Problems getting Join/IFTTT to operate with Tasker

[56 Kruiser]

GOAL

I want to be able to speak a command to Google Assistant to trigger a profile. From posts in other forums, I've been led to using a combination of Join and IFTTT. I guess due to changes in Android, you can no longer have Join respond like it used to do with Google Now.

The Problem

I guess I'll start with an initial thing that may be causing my problem.

According to various documents I've found, I should go to https://joinjoaomgcd.appspot.com/ to select the device I want Join to send to, and then select the API. But when I go there, no devices are listed, as seen in the attached jpg.

I can open Join on my phone, and see devices. So I selected the API from the menu.

So I have created a Tasker Profile with a text filter of one word. I have created an applet in IFTTT to send a command to Tasker via Webhooks, using that word. I created a Join Action  to send a command to IFTTT. The IFTTT applet runs, but the Tasker profile I created does not run. I don't know if that is related to the fact that no devices shop up on https://joinjoaomgcd.appspot.com/ or not. I might add here that even if this did work, I still need to figure out how to use voice to trigger it. I was led to using Natural Voice commands, which I suspect I'll be asking questions about that once this works.

I posted a query about the generic API that generates from Join on my phone, but the post has been ignored. Hoping I can get some direction here.

Thoughts/suggestions appreciated.

[Hans C F.R.]

Hola,

Administro una web donde publico varias ideas usando TASKER, JOIN , IFTTT y asistente Google. Tal vez te ayude, aunque veo que no tienes configurado Join correctamente.

Un saludo

Hi,

I manage a website where I publish several ideas using TASKER, JOIN, IFTTT and Google assistant. It may help you, although I see that you do not have Join correctly.

a greeting

www.hanscfr.com

[56 Kruiser]

Thank you.

 Not sure what you mean by not having Join correctly. Maybe based on my description of what I did, which could be misleading due to not knowing the correct terminology.

I appreciate your message and link to the web site. I will go check it out.

[56 Kruiser]

I  went over to your site and it already has provided valuable information. I had forgotten about the Google Assistant having a service in IFTTT. I guess I must have known in the past, because it is active in IFTTT.

So I created an applet using Assistant, providing a short phrase with  $ text as the parameter that would be passed. I called the Webhook and provided the word that I ahve set up in a Tasker profile based on Join, to run my task in tasker.

But not only does the task in tasker not run...Google Assistant does not recognize the phrase that I set up in the IFTTT Google Assistant applet. When I say 'OK Google, <phrase here>", it just provides web results on that phrase.

Don't know what I'm missing, but I'm heading over to search for if there is more I need to do to get the IFTTT G. Assistant working. Also will browse your site some more.

On a side note: finding help by searches on the internet to figure out this stuff is a bit frustrating, because I always find old stuff based on old versions that don't work the same, of have different ways of interfacing. Lot of wasted time reading invalid stuff.

On Thursday, December 19, 2019 at 1:17:54 PM UTC-5, Hans C F.R. wrote:

[Steve L]

Ifttt can handle a google home request, pass the information to your device.

I'm not at home to get all the details, but I will fill in the blanks when I can...

Google home
Link it to IFTTT.

IFTTT
If "google assistant",
Fill in your codeword or phrase. Follow the prompts, they are pretty self explanatory.
Then
Make a web request (using webhooks)

Here, you need the join API information for the device you want to trigger....but the idea is....

https://joinjoaomgcd.appspot.com/_ah/api/messaging/v1/sendPush?text=Reset%20the%20lights&deviceId=<enter join device id here>&apikey=<join api>

This sends a notification to the given device.

Use join to intercept that notification and trigger the profile.

Now, in your explanation, I believe you stated you were having trouble with join. For me, remove join from the device you want to use...such as your phone.

Reinstall it from Google Play and start it up.follow the prompts to go through join, allow it to ignore the battery and once you have gone through all the steps, I believe then you can go to the website and the device should be there.

You may have to allow extra permissions from join during set up such as allowing to draw over apps, etc.

Hopefully these steps make sense. If you continue to have issues, let me know. I'll be out of town for the weekend, but will occasionally be checking email.

[56 Kruiser]

I appreciate your input.

I seem to have something missing. I have been using IFTTT for a while, but not with Assistant.

Yesterday, in IFTTT, I set up the Google Assistant. I have not done anything on my phone to set up IFTTT, other than it is installed on the phone. But when I go into Google Assistant, I see no way to add a service (I presume IFTTT is a service). I have installed Home on the phone. 

I can into Google, click on settings, and from there select Google Assistant. On the next page there are tabs for You, Assistant, Services, and Home. On none of those tabs do I see a way to set up IFTTT in Assistant, or the Home tab.

I found this page online with an example to set up titled How to Use IFTTT With Google Home and followed that, but it does not work. But of course, I don't have Google Home, just Assistant with the Home app (I had expected tha twas like having Google Home but through the phone...but at this point, I don't know.

Another interesting note, when I click on the link to https://joinjoaomgcd.appspot.com/ to get devices and the associated API, I get only the orange border at the top, and no devices listed (screen shot attached). However on my phone, I see devices. Interestingly, I have Join and IFTTT working in Tasker, and works fine. But adding in Google Assistant for me has been problematic.

[56 Kruiser]

Maybe what I want to do can be kicked off from a Routing in Assistant. But I got the impression from someone that won't work for what I need to do.

I don't recall at this point what I want to do is listed in my orig post. I want to be able to enter an OK Google command to run an Autovoice command that will run a Tasker task, without having to say Ok Google, Tell Autovoice to < whatever >. I'm told I need to use Assistant, Join, and IFTTT. Given that I have had Join and IFTTT going for a while, I didn't expect to be hitting my head against the wall. Maybe I'm standing too close to the wall ;-Q

[Steve L]

I just typed a huge response, but it's telling my my response was deleted.  Let me know if that's the case.  It deleted all my messages from this thread.  If that's the case, I'll re-type it, but from my viewpoint, all my messages are gone.

[Steve L]

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/10/31/auto-voice-google-assistant-action-taken-down-workaround/

[56 Kruiser]

Steve

Thanks. I'll check that out.

I just replied to your PM. I'm not sure how PMs are sent here in Groups. I'm sorry to hear you typed a big message that got deleted. That's frustrating when that happens.

Let me know if you got my reply. I just did it in email.

I'm in the middle of working on my '61 Chevy right now, so it'll be later in the day before I check out the link you posted.

Appreciating your help. 

On Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 8:09:17 AM UTC-5, Steve L wrote:

https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/10/31/auto-voice-google-assistant-action-taken-down-workaround/

[Steve L]

Ok, I did get your reply.  To private message someone, if you look on the right hand side of the screen in the Tasker group, there is a reply arrow.  Next to that is a small drop-down arrow.  That is where I saw the private message.  Since I had several messages that are automatically deleted, I'm going to try it again this way.  Don't get too upset with me if I don't get all the steps right here, I'm doing this not at home at the moment.  Regardless, we'll get you straightened out.

I think you are against the wall, but I think you are right between a door and a window with bushes blocking your view of both.  I'm going to assume you are using Tasker and Join on your phone.  For this, it's best to use a Desktop computer and your phone.  I'll try and show where I switch between everything.

In one of your posts, you reference the screenshot showing the orange line from Join.  If you only have your phone, I'm thinking that might be why you aren't seeing multiple devices.  You can use Chrome (Windows) or Chromium (Linux) in Join as well, tablet, 2nd phone, etc.  Once you have a second (or more) device on Join, they might start showing up there.  You will need the website at some point, but try going to it a different way.....

https://joaoapps.com/join/api

There, it should say API and API key.  In there is a link (to the same page you were getting).  But you'll need this api key.  Select the device, hit the join api directly below it and then show your api key.  You'll need this later.

I don't use Autovoice myself.  I do understand what you are trying to do.  I bought Autovoice some time ago, but it's fallen by the wayside for me.  About the only time I use autovoice now is when someone builds it into a task that I may download and try.  So with all that being said, let's get started.

Since I don't recall if you already use the IFTTT or not, I'm just going to walk you through hooking it into Google Assistant the best I can.

<<Desktop computer>>

Use a browser and go to the IFTTT website.  Sign in (if you already haven't).  On the right-hand side is your account picture.  Click on it and go to account.  This is where you change your password, see your account name, etc.  Scroll down to the linked areas.  Google assistant should show as linked.  If it doesn't, go ahead and link it to your IFTTT account.

Go back to the home page.  Go back to your account picture and again click it.  This time, however, go down to create.  I'm going to walk you through a brand new recipe (can't hurt and hopefully it will make sense).

You should be at the If +This then That page.  The This should be grayed out. 

Click on This and search services for Google assistant. Select it and choose say a simple phrase.

for this part, we're going to use the example of Going to town.

What do you want to say?  Go to town

how should I respond?  Ok, heading to town

Create the trigger

It should bring you the screen where That is now grayed out.  Click That now

Do a services search for webhooks.

click on it and STOP.  This is where it gets a bit trickier.

<<Switching to the Join app on your phone>>

As I said earlier, I know you referenced the screenshot.  There is a different way to get your api key.

Open the This Device (should be the only device listed at this time).  You want the three dots on the right-hand side.

It should bring up the name of the device and a scrollable menu of options.

Scroll down until you find the Join API (it will have a chain link picture on the left side).  Press (click it).

go ahead and generate the Push URL.  You'll need it in a few minutes.

Now here, I always send it by e-mail to myself because there's a lot of information you need and don't need here.  Copy and paste is the best way to handle this part.

Joao did a lot of good information, but he didn't provide any real helpful guides here and all the help is cluttered in the middle of all of this.

<<back to the Desktop computer browser>>

At this point, you selected the webhooks for That.

Make a web request

For the URL, key in (copy / paste):

https://joinjoaomgcd.appsot.com/_ah/api/messaging/va/sendPush?title=Go%20%to%town&deviceid=<device id here>&api=<api key here>

Use GET as the method.  I found a website that said I needed to use this method, I forgot why, but why argue if it works.

Click on create trigger.

You're for the most part done.  On here, before you hit finish, you'll notice that for now you receive notifications when the applet runs.  You don't have to have this on, but for initial testing, I usually do.

Hit Finish

<<Tasker app on your phone>>

Create a new profile.  For the context,

Use Event -> plugin -> Join

Configuration:

     Text filter, Text filter: Go to town

     I also click on case insensitive.  I've had a couple instances where some in-between computer changed everything to lowercase.  This is strictly optional for you.

Save this and start a new task.

Because I'm usually paranoid and testing things, I like to set up the initial task to alert -> say -> Go to town profile received (or something that I know it actually worked).

That's it...but now a few quick notes

IFTTT doesn't always update the recipe right away.  I've seen it take up to 15 minutes to go into the account.  If you open the recipe on IFTTT, you can "Check" the profile.  This doesn't run it, just forces and update to your account.  There is no way to actually test a recipe from IFTTT.

From here, you should be able to say "Ok, Google.  Go to town" and in a minute or so, your phone should respond.

It goes from Google speaker to the command database.  If it can't find it there, it will go to the IFTTT database.  If it's there, it sends the command to join (in Brazil or wherever Joao is located) which has to send it to your phone.  Then Tasker responds.  

Hopefully this message doesn't get deleted and gets to you.  If you have questions, please let me know.

Thanks,

Steve

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[Roger Ewing]

Steve

Got your long message. 

Boy, you have a lot of effort in this. No way could I get upset with you. 

Sometime this weekend I'll go through it and let you know how it goes. 

Thanks so much again. 

Roger

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[Steve L]

any time.  The one problem I forsee you getting into is the join api website, but you do need that information.  That one, you may have to post in the group to get an answer for that if my suggestion doesn't work.  They are way more expert in that part than I am.

Good luck,

Steve

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[56 Kruiser]

HI Steve,

I'm just now setting down to work through this. I will reply with any questions or comments in blue in the body of the long email. Reading your last reply, I think you are right...main problem is getting to the API. I do have a post on his Join forum about this, since last Tuesday. But at his forums he indicates that  he is away for a month and won't be replying to anything. So I may be out of luck for a while.

Thanks so much for your efforts and support. ;-)

On Saturday, December 21, 2019 at 1:48:29 PM UTC-5, Steve L wrote:

...

I think you are against the wall, but I think you are right between a door and a window with bushes blocking your view of both.  I'm going to assume you are using Tasker and Join on your phone. Correct

 ...

In one of your posts, you reference the screenshot showing the orange line from Join.  If you only have your phone, I'm thinking that might be why you aren't seeing multiple devices.  Not only am I not seeing multiple devices, I don't even see my phone. But to test, I just added it to my browser, and I still see no devices at https://joinjoaomgcd.appspot.com/You can use Chrome (Windows) or Chromium (Linux) in Join as well, tablet, 2nd phone, etc.  Once you have a second (or more) device on Join, they might start showing up there.  You will need the website at some point, but try going to it a different way.....

https://joaoapps.com/join/api   When I go to this site, the first paragraph references back to the site I'm seeing nothing.

So, given that I need the API key which seems to be unavailable to me, I guess I won't spend any more effort on this for now. Interestingly, as I mentioned earlier, I do have a Join task working. 

OH!! I just went back and found in IFTTT the one recipe that I am using that in fact is working (set up quite a while ago), and I copied the API key from there, and a quick test worked. So, I'll continue, and see if I can accomplish what I need.

It is interesting that the API page does not work for me.

Thanks so much again.

 

[Steve L]

At least you have the api key.  One possibility for the join api website...a remote possibility and I would wait for a better answer.....

Remove your devices from join (uninstall re-install the app.  The set back would be the possibility of getting a different device I'd and api.  If it's working temporarily,  I'd stick with what you have.

Either way, good luck.  Once you get it working right, there are all kinds ds of possibilities that open for you.

Steve

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