# Macros for Android phone? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macros-for-android-phone/722949 "2015-06-19T15:45:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macros-for-android-phone/722949/1 "2015-06-19T15:45:49Z")
I started to look into this and found there are a number of tools and difference approaches, and rather than waste my day reading websites and screwing with crippled demos, I’d just turn to The Greatest Information Source In The Universe™. I am less interested in being able to record and mimic swipes and touches (which seems to be a big part of the demand, especially for the game crowd that wants a way to farm points or game currency) than just being able to build a simple applet that will do a defined set of steps. Example: I have a couple of junior Barbarians who need to be picked up from school and rehearsals and so forth on a regular basis. It’s a PITA to wait until I am there and parked to send a HERE text, and both my sense of safety and rather stringent anti-phone laws keep me from sending a timely OMW or 1 MIN text. So if I could program one button that sends a defined text to a specified contact… it would be very useful. I can tap the “ABjr-1 MIN” button while driving. Are there tools that will do this, and which ones are best? ---
**Author:** ![ticker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@ticker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ticker)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macros-for-android-phone/722949/2 "2015-06-19T16:16:15Z")
[Tasker](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.dinglisch.android.taskerm&hl=en) is probably the most capable tool of this type. Can be a bit of a learning curve but simple things can be achieved without too much difficulty. Plenty of online resources to help. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macros-for-android-phone/722949/3 "2015-06-19T16:22:26Z")
Tasker seems to come to the top of most lists, but the emphasis of its function seems to be on “reprogramming” your phone - if event X happens, do this, if event Y happens between noon and one, do that. Maybe the simple “when I press a button, do this” stuff is too trivial to mention. I’ll look at it more closely. AFAIK, though, it’s pay to play and I’d rather not spend even $3.00 on something that won’t do what I want. Further input appreciated. ETA: NM, it has a trial version and further investigation of the (rather stilted German-based) website seems to indicate it’s Thuh Tool. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Angry\_Badger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@The\_Angry\_Badger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Angry_Badger)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2015, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/macros-for-android-phone/722949/4 "2015-06-19T16:27:59Z")
There are a few automation apps for Android: [Tasker](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.dinglisch.android.taskerm&hl=en_GB) [If](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ifttt.ifttt&hl=en_GB) [Llama](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kebab.Llama&hl=en_GB) Probably the best way to do what you want is to send an automated text when you arrive in a particular area. You’ll need to get it to interface with an automated SMS app (there’s plenty of those out there). I don’t think it’s an easy solution and will need a lot of fiddling about, but if you’re like me, then that’s fun! 🙂