Can I get an app package name as a Tasker Variable upon a package updated event?

Question

I'm trying to use Tasker to create custom notifications with AutoNotification with the Event Context of "Package Updated *". But what I really need is to know if when a package is updated, does the updated app package name get passed to a variable? I already know about the intent of Package_Added from this other question, but it doesn't say anything about having an intent of Package_Updated.

— Mister Pyrrhuloxia | Sources

Answer

You can always employ adb at your service to do the hunting on your own. For example: after a successful update of an app if you immediately execute the following command and follow the section ACTIVITY MANAGER BROADCAST STATE (dumpsys activity broadcasts) you would come across the intent android.intent.action.PACKAGE_REPLACED. You would also observe that the data in that intent contains the much sought package name.

adb shell dumpsys activity

Relevant demo output:



#0: BroadcastRecord{
dec5090 u0 android.intent.action.PACKAGE_REPLACED
}



 act=android.intent.action.PACKAGE_REPLACED dat=package:com.koushikdutta.backup flg=0x4000010 (has extras)


 extras: Bundle[{
android.intent.extra.UID=10185, android.intent.extra.REPLACING=true, android.intent.extra.user_handle=0
}

As for using the information in Tasker, setup your profile and tasks like this:

Profile: Event → System → Intent Received
- Action: android.intent.action.PACKAGE_REPLACED
- Scheme: package
- leave the rest untouched

Task: (Actions):
- Variables → Variable Search Replace
  - Variable: %intent_data
  - Search: package:
  - tick One Match Only
  - tick Replace Matches
  - Replace With: leave this untouched since we want to delete the match
    
    The package name alone would now be available to the value of the variable %intent_data (a local variable). Use it wherever you want.
In order to get the app label, you can either use Tasker's inbuilt functionality or use aapt (latter requires root access)
- App → Test App:
  - Type: Package Name
  - Data: %intent_data
  - Store Result In: %label
    
    The app label can now be retrieved from the variable %label.

See Accessing Intent Data for more info on intent handling in Tasker.

Homework: if you follow the output of dumpsys activity carefully you would note that the information that the app has been updated can actually be retrieved from android.intent.action.PACKAGE_ADDED alone.

— Firelord | Sources

Can I get an app package name as a Tasker Variable upon a package updated event?

Topics