter.
I also tried clearing all app data, uninstalling, reinstalling and setting up the pandora profile from scratch. Its such a simple task, I don't see why it isn't working. Profile below, selected options in parenthesis.
BT Connected (bluetooth device name) -> Pandora (Launch App Pandora)
Did you select the BT device from the list by tapping the magnifying glass? I have found that if I pair a device the name is the same but the profile won't work until I remove and add it again. Also, some have different modes. For example, my Bose BT headphones pair as "Bose SoundSport" initially, but then connect as "LE Bose SoundSport" after that, so profile trigger has both listed.
Another test I would do is to change the task actions to see if it's actually triggering the profile or if it's an issue with the task. I usually just do Alert > Flash and watch the screen when the profile should be triggering. If the flash works, something isn't working with the launch app action.
Hope this helps.
Edit: I guess I didn't clarify, the task I have with my Bose headphones launches Spotify and starts music (media control > next). It also sets the media volume to a comfortable level. The criteria for this profile is a variable (based on calendar to see if I'm at work or not) and BT connection.
I forgot it was there, but I use Secure Settings to wake the CPU when the task triggers. Not sure if this is still needed or not. I think it was needed at one point to launch with the screen off or something, but I haven't really changed this task for a few years other than updating the BT device name as described above.
fury683 said:
Did you select the BT device from the list by tapping the magnifying glass? I have found that if I pair a device the name is the same but the profile won't work until I remove and add it again. Also, some have different modes. For example, my Bose BT headphones pair as "Bose SoundSport" initially, but then connect as "LE Bose SoundSport" after that, so profile trigger has both listed.
Another test I would do is to change the task actions to see if it's actually triggering the profile or if it's an issue with the task. I usually just do Alert > Flash and watch the screen when the profile should be triggering. If the flash works, something isn't working with the launch app action.
Hope this helps.
Edit: I guess I didn't clarify, the task I have with my Bose headphones launches Spotify and starts music (media control > next). It also sets the media volume to a comfortable level. The criteria for this profile is a variable (based on calendar to see if I'm at work or not) and BT connection.
I forgot it was there, but I use Secure Settings to wake the CPU when the task triggers. Not sure if this is still needed or not. I think it was needed at one point to launch with the screen off or something, but I haven't really changed this task for a few years other than updating the BT device name as described above.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the input! I am heading out of town for a few days but I'll look into your suggestions when i return ( i wont have my car with me so i cant do any testing). I do think the profile works because it shows as green when i turn my screen on and open tasker. It also works perfectly fine if i have my screen on then start my car.
I think it may be working now (successfully tested one time) but I will need to use a bit more to be sure. The only thing I noticed is when reinstalling, i was prompted to allow the application to run in the background and chose yes. When the app was transferred from my old phone and I imported the backup, i dont recall ever getting this prompt. Not sure where this setting is found other than at the prompt. I will report back once i am home and can test some more.
okay so it doesn't appear to be working still. The task works fine when played manually, the profile runs the task successfully when the screen is on/off/locked. It does NOT work after phone has been idle for a while. I have battery optimization off for Tasker and when I check battery usage, I can see that tasker runs all day long. I have another task to dismiss email notifications at work and it works fine when the phone is idle.
Starting to test it with different actions like turning on the screen but I'm running out of ideas. Only other thought it Adaptive Battery....not very familiar with it.
huviduc said:
okay so it doesn't appear to be working still. The task works fine when played manually, the profile runs the task successfully when the screen is on/off/locked. It does NOT work after phone has been idle for a while. I have battery optimization off for Tasker and when I check battery usage, I can see that tasker runs all day long. I have another task to dismiss email notifications at work and it works fine when the phone is idle.
Starting to test it with different actions like turning on the screen but I'm running out of ideas. Only other thought it Adaptive Battery....not very familiar with it.
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Click to collapse
Can you verify if the task runs at all? In other words, does Tasker successfully see the BT connection and activate the profile and the only thing that fails is Pandora playing?
If the profile actually kicks in, then it sounds like the phone needs to 'wake up' more before the Pandora action works.
I have a morning profile (runs based on time of day) that I had to add a wake screen step to to have all the actions work (I don't actually remember which action wasn't working -- it may have been that it didn't seen to run at all). I currently use the old Secure Settings plugin to do the screen wake because when I tried which auto- app has a screen wake action it didn't work.
piccit said:
Can you verify if the task runs at all? In other words, does Tasker successfully see the BT connection and activate the profile and the only thing that fails is Pandora playing?
If the profile actually kicks in, then it sounds like the phone needs to 'wake up' more before the Pandora action works.
I have a morning profile (runs based on time of day) that I had to add a wake screen step to to have all the actions work (I don't actually remember which action wasn't working -- it may have been that it didn't seen to run at all). I currently use the old Secure Settings plugin to do the screen wake because when I tried which auto- app has a screen wake action it didn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This leads me to believe the bit I added for Secure Settings to wake CPU is what makes it work any time? The profile I have is very similar; %ATWORK = TRUE && BT connected to Bose SoundSport. Secure Settings wakes CPU only 20 seconds, launches Spotify, waits 5 seconds, simulates media control "next" then sets the volume to 10.
Can't hurt to try..
i added a task to vibrate the phone after trying to launch pandora. The phone seems to vibrate every time but pandora will only start if the screen is on. Thought it may be lock screen related so i totally disabled it, same results. Ill mess around with the secure settings tip above, the fact that it vibrates every time makes me think its something else though. Attached some logs below. Each set contains all logs from profile active to profile inactive.
EDIT --> work around found. Removing log in case there are any personal details
DELETED
DELETED
Comparing the logs in notepad++, they seem to be almost identical (with the exceptions of some of the timing of logs, had to move them around to match them up). The only difference I can see is the following lines and what appears to be Pandora starting up and exiting when it works ( events surrounded by #NLI: tickerText. The first line says True when screen is on and the second line is missing when pandora failed to load.
31-10-2018 M: 11.17.12#M: user present: false
31-10-2018 M: 11.17.12#M: startUAAA: need alarm: false
oddly enough... installing Secure Settings and using it to launch the same Pandora activity seems to work (so far)
Hello,
All is in the topic, I've got an app that starts automatically when my phone is powered on.
It is Aircall, an app I use for passing and receiving calls at work.
I would like this app not to start automatically each time I power on the phone.
Is there a setting for disabling some apps to autostart ? Or an app you can advise ?
Thanks for your help.
Check the app's preferences to see if there are options.
In the Android settings, go to Apps > See All > (your app. eg Air Call) > App battery usage and set it to 'restricted.' This will greatly restrict an app's ability to do many things in the background.
Other than that, you'd have to root your device to get any more control over the app using something like Servicely (Google Play Store), My Android Tools (apkmirror.com), Permission Manager X (fdroid), AppOppsX (fdroid), or Blocker (fdroid) to control the app's broadcast receivers. Apps can choose to respond to various phone states such as when a boot is completed, when network connectivity changes, power is connected/disconnected, etc. It can take some aggressive action to fully prevent an app from always running.
If you're just annoyed by a notification icon in your notification area you can always disable that app's notification so it doesn't appear.
I have tried all of these things to control apps but if apps use a lot of various broadcast receivers they will find ways to keep running. You may find stopping it to have unintended consequences. It being a work app, I'd consider simply disabling the app's notificaiton if it has a persistent notifcation or something. The next step would be to restrict the app as in 2. The most aggressive thing is to root and tinker with its broadcast receivers.
Hello jawz101,
Thank you very much for this very complete answer.
All your precise instructions are very interesting.
I'll have a look at all these solutions.
Thanks again.
I am not sure about straight forward solution. But I would like to use Greenify app. Add apps to it once and run it once everytime you restart your phone.