I seem to be only able to have 1 app open at a time?
I have to backbutton the app, then go to main screen to start another app..
How do i have 3-4 apps running, with the minimized apps that i can grab up top like my phone...
thanks
I'm not exactly sure what you are requesting here, but applications can run in the background. While you may need to go the Home screen to get back into an application you were previously in, it can still be running from before.
You mention of minimizing applications, which doesn't happen with the android system in terms of windows (min/max), but some applications open can be accessed throught he notification bar, if they have a ongoing notification.
Maybe you're talking of pressing and holding the N button to bring up the 8 most recent applications to easily switch between them?
If that is the case, there is also a nice application called Swipepad that may help you as well.
My android phone, with the slide down window at top is what i was referring to, where you can "pull" down the top of window,, and see your running apps...
thanks
jlm86 said:
My android phone, with the slide down window at top is what i was referring to, where you can "pull" down the top of window,, and see your running apps...
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What phone is that? It must be a customization of some sort since Android doesn't normally work that way. Like biohazrd51 said, just hold down the physical "n" button for short second and a "running" app list will pop up no matter what program you're in and even if the status bar you're talking about is hidden
jlm86 said:
I seem to be only able to have 1 app open at a time?
I have to backbutton the app, then go to main screen to start another app..
How do i have 3-4 apps running, with the minimized apps that i can grab up top like my phone...
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Back button = Exit. Just push the N button to go Home.. And as said, sounds like your phone is some tweak to Android, until Honeycomb there was no method provided by the OS itself to show "running apps" besides in the Settings->Applications view.
Sounds like something from HTC Sense. What phone/ROM you have?
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Just long press the N button you should get recent apps
Sent from my NookColor using Tapatalk
How can i make a shortcut for an app to open in pop up window?
There used to be an app called pen window launcher that had this capability.
Anyone?
Thanks
Just enable swipe from top diagonal to enter pop out view. Takes like 0.003s longer than having a shortcut.
Right. Shortcuts are for pansies.
Anyone builds it I'll buy it though.
Time is money (and finger strain is best avoided).
imatts said:
Just enable swipe from top diagonal to enter pop out view. Takes like 0.003s longer than having a shortcut.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any solution ever found? I'd really like this.
Whenever I try to swipe, I just keep opening the notification panel over & over.
Edge screen panel
joseonthebay said:
How can i make a shortcut for an app to open in pop up window?
There used to be an app called pen window launcher that had this capability.
Anyone?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Multi window edge screen panel lets you open apps in pop up view as well as two side by side apps.
petethepete2000 said:
Multi window edge screen panel lets you open apps in pop up view as well as two side by side apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you explain further? I can only seem to set app pairs and app shortcuts, would be great to have shortcuts that open in pop up mode.
Thanks
How would a shortcut be any faster than the 2 step process of opening an app and swiping down from the corner? I used to use the old method (pop-up window) which I believe was introduced on the Note 3. Anyway, when I updated my Note 3 to either the Note 4 or Note 5 rom (can't remember which), I had to learn the swipe method. Now, I couldn't imagine going back to the antiquated pen window. I will say that it's not as smooth swiping from the corner of a curved screen like the Note 7 & 8, but I usually have my s-pen out for more precise touch when I'm working off a smaller section of the screen. Honestly, I just use Edge for App Pair since the day I got the Note 8. But, swipe is still the quickest way to open pop-up or floating window.
Steigerelli said:
How would a shortcut be any faster than the 2 step process of opening an app and swiping down from the corner? I used to use the old method (pop-up window) which I believe was introduced on the Note 3. Anyway, when I updated my Note 3 to either the Note 4 or Note 5 rom (can't remember which), I had to learn the swipe method. Now, I couldn't imagine going back to the antiquated pen window. I will say that it's not as smooth swiping from the corner of a curved screen like the Note 7 & 8, but I usually have my s-pen out for more precise touch when I'm working off a smaller section of the screen. Honestly, I just use Edge for App Pair since the day I got the Note 8. But, swipe is still the quickest way to open pop-up or floating window.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would it be faster? You answered your own question by your described method, open an app, swipe down from corner...I'd like to open the app (in pop up window).
There used to be apps in the play store that would created a shortcut for any app, that you can put on your home screen, that would just launch into a pop up window (1 step).
I was able to create a bixby shortcut for a 3rd party calculator to open in pop up window...I hold bixby and say calculate and it opens in a pop up window...it works but a shortcut would make life easier.
qualifyordie said:
Can you explain further? I can only seem to set app pairs and app shortcuts, would be great to have shortcuts that open in pop up mode.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps i said the wrong edge app.. look in the edge app store for multi window launcher app. If you have that then change the setting to popup window.
petethepete2000 said:
Perhaps i said the wrong edge app.. look in the edge app store for multi window launcher app. If you have that then change the setting to popup window.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couldn't find any app called multi window launcher in the store, I purchased multi-window because it claimed it could do this (it couldn't)
Have you tried pressing bottom most button
qualifyordie said:
Couldn't find any app called multi window launcher in the store, I purchased multi-window because it claimed it could do this (it couldn't)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that's the one, works for me...
Bottom most button on the edge should change it to popup
petethepete2000 said:
Yes that's the one, works for me...
Bottom most button on the edge should change it to popup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't realize u gotta hit the icon with 2 windows! Thanks alot!
On PlayStore, "Floating Apps (multitasking)" by LWi s.r.o., is exactly what you're looking for. It provides real shortcuts for the ability to instantly launch any app in variable sizes of real Galaxy Pop-up mode floating multi windows, in addition to providing dozens of their own original low kB mini-apps. Works great, saves time and effort, perfect size in an instant!
Any one else having this issue please report or am i missing something
farhanzs said:
Any one else having this issue please report or am i missing something
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no you not losing it..... after all the build up to pie.... it seems its come more dysfunctional.!
remember they removed action memo.... by the time we get to android X the s pen will become just ahead scratcher!
farhanzs said:
Any one else having this issue please report or am i missing something
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not missed but working differently.
You need to long press the open program button at the bottom of the screen and then choose the second window program you want.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
grtmoby said:
It is not missed but working differently.
You need to long press the open program button at the bottom of the screen and then choose the second window program you want.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bro....but what about the feature where we can resize the window by swiping from top right or left
It is now only available as up and down, no right or left (at least I couldn't find it)
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
When in recent menu, just click the app icon. You will see the multi-window floating app option
It is soooooo annoying that you cannot swipe down and left/right from a corner to resize it to window view. Same thing with not being able to change recent apps view for a list.
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
Yeah this is totally a feature I used often. Especially when playing YouTube video and don't want to interrupt the playback I could swipe from either top corner and start using another application without interrupting the video or sound.
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
edwardob said:
no you not losing it..... after all the build up to pie.... it seems its come more dysfunctional.!
remember they removed action memo.... by the time we get to android X the s pen will become just ahead scratcher!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
was having a bad day until I read this! [email protected] head scrather :laugh::laugh::laugh:
and can anyone Confirm I will suffer no " Sudden device death syndrome" if i Chose not to update until i Change this device?
really don't Understand how removing useful functions count as upgrades or Improvement. i still havent forgiven samsung for removing action Memo and easy chart. Why take away a useful function???
Glad I found this. I thought I was going mad.
Largely on the same subject, so rather than start a new thread...
Where has the button gone that swaps the top and bottom apps around when running two apps in splitscreen mode?
There used to be a few handy buttons between the two running apps, have they been ditched?
Multi window gone
My phone just updated and now my multi window feature is gone, I've gone thru every setting to find it
When viewing you're recent opened apps, each app has their icon at the top centre of it. Click on the icon. You'll get a small pop-up menu with options. You can choose: App info, open in split screen, pop up mode (where you can resize the app) and lock it.
I don't know yet what the lock functions does.
EDIT:
As mine is in Dutch, could be that the lock function has a different name in English.
The lock function: If you lock an app, and then close all recent apps, the locked app wil stay open. So if you're playing a game, you can lock it, close all recent apps and the game will stay open and running.
MSRemmert said:
Glad I found this. I thought I was going mad.
Largely on the same subject, so rather than start a new thread...
Where has the button gone that swaps the top and bottom apps around when running two apps in splitscreen mode?
There used to be a few handy buttons between the two running apps, have they been ditched?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, that was also removed. You can't popout the selected app, you can't switch app places. So, if you opened firstly viber (for example) and then youtube at the bottom and then decide to switch the apps place so you can type on viber without covering the youtube video - tough luck, now you have to close both app and open them again vs 2 taps in 1-2 seconds that will not interrupt anything. Also you miss the popout swipe from corner as said from others. You also miss the swipe up + hold for instant split screen (really useful when you play a video @ youtube, will not interrupt the video). You have the swipe up + hold for google assistant... but you don't have the same for the recents - go figure why (never mis-triggered the assistant, so it's not that). So many things are missing, half baked or straight forward broken - really disappointed. I like some aspects of the android 9 one UI, but others are just mind blow not polished at all or missing. I guess to have a "new" things for one UI 2.0 or note 10. After all, why you need a good multiwindow functionality on a phone marketed for multitasking and multiwindow? The note 9 really is more than ever an s9+ with a head scratcher.
grtmoby said:
It is not missed but working differently.
You need to long press the open program button at the bottom of the screen and then choose the second window program you want.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to add to this, you can switch between multi view and currently open apps by holding down on the previous apps button for 2 secs then you can choose by 2 second press if you want multi window or just currently open apps.
I don't like that if you want to choose an app not in the recent window, you have to close all to be able to choose an app. Their multi-window has taken huge steps backwards. Kinda disappointing since that has always been a defining feature.
---------- Post added at 02:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:57 AM ----------
Well, I will correct myself, you can swipe to the home screen while choosing and select a different app that is not already in the recent window.
When you open Samsung members app the first thing that appears is something called advices... if you tap you will see some changes on the pie update ...
Other pie screwups
That's not all you've lost, my friend. The multi window setting is gone, as you know. The ability to swipe from the corner to resize and go multi window is gone, as you know. However, additionally, i noticed the following:
- The ability to enter your fingerprints to access Samsung browser secrecy mode is gone/disabled. You can only enter using iris scan or password.
- The phone optimisation edge panel is gone and nowhere to be seen.
- when you deactivate the nav bar in favour of swipe gestures, you cannot long press on the recent apps swipe area to enable split screen multitasking, as you would have with the recent apps button on the nav bar.
I hope there's a bug fix coming and soon
Try multi window app
farhanzs said:
Thanks bro....but what about the feature where we can resize the window by swiping from top right or left
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the edge screen app Multi Window for quick popup windows..
---------- Post added at 08:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:46 PM ----------
farhanzs said:
Thanks bro....but what about the feature where we can resize the window by swiping from top right or left
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bo21 said:
I don't like that if you want to choose an app not in the recent window, you have to close all to be able to choose an app. Their multi-window has taken huge steps backwards. Kinda disappointing since that has always been a defining feature.
---------- Post added at 02:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:57 AM ----------
Well, I will correct myself, you can swipe to the home screen while choosing and select a different app that is not already in the recent window.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also use the search bar for the app you want when in the app switcher multi window selecter.
---------- Post added at 08:54 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:49 PM ----------
high_voltage said:
Yep, that was also removed. You can't popout the selected app, you can't switch app places. So, if you opened firstly viber (for example) and then youtube at the bottom and then decide to switch the apps place so you can type on viber without covering the youtube video - tough luck, now you have to close both app and open them again vs 2 taps in 1-2 seconds that will not interrupt anything. Also you miss the popout swipe from corner as said from others. You also miss the swipe up + hold for instant split screen (really useful when you play a video @ youtube, will not interrupt the video). You have the swipe up + hold for google assistant... but you don't have the same for the recents - go figure why (never mis-triggered the assistant, so it's not that). So many things are missing, half baked or straight forward broken - really disappointed. I like some aspects of the android 9 one UI, but others are just mind blow not polished at all or missing. I guess to have a "new" things for one UI 2.0 or note 10. After all, why you need a good multiwindow functionality on a phone marketed for multitasking and multiwindow? The note 9 really is more than ever an s9+ with a head scratcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also swipe the multi screen spliter inbetween each app to fully open the bottom app and then select a different app for the bottom... it's still hokey but quicker than exiting out of both apps
Instructions...
https://www.sammobile.com/2019/01/04/how-to-open-apps-in-multi-window-one-ui-android-pie/amp/
grtmoby said:
It is not missed but working differently.
You need to long press the open program button at the bottom of the screen and then choose the second window program you want.
Hope this helps
Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not working for me. I'm holding the 3 line open app navigation bar button....nothing.
Table of Contents
Preface
Requirements
Difficulty
How it works!
Uses
Autorun
Demo, screenshots, TaskerNet & project backup
Tips
Why not those easy to use apps from PlayStore?
End note.
1. PrefaceBefore getting my hands on Pixel 6, I was using a Samsung Galaxy S8 running on an Android 10 custom ROM. Samsung provides an advanced, and very useful app called Good Lock, in which the "One Hand Operation +" feature helps us to set up upto freaking 36 number of swipe gesture shortcuts, from the left and right (top, center and bottom) sides of the screen, irrespective of which screen or app is currently active on the screen.
The only thing that I was sure about missing in Pixel 6 was this swipe gestures. That's why I did my research even before receiving my Pixel. Now I've successfully implemented a replica of the Samsung's swipe gesture into my Google Pixel.
These gestures makes it very easy to use this big and heavy smartphone.
This gesture setup made it easy for me to pull up my Control Panel created in Tasker, whenever I need, irrespective of which app or screen I'm in.
2. Requirements
Tasker
Tasker terms to understand (Only for those who are new to Tasker)
TASK : An action or set of actions which will be later run by Tasker by itself, when defined conditions are met. Can also be run manually via the Tasker app.
Examples: Launch an app, change ringer volume, toggle WiFI, disable auto rotation etc.
PROJECT : An individual Tasker set up, where we define the conditions to meet, and the tasks to be performed when the defined conditions are met.
Example 1: A profile which automatically enables the auto-rotation (task), when YouTube is opened (condition), and disables auto-rotation when you leave YouTube.
Example 2: A profile which automatically enables mobile data (task), when your device is connected to your car WiFi (condition) or Android Auto.
SCENE : A visible, or invisible shape which will be displayed on the screen, and can be configured to respond to a swipe, tap or long tap on it, and then accordingly perform a pre-defined task. A scene can only be enabled (show) and disabled (destroy) through a task or a project.
Example 1: A visible button that can be displayed on the screen, or an invisible location on the screen, which disables WiFi when we long tap on it.
Example 2: A visible button that can be displayed on the screen, or an invisible location on the screen, which opens recent apps list when we swipe on it.
"If" variables to be used in scenes for assigning shortcuts, to each combination of a swipe length and a swipe direction:
%stroke_len : Defines the length of the swipe in pixels.
%stroke_dir : Defines the direction of the swipe. (Read How It Works! section)
Actions that can be performed on a scene:
Tap: A single touch ON the scene.
Long tap: Single touch & holding, ON the scene.
Stroke: A regular swipe started FROM the scene, and ended anywhere on the screen.
Don't get confused, there are NO different swipe types like long swipe, or short swipe in Tasker by default. For this project, we can mention a swipe with %stroke_len more than a user specified number as a long swipe, and a swipe shorter than that as a short swipe.
3. DifficultyYou only need to know the basics of Tasker app and scenes. If you are okay with creating, editing, showing and destroying scenes, then it's just a cakewalk.
You just need to create scenes wherever you want, then inside the tap, or long tap, or stroke tabs of your scene, add the if statements with any one of %stroke_len > or %stroke_len <, AND, %stroke_dir ~ as two conditions, and then your desired set of actions inside each if statement, between If and EndIf. (Refer Demo, Screenshots & Project Backup section)
If you are not comfortable with creating, editing, showing and destroying scenes, it will take maximum 1-2 hours to understand the same.
It is time consuming, only during the initial setup from the scratch.
After that, it is editing or adding conditions and shortcuts, again, it's just a cakewalk.
4. How it works!Using the scenes inside Tasker, we are setting up three different areas on the screen, which are, top (horizontal), left and right (vertical). Inside each scene, we can make small multiple shapes, where we can add different tasks to each portion, when we do a swipe, tap or long tap on it.
When it comes to swipe, we can define the swipe length (using %stroke_len) and the swipe direction (using %stroke_dir), where we can assign different tasks to each conditions, which are made with a pair of a swipe length and a swipe direction.
What is more interesting is that the swipe directions can be any of vertical or horizontal directions like Up, Down, Left, or Right, and also diagonal directions like UpLeft, UpRight, DownLeft and DownRight. (But try not to use vertical and diagonal directions together at a single location, as it might bring conflicts and may end up giving you wrong response because of failing to read your swipe correctly).
These gestures are NOT restricted to homescreen, but works irrespective of which screen or app is currently active on the screen (Exception: To make scenes work in Settings app, you need to Allow Screen Overlays in Settings through developer options).
5. UsesFor instance, a task (set of actions) can be assigned into a swipe gesture like short swipe to UpLeft direction, and another task to another swipe long swipe to UpRight direction, etc.
Examples:
Short swipe from left center edge in UpRight direction, opens YouTube.
Short swipe from right center edge in DownLeft direction, jump to last app.
Long tap on the top middle (1st scene) of the screen, toggles WiFi.
Long tap on the top middle (2nd scene) of the screen, toggles mobile data.
Long swipe from right top edge in Up direction, takes a screenshot.
Long swipe from right bottom edge in Down direction, kill foreground app.
6. AutorunYou can assign the same task (which is set up to show the scene), to a new profile which gets triggered on the device boot. This will make these swipe gestures enable automatically few seconds (or so) after booting your smartphone.
However, you can always open the task inside Tasker app, and click on the play button (⏵) to run the task manually, which will show the scene (or enable the swipe gestures).
Since I'm using Nova Launcher, I also added the same task to a Nova's homescreen gesture, so that I can easily restart this swipe gesture from homescreen itself, whenever required, or just after editing the scene via Tasker. This is very helpful because whenever we edit a scene via Tasker, the scene will get automatically destroyed. So every time you modify a scene, we have to manually re-enable it.
7. Demo, screenshots, TaskerNet & project backup
Demo:
Google Pixel: In this screenshot, I have mentioned all of the possibilities we have for the Pixel 6, which doesn't get into conflict with the existing system gestures provided by Google.
Others: I suggest using these kind of directions in other android devices which doesn't have native gestures like left swipe from the right edge, and right swipe from the left side edge.
Screenshots: This is the screen where we edit or add set of tasks to be performed, using if statements with conditions %stroke_len > (or %stroke_len <), AND %stroke_dir ~.
TaskerNet: Projects for Pixel 6 and Galaxy S8.
Project Backup: To start with setting up this project, if you want, you can also refer to these regularly updated backup of my setup where I included all the scenes, required task to activate the scene, and the project to autorun this setup on device boot. The folder includes files for both Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel 6. (You can refer here for assistance on how to import task and scene into your Tasker)
8. Tips
If your device (like Google Pixel) already got a native swipe gesture like left swipe from the right screen edge, and right swipe from the left screen side edge, you should not create a similar gesture via Tasker, which will conflict with your existing system gestures.
Swipe direction Down from a top horizontal scene might also end up in issues since most of the Android devices natively use the same gesture to pull down notification panel.
Try not to use vertical directions and diagonal directions together. For example, in right side, don't use Up or Down series AND UpLeft, DownLeft series together. Both these series at a single location might bring conflicts and it may end up giving you wrong response because of failing to read your swipe correctly.
Try not to avoid using tap. Instead, use long tap, to avoid accidental touches.
Always keep the size of the scenes thin, because these scene are blocking scenes which makes area behind it untouchable. So anything below the scene is, impossible to touch. (Refer tip number 8 along with this)
Always re-activate (show) the scene after making any changes, because making changes disables (destroy) the scene.
Assign the (scene enabling) task to any swipe gestures of your launcher (if any) to make restarting the gesture easy. However, you can always open the task inside Tasker app, and click on the play button (⏵) to run the task manually.
This is a workaround to make these blocking scenes hide temporarily so that we can touch whatever was behind the scene. (Thanks to user ActivateGuacamole for this idea)
Few other valuable tips for choosing the right swipe length for tasks considering their frequency of usage. (Thanks to user ActivateGuacamole for this idea)
9. Why not those easy to use apps from PlayStore?
Because Tasker is powerful. Period.
I have tried few popular gesture setting apps but I always came back to Tasker itself because of the level of control, and customization we have here. Tasker can do impressive automations, which can also be implemented into this swipe gestures, something that can't be achieved with other easy to use and ready-made gesture apps.
With this method, I can add a set of actions (not just one single action), one by one, to be performed, into one single gesture. So if I wanted to do a swipe on the screen, and then another direction swipe, and then a click on a specific area, all these automatically, I can easily do with Tasker.
Examples:
Kill and remove foreground app from recent: You can watch this screen record video which shows my simple swipe gesture running the task where Tasker automates actions (a) open recent apps list, (b) a swipe action to swipe away the app, and (c) another swipe action to go to home screen. All this within a fraction of second. Impressive. isn't it?
Clear all recent apps: In Pixel 6, clear all button is placed at the end of the list. But watch this one, a simple gesture is enough. Tasker will take care of the rest. Again, Impressive. Isn't it?
For implementing such complicated automations, advanced settings and toggling, into a swipe gesture, Tasker is the best solution.
10. End note.It took days of questions, answers, trail and errors to first understand, and then to make this thing work flawless. Me and my couple of friends really find this useful in our smartphones, so I decided to share it with you also. If you find this useful for you, go ahead. And if you think this is not worth the time and effort required, you can kindly ignore.
I, a noob, wouldn't have made this possible without receiving a help from another person. So, a big thanks to u/adbenj for the initial guide and idea.
Always remember that there is nothing in the world like suitable for everyone, so stick to whatever is suitable for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.
UPDATE 1: Added TaskerNet in section "7. Demo, screenshots, TaskerNet & project backup".
Awesome information and Guide!
Thank you for taking the time to put all of this together from the Taker files themselves and then a complete and detailed write up!
.
coffee-turtle said:
Awesome information and Guide!
Thank you for taking the time to put all of this together from the Taker files themselves and then a complete and detailed write up!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this is not something that everyone considers worthy, because of the time and effort required for the initial setup. Most of the people might go with those free ready to use applications from Play Store. But I thought at least Tasker uses might consider this useful because they are already using the Tasker and automating lot of things like a power user, or a techie (like I pretend )
I did enjoy the whole process from research, trial & error, finishing and finally this write up.
Anyway, thanks for the nice words. It took half a day to finish this write up, after numerous editing formatting and reformatting.
Happy to know that the time that I spent for this write up didn't get wasted by mere replies like "not worthy".
Thanks
Actually, now I am replacing some apps! Tasker is great and nice to have everything under one roof with greater customizing! You should also post this on Joas main Tasker Reddit forum and consider adding the demos to TaskerNet. Not only will this get greater visibility, but a lot of action happens there especially when Joas comes up with new updates. One of his last videos really highlighted scenes because he made them even able to appear on the lock screen, navigation bar, and status bar. This will even add more power to what you present here.
Not everyone explains in such detail as you did here and you've inspired some ideas to make using my phone even easier.
Keep up your good work!
coffee-turtle said:
Not everyone explains in such detail as you did here and you've inspired some ideas to make using my phone even easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the past 3 moths, I explained this briefly to many people in Reddit via comments. So I already know what all questions may pop up when explaining this, which helped me to make this final post very detailed.
consider adding the demos to TaskerNet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing is, I don't think there is a way to share the scenes via TaskerNet URLs. Only project and task can be shared via that. That's why I exported the project, required tasks and scenes, and uploaded to a shared Google Drive folder.
Will do post in Tasker subreddit also.
Anyway, thank you for your kind words
coffee-turtle said:
...and consider adding the demos to TaskerNet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi.
To be honest, today only I learned how to move (rather than exporting, deleting & importing) a profile, task and relevant scenes into a new project.
So finally I updated the post with TaskerNet links in section "7. Demo, screenshots, TaskerNet & project backup"
Great work Thanks!
ShebeerPrince said:
Table of Contents
Preface
Requirements
Difficulty
How it works!
Uses
Autorun
Demo, screenshots, TaskerNet & project backup
Tips
Why not those easy to use apps from PlayStore?
End note.
1. PrefaceBefore getting my hands on Pixel 6, I was using a Samsung Galaxy S8 running on an Android 10 custom ROM. Samsung provides an advanced, and very useful app called Good Lock, in which the "One Hand Operation +" feature helps us to set up upto freaking 36 number of swipe gesture shortcuts, from the left and right (top, center and bottom) sides of the screen, irrespective of which screen or app is currently active on the screen.
The only thing that I was sure about missing in Pixel 6 was this swipe gestures. That's why I did my research even before receiving my Pixel. Now I've successfully implemented a replica of the Samsung's swipe gesture into my Google Pixel.
These gestures makes it very easy to use this big and heavy smartphone.
This gesture setup made it easy for me to pull up my Control Panel created in Tasker, whenever I need, irrespective of which app or screen I'm in.
2. Requirements
Tasker
Tasker terms to understand (Only for those who are new to Tasker)
TASK : An action or set of actions which will be later run by Tasker by itself, when defined conditions are met. Can also be run manually via the Tasker app.
Examples: Launch an app, change ringer volume, toggle WiFI, disable auto rotation etc.
PROJECT : An individual Tasker set up, where we define the conditions to meet, and the tasks to be performed when the defined conditions are met.
Example 1: A profile which automatically enables the auto-rotation (task), when YouTube is opened (condition), and disables auto-rotation when you leave YouTube.
Example 2: A profile which automatically enables mobile data (task), when your device is connected to your car WiFi (condition) or Android Auto.
SCENE : A visible, or invisible shape which will be displayed on the screen, and can be configured to respond to a swipe, tap or long tap on it, and then accordingly perform a pre-defined task. A scene can only be enabled (show) and disabled (destroy) through a task or a project.
Example 1: A visible button that can be displayed on the screen, or an invisible location on the screen, which disables WiFi when we long tap on it.
Example 2: A visible button that can be displayed on the screen, or an invisible location on the screen, which opens recent apps list when we swipe on it.
"If" variables to be used in scenes for assigning shortcuts, to each combination of a swipe length and a swipe direction:
%stroke_len : Defines the length of the swipe in pixels.
%stroke_dir : Defines the direction of the swipe. (Read How It Works! section)
Actions that can be performed on a scene:
Tap: A single touch ON the scene.
Long tap: Single touch & holding, ON the scene.
Stroke: A regular swipe started FROM the scene, and ended anywhere on the screen.
Don't get confused, there are NO different swipe types like long swipe, or short swipe in Tasker by default. For this project, we can mention a swipe with %stroke_len more than a user specified number as a long swipe, and a swipe shorter than that as a short swipe.
3. DifficultyYou only need to know the basics of Tasker app and scenes. If you are okay with creating, editing, showing and destroying scenes, then it's just a cakewalk.
You just need to create scenes wherever you want, then inside the tap, or long tap, or stroke tabs of your scene, add the if statements with any one of %stroke_len > or %stroke_len <, AND, %stroke_dir ~ as two conditions, and then your desired set of actions inside each if statement, between If and EndIf. (Refer Demo, Screenshots & Project Backup section)
If you are not comfortable with creating, editing, showing and destroying scenes, it will take maximum 1-2 hours to understand the same.
It is time consuming, only during the initial setup from the scratch.
After that, it is editing or adding conditions and shortcuts, again, it's just a cakewalk.
4. How it works!Using the scenes inside Tasker, we are setting up three different areas on the screen, which are, top (horizontal), left and right (vertical). Inside each scene, we can make small multiple shapes, where we can add different tasks to each portion, when we do a swipe, tap or long tap on it.
When it comes to swipe, we can define the swipe length (using %stroke_len) and the swipe direction (using %stroke_dir), where we can assign different tasks to each conditions, which are made with a pair of a swipe length and a swipe direction.
What is more interesting is that the swipe directions can be any of vertical or horizontal directions like Up, Down, Left, or Right, and also diagonal directions like UpLeft, UpRight, DownLeft and DownRight. (But try not to use vertical and diagonal directions together at a single location, as it might bring conflicts and may end up giving you wrong response because of failing to read your swipe correctly).
These gestures are NOT restricted to homescreen, but works irrespective of which screen or app is currently active on the screen (Exception: To make scenes work in Settings app, you need to Allow Screen Overlays in Settings through developer options).
5. UsesFor instance, a task (set of actions) can be assigned into a swipe gesture like short swipe to UpLeft direction, and another task to another swipe long swipe to UpRight direction, etc.
Examples:
Short swipe from left center edge in UpRight direction, opens YouTube.
Short swipe from right center edge in DownLeft direction, jump to last app.
Long tap on the top middle (1st scene) of the screen, toggles WiFi.
Long tap on the top middle (2nd scene) of the screen, toggles mobile data.
Long swipe from right top edge in Up direction, takes a screenshot.
Long swipe from right bottom edge in Down direction, kill foreground app.
6. AutorunYou can assign the same task (which is set up to show the scene), to a new profile which gets triggered on the device boot. This will make these swipe gestures enable automatically few seconds (or so) after booting your smartphone.
However, you can always open the task inside Tasker app, and click on the play button (⏵) to run the task manually, which will show the scene (or enable the swipe gestures).
Since I'm using Nova Launcher, I also added the same task to a Nova's homescreen gesture, so that I can easily restart this swipe gesture from homescreen itself, whenever required, or just after editing the scene via Tasker. This is very helpful because whenever we edit a scene via Tasker, the scene will get automatically destroyed. So every time you modify a scene, we have to manually re-enable it.
7. Demo, screenshots, TaskerNet & project backup
Demo:
Google Pixel: In this screenshot, I have mentioned all of the possibilities we have for the Pixel 6, which doesn't get into conflict with the existing system gestures provided by Google.
Others: I suggest using these kind of directions in other android devices which doesn't have native gestures like left swipe from the right edge, and right swipe from the left side edge.
Screenshots: This is the screen where we edit or add set of tasks to be performed, using if statements with conditions %stroke_len > (or %stroke_len <), AND %stroke_dir ~.
TaskerNet: Projects for Pixel 6 and Galaxy S8.
Project Backup: To start with setting up this project, if you want, you can also refer to these regularly updated backup of my setup where I included all the scenes, required task to activate the scene, and the project to autorun this setup on device boot. The folder includes files for both Galaxy S8 and Google Pixel 6. (You can refer here for assistance on how to import task and scene into your Tasker)
8. Tips
If your device (like Google Pixel) already got a native swipe gesture like left swipe from the right screen edge, and right swipe from the left screen side edge, you should not create a similar gesture via Tasker, which will conflict with your existing system gestures.
Swipe direction Down from a top horizontal scene might also end up in issues since most of the Android devices natively use the same gesture to pull down notification panel.
Try not to use vertical directions and diagonal directions together. For example, in right side, don't use Up or Down series AND UpLeft, DownLeft series together. Both these series at a single location might bring conflicts and it may end up giving you wrong response because of failing to read your swipe correctly.
Try not to avoid using tap. Instead, use long tap, to avoid accidental touches.
Always keep the size of the scenes thin, because these scene are blocking scenes which makes area behind it untouchable. So anything below the scene is, impossible to touch. (Refer tip number 8 along with this)
Always re-activate (show) the scene after making any changes, because making changes disables (destroy) the scene.
Assign the (scene enabling) task to any swipe gestures of your launcher (if any) to make restarting the gesture easy. However, you can always open the task inside Tasker app, and click on the play button (⏵) to run the task manually.
This is a workaround to make these blocking scenes hide temporarily so that we can touch whatever was behind the scene. (Thanks to user ActivateGuacamole for this idea)
Few other valuable tips for choosing the right swipe length for tasks considering their frequency of usage. (Thanks to user ActivateGuacamole for this idea)
9. Why not those easy to use apps from PlayStore?
Because Tasker is powerful. Period.
I have tried few popular gesture setting apps but I always came back to Tasker itself because of the level of control, and customization we have here. Tasker can do impressive automations, which can also be implemented into this swipe gestures, something that can't be achieved with other easy to use and ready-made gesture apps.
With this method, I can add a set of actions (not just one single action), one by one, to be performed, into one single gesture. So if I wanted to do a swipe on the screen, and then another direction swipe, and then a click on a specific area, all these automatically, I can easily do with Tasker.
Examples:
Kill and remove foreground app from recent: You can watch this screen record video which shows my simple swipe gesture running the task where Tasker automates actions (a) open recent apps list, (b) a swipe action to swipe away the app, and (c) another swipe action to go to home screen. All this within a fraction of second. Impressive. isn't it?
Clear all recent apps: In Pixel 6, clear all button is placed at the end of the list. But watch this one, a simple gesture is enough. Tasker will take care of the rest. Again, Impressive. Isn't it?
For implementing such complicated automations, advanced settings and toggling, into a swipe gesture, Tasker is the best solution.
10. End note.It took days of questions, answers, trail and errors to first understand, and then to make this thing work flawless. Me and my couple of friends really find this useful in our smartphones, so I decided to share it with you also. If you find this useful for you, go ahead. And if you think this is not worth the time and effort required, you can kindly ignore.
I, a noob, wouldn't have made this possible without receiving a help from another person. So, a big thanks to u/adbenj for the initial guide and idea.
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UPDATE 1: Added TaskerNet in section "7. Demo, screenshots, TaskerNet & project backup".
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hey so i want to know how much extra battery this costs running.
And also i want to make some sort of simillar gesture swipe thing. i am wondering if via tasker i could do the following: keeping the regular side swipe horizontal to be back, and long swipe for previous app. but then also having the side gest. to be an app shortcut based on the current app running. so maybe like when youtube is running i can swipe up to open notes and write something down and then via previous app i am back to youtube. but when i am on the work app i can vertically swipe to bring the time tracker app. or a swipe down for the google maps route to home. etc. etc.
how would i manage to do this?
I am using a poco f2 pro if that matters and not rooted.