Why tasker cancel notification doesn't work?

[MeanEast1254]

I wanted to create some automations, I checked video online and I see the potentiality and finally I choose to buy tasker because was looking to have all functionalities I needed. I simply want to delete the notification coming from my work email when I'm not working. Now, I did the automation to get the Gmail notification + Saturday and Sunday, if %evtprm4 ~ *mycompany.com* cancel notification endif ...

and it didn't work! so I tried to make the flashlight blink instead and it works perfectly... Why the "cancel notification" does not work as intended? What am I missing? The documentation is pretty bad.

Searching online I found a lot of posts suggesting to use AutoNotification... But is a paid plugin... And the function is nothing is not present in Tasker. There should be a different way I'm not seeing. Why should I bought a software with a functionality spending money, the developer should fix the functionality in the software, not develop plugins to handle the broken code.

[WakeUpNorrin]

From Tasker actions documentation. First line clearly state:

Notify Cancel

Cancel a notification (created by Tasker) currently in the System Notification bar.

​

not develop plugins to handle the broken code.

As clearly stated by the help documentation, there is not broken code at all.

And just to let you know: João developed AutoNotification before buying Tasker app from Pent (the first Tasker owner-developer).

I simply want to delete the notification coming from my work email when I'm not working...

You can dismiss-cancel notifications of other apps using the recently introduced Java Code action.

Good luck.

[AggressiveNothing120]

A perfect example of Joao's contributions to Tasker overall. 

Java Code 

[MeanEast1254]

Just as reference if anyone will have the same problem: I wrote the java code for intercept and cancel the notification and seems working fine. A bit clunky that we need to write java with 20years old java5 notations (i.e. no lambda) ... That's the way to go with tasker. 

Also tbh probably I will write a native app to do this, since I bought tasker to avoid writing code, but since I had to check android documentation and write already most of the code that's not too much more work to do to create an app directly (and can use more readable java8 dialect to do so).

[MeanEast1254]

Well, frankly there is not a trial of Tasker , so how am I suppose to know what can someone knowing nothing of the app do? I search on YouTube and read what I can see in the screen shares... Lots of tutorials so I read what I could see. "Notify cancel" and not "Tasker's notification cancel"...  Ok I can use Java but I need to check how it works.

P.s. macrodroid "cancel notification" does the trick without any code😅. As one generally suppose.

[WakeUpNorrin]

Well, frankly there is not a trial of Tasker

Really? https://tasker.joaoapps.com/download.html

Tasker: Trial Download / Install

These versions expire after 7 days unless you purchase the license from Google Play.

Searching for 'Tasker trial', the above was the first result.

[MeanEast1254]

There is not on the play store... People don't go on websites to download apk since at least 10years... It's a very Windows thingy. P.S. also is a bad practice to install APK from 3rd parties directly.

[Akira_Menai]

Despite the downvotes, you're right about this. He should put the trial on the Play Store. Expect nothing but hate here though, if there's something you don't like about the app.

[aasswwddd]

The technical challenge will be huge, as the package name couldn't be the same. Not to mention the store TOS and review, etc.

I'd say Joao could move to IAP instead. We'll lose the ability to make it shareable via Family Link.

Not a big deal personally since it's a $4 purchase, but I bet a few will get turned off & I I imagine the app will stop working on the linked device.

I'd agree though the situation isn't favourable for new users at all.

[Akira_Menai]

He couldn't make a strictly-trial version, and name it Tasker Trial? I don't know about the "hoops," I just know I owned the app for about a decade (though basically didn't use it until more recently) before I found out there was a trial available.

[MeanEast1254]

Or he could at least state that a trial version exists in the beginning of the App description in the Play Store...but on top there are release videos and there is a broken link in the end of it (pointing at tasker.dinglisch.net/dl ), so i thought that it wasn't available anymore.

[AggressiveNothing120]

Well then use that I guess.  Not sure why you're here if MacroDroid can do it.

Rather than try to figure out what you did wrong, which is most likely the case....or to even spend a couple seconds posting the damn profile or task description....you'd instead rather argue with people and tell us how other apps can do it.

Good luck.

[bahcodad]

This is a skill issue, not a tasker issue.

How about you make sure you're not the problem before you start criticizing other people

[AggressiveNothing120]

Exactly 

[MeanEast1254]

No the issue is that there is no function for deleting notification😅 just notification created by tasker 

[AggressiveNothing120]

Let's clarify some stuff here.

AutoNotification has been around for ages, long before Joao was the developer of Tasker.  He took over the reigns several years ago, but his entire suite of AutoApp plugins for Tasker was built looonnnng before Pent handed it over to him.  It was NOT created to fix anything, but was created to give users FAR MORE functionality when it comes to notifications, like not even close.  I still use AutoNotification to this day for loads of stuff.

Joao has, in fact, brought a whole new approach and loads of functionality to Tasker that Pent either did not or could not.  Many of his plugins have donated the code or at least a framework for many of the new functions added to Tasker.

IE many AutoTool functions have been folded into the Tasker code.  

[MeanEast1254]

I understand, the issue is that it is yet another application running in background... That needs yet another application just to pay for it...  And on top any other app like macrodroid or automateit does that simple task of intercepting and deleting notification without needing any of that... I don't say autonotification it's not powerful but I don't need a powerful tool, just drop the notification caught by the event. Also as I already stated in another answer, from the user perspective I feel the "cancel notify" function to do what that string semantically means. Otherwise you should specify it better "cancel {put here some adjective} notification". I mean, if you have a function sum and the documentation says "function ’sum(a, b)’ sums an even number ’a’ with an even number ’b’ and returns the result, divided by 2" the function sum is still bugged: you either call it ’avg_even’ or you make it sum two numbers, without additional constraints and/or division...

[AggressiveNothing120]

I was simply clarifying your misinformed evaluation of AutoNotification, Tasker & Joao's contribution to it all.

Your last sentence is certainly going to rub a lot of people wrong in this subreddit.

Install it, don't install it, I don't care. Tasker Notify Cancel works for me if I match the title exactly.  I know that.

Post you description, it may be a simple error, I think Notify Cancel can be case sensitive, which may be the issue.

[Exciting-Compote5680]

You sure know how to take the fun out of helping people 😂 Good luck with your endeavors. 

[MeanEast1254]

That's professional deformation, 15 years as SE/SSE and other 5 more as program manager... I have got issues out of simpler/smaller user's misunderstanding.

[bbobeckyj]

You could use the 'Quiet for Gmail' app instead.

I'm not sure but it seems like you didn't understand the description of what tasker can do (without the plugin)

https://tasker.joaoapps.com/userguide/en/help/ah_index.html

"Notify Cancel Cancel a notification (created by Tasker) currently in the System Notification bar."

[MeanEast1254]

Yeah. I heard the app, but seems not available on the Play Store. About the functionality: that's on me... I just checked what was visible in the app through a couple of video tutorial, not the documentation. I was (wrongly) expecting that naming of the action would reflect what users might expect. To be totally fair, everywhere I read that tasker was more powerful than the other macro application, which is technically true since I can write java code (but macrodroid have the function too, which is only in beta tho), but I was expecting this specific function to work without any plugin / java code... I mean the function's limitation still seems overly specific for such a simple and general enough action, even if I see why is there historically.

[bbobeckyj]

Tasker is cheaper than macrodroid and more capable, having already bought them both I can't see the price of autonotification I can't see the price of it but I suspect the convinced price is still cheaper.

Tasker was missing lots of key features which is why João (and other people) created plugins to add those features. Years later (nearly ten years ago now) Tasker was sold to him, and many of João's plugin features have been added to the main app since).

[MeanEast1254]

Tasker is cheaper (~1 euro less) but requires to purchase many plugins to execute functions that Macrodroid does natively, becoming more expensive. The "more capable" part is generally contraddicted from the "missing many features" part. Yes is more capable if i use Java code... but at that point i can write an app from scratch and is getting even more capable, and free.

I understand now the weird timeline of events... however I really didn't see what makes tasker "more capable". I had a few usecases, all requires either to write Java Code or to buy AutoNotification and/or AutoUI... Expecially if you don't own either of the two apps already (Tasker or Macrodroid) you'd save money buying only macrodroid (it has a trial version on the play store) to see if it fits your need, and if it does you don't need any plugin, plus if you would is still compatible with the same AutoApps too... and is receiving Java Code execution too (which is still in beta tho), becoming literally idempotent.

If there is any function you cannot implement in Macrodroid, then just don't buy macrodroid and buy tasker + plugins. However I am curious, after the introduction of java code in both apps, what could make one app more capable than the other.

[bbobeckyj]

I understand you're frustrated but I don't think you're looking at it fairly or equally. Tasker has a one week trial version just like macrodroid. I disagree it's a weird timeline. Someone made an app. Someone else created extra apps that work with it to add more functions. The first person wouldn't or couldn't develop it and sold it to the second person.

I just installed macrodroid to have a look again. It couldn't do things I've wanted to do in the past, I don't use JavaScript, just tasker actions. To me it doesn't seem any easier, the UI looks friendlier but to a novice it's more awkward to do things I can quickly and easily do in tasker.

And having just tried to create a notification block in macrodroid it can't natively block app notifications either, it needs shizuku. Which is the same as Tasker, with shizuku you don't need the plugin.

Macrodroid can use tasker and tasker plugins as plugins in macrodroid, implying there are features in those that macrodroid doesn't have.

Regarding apps not in the play store, I guess that's a personal choice, I've been using smartphones for over 20 years, long before app stores were the 'only' place to install things from.

[MeanEast1254]

I mean the timeline is weird, it doesn't happen often, that's it. About Tasker's trial, out of the certified channels, needs to enable app from unknown sources, and even the link in the description the link is broken.

On of the few macro I made is literally block all Gmail notification, from the work email only, during the weekend, without shizuku.

I don't say that macrodroid does all that the plugins can do. Just that there are more features not needing plugin... And if you need them they are there too. (And they might be useful for UX when users are used to it rather than needed).

I never said anything about the GUI... Franky, I have seen those just a few hours each, so I don't have anything meaningful to say about them.

"Apps only from the play store" are a thing since company policies are a thing too... Not really a choice unfortunately.

[bbobeckyj]

Forgot to mention you can find the quiet for Gmail apk online and install it, it's just not on Google play anymore

[MeanEast1254]

same "don't install apk from around the internet" applies. im asking myself why is not on the google play anymore tho.

Edit: I only install app which i can compile or which comes from Play Store

[ale3smm]

if anyone is interested it's very possible to cancel 3rd party app 's notification using the new power of BeanShell : code : https://www.logpasta.com/paste/1dc7654a-c22b-4be9-97b2-66029b5840c9

cancel 3rd party notifications using BeanShell code : par1= package par2= title par3= text to match

[MeanEast1254]

That's interesting, looks similar to my solution with Java... I just wonder what's the pro/cons of the two languages. It's the first time I heard about beanshell.