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.

Answer 1

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.

Related: Get new installed app name with Tasker