Isn't it time Tasker supported Background Apps/Services?

[now...@gmail.com]

Thank you for your awesome Tasker application!

I was trying to figure out how to keep Tasker tasks active for an app that has gone from Foreground to Background. It is extremely common for users to switch to another app while using their Android device and this includes apps profiled in Tasker.

The Tasker forum reveals a recurring interest and need in the functionality.

I noticed the Tasker website has  'running background service detection' listed near the bottom of the 'Plans: Events/States list' (http://tasker.dinglisch.net/todo.html)

At present however, there is only a cumbersome manual workaround requiring extensive Linux programming experience and effort on the users' part, something that perhaps 80% or more of your Android users lack.

I encourage and invite you to consider the importance of escalating the priority and inclusion of this functionality into the next release of Tasker. If not, perhaps you might consider documenting in your Google Play Store description, the fact that Tasker only works on Foreground apps.

If I can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you.

[Pent]

Yes, I think you're right, that is relatively important.

Pent

[Sergio]

I suggest you give a look to  "LOCALE APP CONDITION" on Google store

I use it as a Tasker plugin to detect if Sygic navigator is active in the background ot not active at all, and it does the job, I did not testi it with other apps, but it may be worth a try.

[D F]

Thanks Sergio.

LOCALE APP CONDITION may be a temporary solution, however it has not been updated since May 28, 2011 and requires additional processes to be active, probably consuming additional RAM. It may have issues with newer versions of Android.

On Fri, Aug 16, 2013 at 3:06 AM, Sergio <srgb...@gmail.com> wrote:

I suggest you give a look to  "LOCALE APP CONDITION" on Google store

I use it as a Tasker plugin to detect if Sygic navigator is active in the background ot not active at all, and it does the job, I did not testi it with other apps, but it may be worth a try.

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[Olivier Sannier]

On 16/08/2013 00:18, now...@gmail.com wrote:

Thank you for your awesome Tasker application!

I was trying to figure out how to keep Tasker tasks active for an app that has gone from Foreground to Background. It is extremely common for users to switch to another app while using their Android device and this includes apps profiled in Tasker.

Yes, that's common, but then again, once you are finished using the application, it does not close, it simply stays there.

On my phone, data is diisabled by default, and I have created Tasker profiles on selected applications for which I want data enabled.
With your proposal, data would remain active until I reboot the phone...

[Noah Gregory]

They've done this now. But it's very basic. Just looks to see if it's running any services. No filters for specific service names (which is what I want) or how much memory they are taking up. Just make a profile, tap App, then turn of the services button on the bottom left.

[Marta Hintz]

New plugin may help. http://khaos-coders.org/khaos-blog/item/3-tasker-processes

[SportyRydr]

Thank you!

[SSmith]

To satisfy some curiosity...when might this be appropriate? What are some examples of when Tasker would need to know if an app was running in the BG?

On Thursday, August 15, 2013 5:18:42 PM UTC-5, now...@gmail.com wrote:

[Brandon Horwath]

To satisfy some curiosity...when might this be appropriate? What are some examples of when Tasker would need to know if an app was running in the BG?

When an exit task needs execution as result of an app closing, and not while running in foreground.

[pfannoholiker]

yes. but for this you would need a status or an event. the plugin mentioned above is an action. khaos said hes workin on a plugin which will be checking the status of an app.

[SSmith]

I guess I'm not following...I thought that's already possible. An example would be my GPS profile. When certain apps open I turn on GPS, when they close, my exit task turns off GPS. Or is this a case where presently 'closing' is the app merely not in foreground and could still be running?

Maybe profiling background apps is more useful in multi-view scenarios...having multiple apps open at one time?

[Matt R]

Yes, for example if you're getting driving directions from Google maps, the profile would deactivate when you switch to another app even though Google maps continues to provide navigation in the background.

Matt

[Thomas Friedrich]

What is the state if the app is actively running in the background as can be seen by an icon in the notification area? All navi apps use this.

[Brandon Horwath]

What is the state if the app is actively running in the background as can be seen by an icon in the notification area? All navi apps use this.

The notification exists, yes. But, cannot be detected by tasker.

[Evan Gorman]

Add another profile for the exit script. Like when you press a button. So it always runs.

[Kevin Gaylord]

When I set up a new profile and select Application, make sure the app and services are checked at the bottom left of the screen. By doing this, the application tasks will stay active even with the app running n the background.