Some shortcuts are not available in Automate

[mgdn]

Hello all,

I've been trying to use Automate with Wake on WAN with applications like Wol Wake on Lan Wan and Fusion WOL but their shortcuts do not appear in Automate.
I wonder if this is an issue with Automate or with the way these applications register their shortcuts.

[Automate developer]

Thanks for your bug report. Cause found, and bug fixed. New release coming soon.

[dr.i...@gmail.com]

I have the same problem with latest version. I created a connect en disconnect short within "OpenVPN Connect", but they do not appear in the shortcut list of Automate.
Can you please fix this one too?

[Automate developer]

I just looked at the OpenVPN Connect app, in it you can only make shortcuts from within the app, and not through the launcher.
Automate can only use shortcut if they can be created with the launcher, since Automate creates the shortcut the same way.

[dr.i...@gmail.com]

What do you mean by not through the launcher? The shortcuts OpenVPN creates are created on home screen and can be launched from there, like a separate app (so launcher understands it?).
Is it not possible Automate sees these shortcuts and use them?

[Automate developer]

Most apps can only create shortcuts from the launcher, depending on Android version or launcher that's usually:

• Long-tapping on a launcher home screen and chose add widget
• Widgets and shortcuts are listed in the rightmost pages in the launcher "app drawer"

Automate can only create those kinds of shortcuts, and not the ones added from with in another app, like OpenVPN do.

Like any other data, Automate can't access the private shortcut data that the launcher has, since it's in another app.

[dr.i...@gmail.com]

Ok, thanks for explanation.

Will it maybe be possible in the future for Automate to handle these kinds of shortcuts?

Or maybe another soltion which achieves the same (e..g auto starting app en pressing connect, or a script/plugin which does the trick which can be called from Automate)?
Would be very nice, as now i can't put VPN auto on when connecting to other access point than home and auto off when at home. So we have to remember to do it manually everytime we are connecting to a different access point :(

[Automate developer]

I'll investigate, but it's unlikely it will ever be possible since the shourtcuts are handled by the launcher app.

However, i'll check what required to configure VPN, maybe i can make Automate do it, without the need for another app.
Hopefully it doesn't mean i need to implement a whole VPN client.

[dr.i...@gmail.com]

Thanks in advance, i will keep an eye on the changelog :)

[Automate developer]

I think i've solved the issue, and found a way for Automate to capture shortcuts create from within other apps.

[Automate developer]

Please let me know if it's working in the latest Alpha 1.0.17a2.

On Monday, April 13, 2015 at 5:08:08 PM UTC+2, dr.i...@gmail.com wrote:

[dr.i...@gmail.com]

Wow, you are fast! ;)

I installed alpha 1.0.17a2, but when looking at the "Pick shortcut" list from App start shortcut block, there doesn't seem to have changed anything. So i don't see anything from OpenVPN in that list (while shortcuts "Connect" and "Disconnect" are visible on desktop).

[Automate developer]

Capturing those kinds of shortcuts are a bit more involved. Read the documentation:

If an app isn’t listed, but can create shortcuts, it means they can only be create from within the app, and not through the launcher.
To capture such shortcuts, navigate to the app using the Home or Recent button, without canceling the App start shortcut editor.
Create the shortcut from within the app and it should appear both on the home screen and in the App start shortcut editor.
The home screen shortcut can then be removed.

[dr.i...@gmail.com]

I did read the documentation, but didn't work :(
When i'm in Automate app start shortcut config (the screen where i'm seeing the arrow with pick app shortcut), i press home button.
Now i start OpenVPN Connect and create an Disconnect shortcut (which does actually create an extra Disconnect short on the home screen, which is Nova Launcher btw).
Now i go back to Automate (which is still on app shortcut config screen), but when i'm pressing the pick action there are no OpenVPN shortcuts to choose...

[Automate developer]

You don't need to tap the pick shortcut button again, Automate should have captured the shortcut created on the home screen, and the description field should have appeard.

I'll probably have to improve the usage pattern.

[dr.i...@gmail.com]

Well as there was nothing to see on the config screen (no filled in boxes, no message), i suppose nothing was added?
Or should i try save after returning to Automate although nothing seems to have changed in the config screen?

[Automate developer]

The shortcut label field should appear, if it's working.

The steps you should take are:
1. Edit the "App shortcut start" block
2. On the "App shortcut start" block editor screen, tap the Home button to return to the launcher
3. Go to the OpenVPN app and create a shortcut, it should appear on the home screen
4. Return to the "App shortcut start" screen in Automate, tap the Automate icon or use the Recent apps screen
5. If it works, a "Shortcut label" field with the shortcut text should appear under the "Pick shortcut..." button

If it's not working, i may have to find another way to capture the shortcut, or it may not work for all apps.

It would be nice to see it working before i invest more time in reworking the "App shortcut start" screen with
a "Recently created home screen shortcuts" button, or another usage pattern.

[dr.i...@gmail.com]

This explanation was clear, i totally missed the added shortcut label after doing the steps. So yes i can confirm it is working!

[Automate developer]

Cool. I'll rework the usage pattern so all shortcuts are captured, even if the editor isn't open, and then in the editor instead show a list of "recently created shortcuts" from which a user can select.

[dr.i...@gmail.com]

Sounds great!
Will be in a next version i suppose?
Thanks for making it work!

[Automate developer]

Hopefully for the next public release.

[etr...@gmail.com]

Awesome, thank you. I uploaded a simple OpenVPN flow with these instructions.

http://llamalab.com/automate/community/flows/4059

[gagnon....@gmail.com]

I want to capture a 'traccar client' shortcut. When I go to 'traccar' and click on 'create shortcuts', it creates 3 different ones. The problem is 'automate' only keeps the last one created. Is there a way to select from the 3 shortcuts created by the application ?

[Henrik "The Developer" Lindqvist]

The "Pick shortcut" button doesn't work for selecting a shortcut?

It's currently not possible to select from the shortcuts create from within another app. I'll see if i can improve shortcut "collecting".

[gagnon....@gmail.com]

The "Pick shortcut" button works ,but the application I'm trying to use is not listed. I followed the instructions and went to the application and created shorcuts from there. The problem is that 'traccar client' (the application I'm trying to use) is creating 3 shortcuts at the same time and 'automate' only catches one of them (probably the last one created). I would like 'automate' to be able to detect all created shortcuts and allow me to choose from a list.

[Raphael Gagnon]

Is there any development planned for that feature ?

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[Henrik "The Developer" Lindqvist]

It's on the to-do list. Sorry, not time frame.

On Wednesday, July 12, 2017 at 5:51:28 PM UTC+2, Raphael Gagnon wrote:

Is there any development planned for that feature ?

[tim.schr...@gmail.com]

Hello,

can I use this feature somehow? I'm having the exact same problem as Dr IT with OpenVPN. I tried the Playstore version and the current Alpha but neither lets me select the OpenVPN shortcuts.

[Henrik "The Developer" Lindqvist]

Sadly the API used was deprecated by Google for Android 8 so this hack no longer work, and another is unlikely.

So it's likely better to contact the OpenVPN developer and request automation support, via intents.

[tim.schr...@gmail.com]

Thanks a lot for the tip. I got it to work with intents. :)

[shobu....@gmail.com]

Hello, every one.

I was also bothered by the same problem.

But we can kick the OpenVPN using "Start app" block. Replace "App start shortcut" with "App start" in your flow.

Connect:

• PACKAGE: fx ="net.openvpn.openvpn"
• ACTIVITY CLASS: fx ="net.openvpn.unified.MainActivity"
  (or select "net.openvpn.unified.MainActivity" from "Pick activith...> OpenVPN Connect")
• Action: View
• DATA URI: (empty)
• MIME TYPE: (empty)
• CATEGORY: (don't select)
• EXTRAS: {"net.openvpn.openvpn.AUTOSTART_PROFILE_NAME": "PC [*your openvpn profile name]", "net.openvpn.openvpn.AUTOCONNECT" as Boolean: 1, net.openvpn.openvpn.APP_SECTION": "PC"}
    *if your openvpn profile name is "vpn.example.com/autologin", AUTOSTART_PROFILE_NAME is "PC vpn.example.com/autologin"
• FLAGS: (don't select)
• CHOOSER: not checked

Disconnect:

• PACKAGE: fx ="net.openvpn.openvpn"
• ACTIVITY CLASS: fx ="net.openvpn.unified.MainActivity"
  (or select "net.openvpn.unified.MainActivity" from "Pick activith...> OpenVPN Connect")
• Action: fx ="net.openvpn.openvpn.DISCONNECT"
• DATA URI: (empty)
• MIME TYPE: (empty)
• CATEGORY: (don't select)
• EXTRAS: {"net.openvpn.openvpn.STOP" as Boolean: 1}
  
• FLAGS: (don't select)
• CHOOSER: not checked

Thanks & Regards,

2018年12月17日月曜日 11時24分02秒 UTC+9 Henrik "The Developer" Lindqvist:

[fer...@gmail.com]

Thank-you for this, I've been searching everywhere for the "extra" settings for these as none of the flows I downloaded would ever automatically start/stop a profile.

BTW, there's a double-quote missing from the start of "net.openvpn.openvpn.APP_SECTION" which causes a syntax error.

[mjasmi...@gmail.com]

You sir, are a legend.

I've been on so many forums that got me close, but the difference seemed to be Action: View and  as Boolean: 1

Thank you

[m.ba...@gmail.com]

Worked for me too.