Someone please help me (pulling my hair out) > Tasker / PowerAmp / UCCW > track & Artist help really needed.

[Simon Harbutt]

Hi all,

I am sure someone will be able to easily help me out on my annoying issue. (which after reading a few posts and webpages i think i have confused myself massively).

I have a UCCW widget that i use for my music (uses Media Utilities buttons to control the Poweramp pplayer - nothing complex just play / previous / next) - this all works fine.

I would like to show the track playing, the Artist and possibly other info if possible (length/album art/next song - these are no a definite).

I have never user Tasker before, but have tried to set this up using various methods. once i did get the track and artist info to show via a pop up (as a test), but then after trying a few things this no longer works and i have cleared the profile/tasks a few times.

I also downloaded Action Box, but not sure if this does anything or would help in this situation (read another post reegarding using this to do something, but cannot recall what).

I realistically would like to know -

What profile/tasks i need to create to get this to work successfully. (running Tasker v4.7u3)

Do i need to do anything specific to Media Utilities? (running Media Utilities Beta v0.0.152)

What do i need to put in the UCCW Tasker Variables (do i need to enter anything in the text mapping option?) (running UCCW v4.0.5)

(Chances are if you link to a web site that has instruction, i have probably tried these and failed ;) but if you can confirm they work and they are the right steps i will give them a try lol )

I think i am trying to over complicate things...

Any help would be superb ;)

[Mike Wilson]

I use PowerAmp in my Digital Dash project and grab the music info via an intent.

Full details and the code I use are on my blog:

http://mikesgeneralblog.blogspot.com/2015/06/digital-dash-documentation-part-5-music.html

[Simon Harbutt]

Awesome, thanks I will definitely try this.

[Simon Harbutt]

What versions of Tasker/Uccw are you using..?

I wonder if this is my problem.?

(I am about to test your steps)

[Simon Harbutt]

What is the -

State: Variable Value [ %V3_DrivingMode Set ]

 

I cannot see a variable Value option..?

Is this a Variable set?

 

Thanks,

[Simon Harbutt]

I see the state - variable value option now ;)

[Mike Wilson]

Sorry.  I should have explained a bit more.  The PowerAmp functions are part of a much larger project that gives my old car some of the functions of newer vehicles.  %V3_DrivingMode is just a variable I use to tell all the profiles that the the system is active.  You won't need it.

I'm using the latest version of Tasker, but I've been using this same code for quite a while.

I'm happy to help if you need it converting my stuff to work for you.

[Simon Harbutt]

Thanks again.

I have created the profile and tasks.
To me they look ok.

Do I need to use the %track and %artist variable's for UCCW?

I just also notice if I play a PowerAmp track the Tasker does not to activate? (The profile is enabled)
Also, does your task "play" (test option) produce an error like mine does?

I added some screenshot in case I missed something or made a mistake anywhere...

[Mike Wilson]

The profile won't activate unless "%V3_DrivingMode is set somewhere.  But, that's just something I need for my project.  Delete that context from your profile and it should work.  That's also why you're getting the error; if the profile doesn't fire, the %track variable isn't getting set, and it won't be able to be split.

In this situation, the variables %V3_Artist and %V3_Track hold the final values that you want.  They are the ones that you would need t send to UCCW.

[Simon Harbutt]

Thanks again Mike,

 

I have removed the following -

State: Variable Value [ %V3_DrivingMode Set ]

 

I have also set the variables %V3_Track and %V3_Artist in UCCW.

 

I still get the same error when i press the tasker play button, also when i go into PowerAmp and play a track tasker is not activating.

"can't split unset variable %track"?

Tasker is enabled in Accessability.

[Juergen Gruen]

You cannot test this task with the "play" button. The local variable %track is only set, when the task was started by the profile (intent received)...

Juergen.

[Mike Wilson]

Juergen is right; you need to use the profile to get the data from PowerAmp.  Also be sure to exit Tasker once the profile is set up; it won't activate if yu are still the program.

[Juergen Gruen]

also when i go into PowerAmp and play a track tasker is not activating.

... and just to clarify: you actually have to change the current track in poweramp. The intent will not be send, if you only play/stop the current track.

Juergen.

[Simon Harbutt]

Thanks guys,

I still cannot get this tasker profile to activate.

I have done a test with a new profile - Application: Poweramp - linked to the task and if i quit Tasker and open PowerAmp this profile starts.

So it looks like the my intent is not being detected to activate the task?

[Mike Wilson]

The task isn't actually looking for the PowerAmp application as such (which is why your new profile doesn't work).  It's looking for a message that PowerAmp sends out whenever a new track changes.  You listen for that message with a profile like this:

Profile: V3_GetPowerAmpInfo (345)

Event: Intent Received [ Action:com.maxmpz.audioplayer.TRACK_CHANGED Cat:None Cat:None Scheme:* Mime Type:* ]

Enter: V3_PowerAmpInfo (346)

(The V3_PowerAmpInfo listed behind "Enter:", above should be replaced with your own task name if you used something different from mine.)

To test it, add a simple Flash action (from the Alert section of Tasker) as the last line of your task.  For the text to flash, use whatever variable names you have put your final data into.  (For my original task those were %V3_Track and %V3_Artist.

Back all the way out of Tasker to make sure that your changes were saved.  Now run PowerAmp and change the track a few times.  If everything is working, you'll see the track and artist info pop up at the bottom of the screen.  If you get either the variable itself (e.g. %V3_Track), or a blank pop up or "..." you'll at least know that the profile is firing and that the error is probably a simple typo in the task.  If you get no pop up at all, the problem is likely to be with the profile itself.

If you continue to have problems, export the profile as a description and post it here.  (To export a profile, you must have named it and Beginner Mode must be off.)

[Simon Harbutt]

Thanks.

I have again tested, i understand the process used but just cannot get this to see the task.

Here is my xml export :
<TaskerData sr="" dvi="1" tv="4.7u3m">
<Profile sr="prof3" ve="2">
<cdate>1440411825184</cdate>
<edate>1440513715683</edate>
<id>3</id>
<mid0>2</mid0>
<nme>V3_GetPowerAmpInfo (345)</nme>
<Event sr="con0" ve="2">
<code>599</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">com.maxmpz.audioplayer.TRACK_CHANGED</Str>
<Int sr="arg1" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
<Str sr="arg3" ve="3">*</Str>
<Str sr="arg4" ve="3">*</Str>
</Event>
</Profile>
<Task sr="task2">
<cdate>1440409787400</cdate>
<edate>1440513715683</edate>
<id>2</id>
<nme>V3_PowerAmpInfo (346)</nme>
<pri>100</pri>
<Action sr="act0" ve="7">
<code>590</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">%track</Str>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">,</Str>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act1" ve="7">
<code>547</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">%artist</Str>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">%track1</Str>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg3" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act2" ve="7">
<code>590</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">%artist</Str>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">=</Str>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act3" ve="7">
<code>547</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">%V3_Artist</Str>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">%artist2</Str>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg3" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act4" ve="7">
<code>547</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">%song</Str>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">%track14</Str>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg3" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act5" ve="7">
<code>590</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">%song</Str>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">=</Str>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act6" ve="7">
<code>547</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">%V3_Track</Str>
<Str sr="arg1" ve="3">%song2</Str>
<Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
<Int sr="arg3" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act7" ve="7">
<code>548</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">%V3_Artist</Str>
<Int sr="arg1" val="0"/>
</Action>
<Action sr="act8" ve="7">
<code>548</code>
<Str sr="arg0" ve="3">%V3_Track</Str>
<Int sr="arg1" val="0"/>
</Action>
</Task>
</TaskerData>

[Mike Wilson]

Please post as a description rather than xml.  Did you try adding the Flash action that I suggested?  If so, did you get anything?

[Simon Harbutt]

Hi Mike,

 

I did try the flash option but nothing appears. Tasker is enabled but not not activating the profile still.

 

Here is the Description -

Profile: V3_GetPowerAmpInfo (345) (3)

Event: Intent Received [ Action:com.maxmpz.audioplayer.TRACK_CHANGED Cat:None Cat:None Scheme:* Mime Type:* ]

Enter: V3_PowerAmpInfo (346) (2)
A1: Variable Split [ Name:%track Splitter:, Delete Base:Off ]
A2: Variable Set [ Name:%artist To:%track1 Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A3: Variable Split [ Name:%artist Splitter:= Delete Base:Off ]
A4: Variable Set [ Name:%V3_Artist To:%artist2 Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A5: Variable Set [ Name:%song To:%track14 Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A6: Variable Split [ Name:%song Splitter:= Delete Base:Off ]
A7: Variable Set [ Name:%V3_Track To:%song2 Do Maths:Off Append:Off ]
A8: Flash [ Text:%V3_Artist Long:Off ]
A9: Flash [ Text:%V3_Track Long:Off ]

[Mike Wilson]

Well, the profile looks right, but there's obviously something wrong.  Try deleting it and creating it from scratch.  That has been known to help.

[Mike Wilson]

Here's a project that contains the profile and task.  I know this is working (at least on mys system).

Download the file and put it in the Projects folder within your Tasker Folder. To import it, long press on the Home icon at the bottom left of your Tasker screen and choose import.

Once you have it imported, back out of Tasker and start PowerAmp.  As you change tracks, you should see the track and artist info pop up on the your screen.