====== Advanced Total Launcher Automation: Triggering Page Changes via Tasker Contexts ======
Total Launcher offers exceptional customization for Android devices, yet native support for multi-context profiles remains absent. Whenever interface automation requires specific environmental conditions —such as switching a home screen layout based on geographic location, Wi-Fi connection, or time of day—Tasker provides the ideal solution. By leveraging the dedicated Tasker plug-in, a device can automatically transition to a preconfigured page in Total Launcher without manual intervention, maximizing workflow efficiency and adapting the launcher to changing daily routines. This tutorial outlines the steps to configure conditional triggers and execute the appropriate launcher action. The configuration phase begins by establishing the primary triggers within the automation interface.
Total Launcher can natively set pages or wallpaper but not when the user wants to link that launcher action to a time or location (conditions).
When conditions are required, automation apps such as Tasker or MacDroid (and others) are required.
Tasker can also transmit (broadcast) any variables it creates to Total Launcher (see …) but that is not used in this currently discussed process since the Total Launcher plug-in for Tasker specifically automates the following actions:
The user wishes to have TL's screen (page) changed to a pre-configured page when:
* At a predetermined location
* Connected to a specific Wi-Fi signal
* At a predetermined time of day
When any of the above conditions conflict with each other, the user will be notified on screen and select which condition is to be used.
Step A: Create the “Action” tasks in Tasker which will communicate to TL for changing the page to Home
TL Set Page - Home%CurrentContextHomeStep B: Create the “Action” tasks in Tasker which will communicate to TL for changing the page to Work
TL Set Page - Work%CurrentContextWorkStep C: Create the “Action” tasks in Tasker which will communicate to TL for changing the page to Church
TL Set Page - Church%CurrentContextChurchAfter repeating all of these steps there will be three tasks that will be called by any profile (condition) to be created in the next step: * TL Set Page - Home * TL Set Page - Work * TL Set Page - Church
Now create the profiles (the “when”) that will trigger the tasks from Step A-C. A variable will be added to track the user’s current state which is essential for Step G.
Step D: Create the Main Context (condition) Profile of linking Home WiFi and Geo-location to the previously created actions
Home// This Step D.xxx has created an OR condition: profile is active if user is on Home wifi or at Home the home geo-location.//
Step E: Create the Main Context (condition) Profile of linking Work WiFi, Geo-location, and time to the previously created actions
WorkTL Set Page - Work ”, is selected.
- Notice the profile is temporarily named “*Wifi Connected” but long-press on the WiFi Connected state (the left context) which was just made.
- This will open a dialog list:
* Select Add (+)
* Select either
* Location
* An existing: If by chance a previously saved geo-location has been made, the location will show in the dialog listing. Select that… otherwise
* New: Select New Location to open a map which can be zoomed (dragged and pinched) to the geographical location desired. Tap the location to select it
* An input dialog opens to enter its label
* Here the home location is being identified, so the label “Work” is entered. Tap the check mark (✔).
* The input dialog closes and “Wifi Connected” is now shown as “Work” (on the left side of “TL Set Page - Work“)
- Now add the time context: Still in the Profile tab, long-press on the Work Connected state (the left context)
- A dialog list opens:
* Select Add (+)
* Select Time
* The Time Edit dialog opens:
* Set From: 9:00 AM
* Set To: 5:00 PM
* Every: do not touch
- Back out and return to the profile dialog
- Tap and hold the profile Work Connected
- A dialog list opens
* Select Add (+)
* Select Month Day
* From the drop down (v) select Week
* Tap each normal work day (here: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday)
- Back out and Tasker will request which task to link (this is an Enter task … what happens when first connecting)
- Select ''TL Set Page - Work from the listAdd Exit Task ← (what happens when losing the connection)TL Set Page - Home task from the list (since this is to be the default)// This Step E has created an OR condition: profile is active if user is on Work Wi-Fi or at the Work geo-location or at the prescribed time. When the user leaves the work location or the work Wi-Fi connection ends, Total Launcher is unaware unless Tasker reports it. This is where an Exit Task linked to the default “to a selected page” (Home) is communicated.//
Step F: Create the Main Context (condition) Profile of linking Church WiFi and Geo-location to the previously created actions
Church// This Step F has created an OR condition: profile is active if user is on Church wifi or at the Church geo-location.//
At this point Total Launcher will automatically change pages when the user arrives at a location and crucially will change back to “Home” when the user leaves Work or Church.
A step must be created to handle conflicts when conditions occur simultaneously and provide an optional override notification capability to the user. In other words, this is a solution to a specific problem: What if it is 10 PM, but the user is still at work? What “page” should the launcher be on? The optional solution will cause a screen notification that asks the user to select the desired “page” setting for the launcher.
Step G: Create an additional profile that activates during the “Home” time (5p-9a). This profile's only job is to check the %CurrentContext variable and ask the user what to do if there is a conflict
New Task (at the top)Conflict ResolverIf and then select If%CurrentContext ~ Work [the ~ is used for “Matches”, no spaces and note where capitalization is used]It's after 5 PM, but you seem to be at work. Which launcher page should be active?HomeWorkIf and then select If%tap_label ~ Home [the ~ is used for “Matches”, no spaces, and note where capitalization is used]Perform Task then select Perform TaskTL Set Page - HomeElse and select ElseIf and select If%tap_label ~ WorkPerform Task and select Perform TaskTL Set Page - WorkEnd and select End IfElse and select Else [This “Else” pairs with Action 1. It means “It's after 5 PM AND %CurrentContext is NOT Work (it's Home, Church, or undefined)]Perform Task and select Perform TaskTL Set Page - HomeEnd and select End IfThis finishes Step G and the full procedure.
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