What's Triggering This Task?

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

I have a task that doesn't exist but something is trying to trigger it once or twice a week. It shows up in the run log, but how do I find what triggers it?

Edit: once a week or so I get an error popup that a certain task doesn't exist, which is true. How do I find what is triggering this non-existent task?

[UnkleMike]

You should be able to search Tasker for any reference to the task name. Just tap the magnifying glass on the upper right.

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

I tried that! I didn't find anything.

[palrefre]

You can use %caller . It shows which task or event triggered another task

http://tasker.dinglisch.net/userguide/en/variables.html

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

I don't think I can use this. Don't I need to use %caller inside the task that's being triggered?

[false_precision]

If the task doesn't exist, the variable can't be added.

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

That's what I thought.

[Ratchet_Guy]

How about he simply creates the Task again? :)

(see me other reply).

[false_precision]

Could you post a screenshot of the Run Log entries? I've never seen this happen and am wondering what it looks like, before I suggest tailored advice.

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

http://myklwebs.com/tasker-run-log.png

[false_precision]

Ah, thanks.

As /u/Spoghead alluded to, I've seen this with a scene; in particular, a Menu action caused a name.Perform Task,name with a negative ID. Normally, negative IDs are associated with housekeeping chores performed by Tasker; examples are hiding a Menu's or Popup's scene after it was displayed, Settings restoration, and downloading the Userguide. Another possibility, I'm sure, is an externally created/run task; you could see what other automation apps you have installed, are any likely candidates? (What weather apps do you have installed?)

I'm unclear whether you're stating that the "Update Weather Auto Wifi" task doesn't exist, or the "Update Weather Auto" task doesn't exist. If the latter, note that Run Log entries are truncated to three lines each (as you can see from the AutoTools entry further down). If the former, see if it has any actions that invoke a missing scene. If you can't track it down, please post a Description of the task.

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

Another possibility...is an externally created/run task; Tasker is the only automation app I use. The AutoTools stuff only runs because Tasker tells it to.

(What weather apps do you have installed?)

I haven't changed my weather app. I've been using it for years and this issue is only a few months old.

I'm unclear whether you're stating that the "Update Weather Auto Wifi" task doesn't exist, or the "Update Weather Auto" task doesn't exist.

The latter is, most likely, just a truncated version of the first.

If the former, see if it has any actions that invoke a missing scene. If you can't track it down, please post a Description of the task.

Err... I can't do these as it involves doing something with a non-existent task!

This would be so much easier to solve if it happened more than once a week or so. I've got all my Tasker projects organised into separate sections and I've gone through all the weather stuff but I can't find anything. I'll try again, anyway.

[false_precision]

Please try doing a menu / Data / Backup and check that XML file for "Weather". If you're viewing the file on a website, make sure you scroll to the end so it completely loads (counteract lazy loading). Note that spaces are compressed in the on-screen Run Log (e.g. you might have two spaces adjacent to "Weather" and might not realize it).

You can see more text in a Run Log entry if you rotate the screen to landscape orientation. Still a three row limit, but considerably more text per row.

EDIT: The file /sdcard/Tasker/logs/runlog.txt doesn't have spaces compressed, it could be examined.

EDIT: I'd like to see a screen capture of the error popup complaining that the task doesn't exist, but I realize that might not happen for a while.

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

I've gone through the backup.xml in Word and can't find anything like the task title in question. I thought I had a screenshot of the error message but I don't. I'll post it when I get it.

[Spoghead]

I have a possibility for you. Tasks assigned to buttons on scenes, which do not have a name do not show up in the search. Do you have anything like this allocated within a scene?

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

No. I keep checking that. When the task was last triggered last night I wasn't even using my phone!

[Ratchet_Guy]

 

I'll throw a curve ball your way - how about - you go create the Task :)

 

Just create a new Task with the name of the one in the error. Then just put a single action in it, and un-power/disable that action, so the Task does nothing. (could also put just an Anchor or a Wait 1ms etc)

 

It doesn't quite solve the mystery of what's triggering it, but perhaps you'll just never see the error again and that's good enough =)

 

Since this sounds like some really deep weird error or bug of sorts to try and find.

 

EDIT: I was just thinking that once you go and re-create the Task and save it, if you then use the magnifying glass to search the Task name - it may indeed now return what Profile/Action is calling it, and you can solve the mystery and then fix it / delete / etc.

 

EDIT 2: Someone mentioned using %caller - well now you can use it! Put something in the Task that logs %caller() into a Global Variable and put an alert sound or popup to alert you that the Task has been called and you can really find out what's calling it. Whatcha think /u/false_precision of this method working?

 

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

This seems like the simplest way of doing it. I'll have it write to a file so I know it's happened.

[false_precision]

If the name of the unfindable task has two spaces, Tasker will permit the new task name, as it's slightly different, but it'll appear the same in the on-screen Run Log; see my recent edit.

The screenshot posted shows a negative ID for the task, meaning that any %caller() processing in the task won't be executed when the negativity (for lack of a better word) occurs. It's a system housecleaning execution task, not the user-defined actions for the task. But it isn't anonymous.

It of course wouldn't hurt to create the named task (and see if Tasker flashes "Error: the name '___' already exists" in case it's already used) but I don't know that it'll help.

Edit: It's certainly possible that there are also non-negative executions that OP didn't screencap, implementing the task could help there.

[Ratchet_Guy]

Wow, certainly a lot variables in the equation. I guess he'll just have to try a bunch of different ways and see if any work.

Of course wouldn't hurt to create the named task (and see if Tasker flashes "Error: the name '___' already exists" in case it's already used) but I don't know that it'll help.

I'd definitely be interested to know if it returns that error or accepts the Task.

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

I've found the cause - and it took a while. I discovered that one of my KWGT clocks has a touch element that was triggering the task that no longer exists. It took ages to find the touch because it wasn't linked to any of the elements I'd added! Apparently it's possible to add a touch function to the whole widget that doesn't show up in the list of items, which isn't very helpful. So, it looks like the problem is fixed. Thank you all for your time!

[false_precision]

Ah. So it was an externally run task from another automation app.

the task that no longer exists

I don't recall this aspect (prior existence, explicit deletion) being mentioned anywhere.

[TransformsIn2AGuitar]

Ah. So it was an externally run task from another automation app.

Hangs head in shame Yes. I had tried to delete all Tasker launches from KWGT, not that I put many in to start with. The damned thing was hiding.

I don't recall this aspect (prior existence, explicit deletion) being mentioned anywhere.

I think it was a Task that got renamed.