March 28, 2024

Notifications with Tasker and Lightning Launcher


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This Tutorial will show you how to setup a Notificationcounter for any Application with Tasker and Lightning Launcher.

Prerequisite:  Start Tasker and select the 3 dots in the upper right corner.
Select Preferences. On the UI-Tap the Beginner Mode should be unchecked. On the MISC-Tap Allow External Access should be checked. In LL you must have activated Expert mode.

Now lets create the Tasks.  In this example i will do the Tasks and other stuff for a MailApp. It can be done with any other App which have Notifications. (Missed Calls works different, because Tasker has a special routine for this. SMS is also different if you use StandardMessaging.)

First Task: New Notification (MAIL)

  1. Start Tasker and select the TASKS-Tap
  2. Tap the + at the lower right corner. Give the new Task a Name e.g.  NewMail
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-30-33
  3. Tap the + at the bottom to add an action
  4. Select Variables
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-30-41
  5. Select Variable Add
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-30-46
  6. Enter in UPPERCASE a name after the % e.g. COUNTMAIL
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-32-26
  7. Hit Return key
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-32-31
  8. Tap again the + at the bottom to add the next action
  9. Select Plugin
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-30-41
  10. Select  Lightning Launcher
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-33-37
  11. Select Lightning Variable
  12. Tap the Pen on the top
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-34-35
  13. Enter a name for the LL Variable e.g. LL_Mail
  14. Enter %COUNTMAIL  as Value and tap ok
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-36-30
  15. Hit Return key

Should look now like this:

Screenshot_2015-09-25-07-05-37

 

Hit Return

Second Task: Clear Notification (MAIL)

  1. Start Tasker and select the TASKS-Tap
  2. Tap the + at the lower right corner. Give the new Task a Name e.g.  ClearMail
  3. Tap the + at the bottom to add an action
  4. Select Variables
  5. Select Variable Set
  6. Enter in UPPERCASE a name after the % e.g. COUNTMAIL and enter 0 (Zero) in the To line
  7. Hit Return key
  8. Tap again the + at the bottom to add the next action
  9. Select Plugin
  10. Select  Lightning Launcher
  11. Select Lightning Variable
  12. Tap the Pen on the top
  13. Enter a name for the LL Variable e.g. LL_Mail
  14. Enter 0 (zero) or %COUNTMAIL as Value and tap ok
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-42-23
  15. Hit Return key

Should look like this:

Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-42-51

 

Hit Return

Now we have the Tasks but now you have to define when it should happen.

For this you need a Profile

First Profile: New Notification (MAIL)

 

 

  1. Start Tasker and select the PROFILES-Tap
  2. Tap the + at the lower right corner and select Event
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-49-59
  3. Select UI
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-50-09
  4. Select Notification
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-50-20
  5. Tap the Rocket on thr right side
    Select your e.g. MailApplication (or other when it is for another NotificationCounter)
  6. Hit return key
  7. Select NewMail
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-06-03

When Tasker asks you to enable Notification Access so please do this

Second Profile: Clear Notification (MAIL)

This will reset Counter when Application starts.

  1. Start Tasker and select the PROFILES-Tap
  2. Tap the + at the lower right corner and select Application
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-07-49-59
  3. Select your e.g. MailApplication again (or other, see above) and hit return key
  4. Select ClearMail

Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-06-03

Should look like this now:

Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-13-06

 

Because LL will lost its Variables after reboot or loading Template (Tasker will not). We need a Task which will set the Variables form Tasker to LL.

Third Task: Reset LL-Variables

  1. Start Tasker and select the TASKS-Tap
  2. Tap the + at the lower right corner. Give the new Task a Name e.g.  RESETLL
  3. Tap the + at the bottom to add an action
  4. Select Plugin
  5. Select  Lightning Launcher
  6. Select Lightning Variable
  7. Tap the Pen on the top
  8. Enter a name for the LL Variable e.g. LL_Mail
  9. Enter the the Tasker Variable e.g. %COUNTMAIL as variable
  10. Hit Return key
  11. Do Steps 3 to 10 for each Counter/Variable
  12. Tap on the 9-Dots Icon on the lower right Corner
  13. Select Built-In Icon
  14. Select an Icon of your choice

Could look like this.

Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-17-59

 

Leave Tasker

 

How to use this Variable in LL

  1. Long Tap on Desktop
  2. Select the + at the top of the menu
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-20-51
  3. Select Text
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-21-31
  4. Enter a label e.g. CountMail
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-21-44
  5. Long Tap on the new created Text
  6. Select the pen on the top of the menu
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-21-55
  7. Select Properties on next menu
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-22-02
  8. Scroll left/right to the Bindings Tap
  9. Select Add Bindings
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-08-22-40
  10. Tap the SELECT…
  11. Tap Text
  12. Select Label
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-09-22-37
  13. enter $LL_Mail and then tap ok
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-09-21-37
  14. Hit return Key

 

Hide the Counter when 0 or empty

  1. Long Tap on the new created Text
  2. Select the pen on the top of the menu
  3. Select Properties on next menu
  4. Scroll left/right to the Bindings Tap
  5. Select Add Bindings
  6. Tap the SELECT…
  7. Tap Item Properties
  8. Select Visibility
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-09-23-12
  9. enter
    if ($LL_Mail<1) return 0;
    else return 1;
    and then tap ok
    Screenshot_2015-08-03-09-21-42
  10. Hit return Key

The Text should be hidden now.

 

At last we need to start the TaskerTask which will reset the Variables at Reboot or loading Template.

  1. Long Tap on Desktop
  2. Select Settings
  3. Select Desktop
  4. Select Events & actions
  5. Select Load
  6. Select Launch a Shurtcut
  7. Select Task Shortcut
  8. Select ResetLL
  9. Hit return key as often as you are back on desktop
  10. You’re Done

 

19 thoughts on “Notifications with Tasker and Lightning Launcher

  1. Jeremy

    do you need to define the variables, or does that happen automatically? I tried to alter one of the tasker notifications you created with one of your themes. I used this guide. But do i need to create the variables? Or will tasker do that automatically? Do i need to delete the old variables?

    1. gerd

      hi jeremy. there is no need to create variables. tasker will create them after first use. same in Ll.

  2. Gord

    Nice tutorial. Thanks for taking the time to document it.

  3. Marc

    Hi,

    I have copied this exactly step for step. But I can’t get it to work. Has anybody else managed to get this is work correctly?

    1. Bill

      I have also followed all the steps in this tutorial but stuck on the very last part.
      How to Start the TaskerTask which will reset the Variables at Reboot or loading Template. ?
      Any help gratefully appreciated.

      1. gerd

        Hi Bill,

        are you using LL?
        Which step (1-10) from “At last we need to start the TaskerTask which will reset the Variables at Reboot or loading Template” does not work?

      2. gerd

        to long ago, sorry

    2. KSims

      I’ve worked extensively on it and tried it from different angles and never did get it to work. Apparently I’m mis-reading it or something.

  4. Dirk

    Hi Gerd,

    currently I’m using your minimal theme “about”. It’s great for learning LL. Have this fully translated to german and using this with other apps, icons, etc. On Google play I miss the “Tiny white icons” in your package. Have been downloaded this seperatly for customizing the template.

    I think it’s not recommended to make a link to special apps, for example the Cyaonogen-Mod Camera you use in this template. Better you make links only to android standard apps.

    Yesterday I’ve read this tutorial and created my own tasks for this template. Works perfect. What must I do for the standard SMS app? It’s not included in your presets. Thanks for reply.

    1. gerd

      Hi Dirk,

      you are right, sometimes i miss to add the links to stuff which i use in a template. sorry.

      I develop my themes/templates on an Oneplus One which runs with Cyanogen. So i use the Apps which used there 😉
      In LL it’s not very difficult to change this because LL tells you when an App is missing.

      SMS and other Apps with Notifications can be setup like in this example.. Just use other variables and another app instead of email.

      Gerd

  5. Ryan

    Excellent work gerd. Using for a WhatsApp notification counter since there is no ll dynamic text for that one. Appreciate the tutorial.

    1. gerd

      You’re welcome Ryan 😉

  6. David Podhorský

    Hi Gerd,
    i just tried to work with LL and with tasker a bit also. I follow this example and I stuck also on the very end 🙂 When making variable in LL, eactually adding bindings, then i should select Text, but the menu i see doesnt contain. I can see only free position, grid position, item properties, title or Icon. may be i cannot find the right way because of translation. i tried to use my brain to guess in Item properties, but have just a piece of experience only. Can you push me a bit ?
    Thanks

    1. gerd

      hi david.

      did you activate expert mode?

      if yes. it works exactly how i wrote.
      may be you missed a point.

      gerd

      1. David Podhorský

        Hi gerd,
        i did, it has to be something else 🙁
        David

      2. David Podhorský

        I got it, swithced the phone to the english and thats it…. Translate issue. I will try it afternoon to finish 🙂
        Thanks a lot

  7. Gp

    Dear Gerd
    thank you. Great job. I use floatify and sometimes I clear the notification from the lockscreen. In this case, of course, the counter is not adjusted. Is there a way to solve this? thank you so much

    1. gerd

      Hi, good questions. i don’t know yet. i have to check it.

  8. KS

    I followed the instructions and after completion, I have a taskbar notification that there are no active tasker profiles. I’ve checked tasker and both of my initial profiles are active. I deactivated them, saved and reactivated them, but, still get the same message.
    Any thoughts?

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