Reading SMS aloud when in car?

[Pinmac1]

I'm trying to set up a profile to read an SMS aloud when in my car. I am using the profile here at Read SMS while in Car Dock - Tasker Wiki. So far I have managed to put in the 2 profiles suggested with the only difference being that I don't dock my phone in the car but have used the Context of connected to the specific bluetooth connection in the car. The profile works in that it reads out the text but it does it for all texts not just when I am in the car.

At the bottom of the screen I linked to it does say "(2) You will need to disable the Read SMS profile in Tasker otherwise all SMS will be read regardless of whether the phone is docked or not. To disable, long click on the profile name in Tasker and select Disable. After you do this, reading of SMS will toggle when you insert and remove the phone from the dock." but I can't get to to show Disable when I long-click on the profile name.

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

 

[Neera]

This is what I am using:

Profile: SMS (4)
Event: Received Text [ Type:Any Sender:* Content:* ]
State: Bluetooth Connected [ Name:* Address:* ]
Enter: Read SMS (7)
A1: Media Control [ Cmdause Simulate Media Button:On ]
A2: Say [ Text:Received text from %SMSRN %SMSRB Engine:Voice:default:default Stream:3 Pitch:5 Speed:5 Continue Task Immediately:Off ]
A3: Media Control [ Cmdlay [Simulated Only] Simulate Media Button:On ]


It basically reads my SMS when connected to Bluetooth, pauses my media (streaming Google Music, Pandora or Spotify in the car) and then resumes my media.

Here is a dropbox link to this profile: My SMS Profile

 

[Pinmac1]

Hi Neera thanks for the reply. I tried inputting your profile as I didn't know how to import from Dropbox. It didn't work so I assumed I'd done it wrong. I've worked out how to import from Dropbox and imported your profile and still can't get it to work. The only difference is that I use and Ivona voice-to-text but it doesn't work with default either. Any ideas please?

 

[Pinmac1]

I looked around the Net to find an answer to this and somebody had suggested that there should be a comma between %SMSRN and %SMSRB. Tried this and it worked (nearly hit my head on the car roof I was so surprised). Strangely, it only worked once and hasn't worked since.

 

[Neera]

Just saw your reply.

I had to change my profile a little bit after the latest Google Music update. For some reason the media controls work different now.

Profile: SMS (4)
Event: Received Text [ Type:Any Sender:* Content:* ]
State: Bluetooth Connected [ Name:Sony Automotive Address:3C:07:71:0C:5F:75 ]
Enter: Read SMS (7)
A1: Media Control [ Cmd:Toggle Pause Simulate Media Button:Off ]
A2: Say [ Text:Received text from %SMSRN %SMSRB Engine:Voice:default:default Stream:3 Pitch:5 Speed:5 Continue Task Immediately:Off ]
A3: Media Control [ Cmd:Toggle Pause Simulate Media Button:Off ]


I can attach a few screenshots of how it looks in Tasker if that helps. Just give me a few minutes (at work atm). I will edit this post accordingly.

 

[Pinmac1]

Thanks for the screenshots. I have set the profile up. Now I'll have to arrange for someone to text me in the car to test it.

 

[Neera]

You can actually just text yourself. There will be a brief delay between hitting send and when you receive your own text.
That is how I usually test it.

 

[Pinmac1]

I never knew you could do that! I have now tried but none of the texts I have sent get read out. It's really weird that it worked that very first time but never since.

 

[Neera]

Ok, let's take a step back and eliminate bluetooth and media controls from the profile/task, so we can test if the "reading SMS" part works.

Let's create a test profile!

Description of test profile below:
Profile: SMS Test (2)
Event: Received Text [ Type:Any Sender:* Content:* ]
Enter: Read SMS Test (11)
A1: Say [ Text:Received text from %SMSRN %SMSRB Engine:Voice:default:default Stream:3 Pitch:5 Speed:5 Continue Task Immediately:Off ]

Create the test profile and name it "SMS Test", then select "event" as your context - then "phone" - then "received text": leave all fields as they are, it should have "any" under type as default.

Hit your back button to save and create a new task and name it "Read SMS Test" (or whatever you like).

Now click the "+" to add your action - select "misc" - then "say" and in the blank field under "text" enter: Received text from %SMSRN %SMSRB

Hit the back button to save. Now you're ready to test it.
In the same screen you're still in hit the little play button at the bottom (triangle) or exit tasker (make sure the profile is set to "on") and send yourself an SMS. Check volumes maybe as well.
If it doesn't work please let me know what error message you get (if anything).

The only other thing I can think of is that the variables are not working for you. I used sender name "%SMSRN" and message body "%SMSRB".
I included a link to more Tasker variables below.
Maybe try different variations?


Link to Tasker variables: Tasker: Variables

Text From/Date/Subject/Time (monitored)
%SMSRF / %SMSRN / %SMSRB / %MMSRS / %SMSRD / %SMSRT
The sender address, name, body, subject, date and time of the last text (SMS or MMS) received.
These variables will be empty until the first time a text is received after they have been referenced because Tasker does not monitor texts unless it's needed.
Name is set to sender address of no contact could be looked up. It's unavailable on Android versions prior to 2.0.
Body (%SMSRB) is only set for SMSs.
Subject (%MMSRS) is only set for MMSs.

 

[treojoe]

Neera..? You still out there? lol
I have just gotten into this Tasker program and am loving the possibilities for my OnePlus One. I have followed your example with the pics. I did change the stream for the Read Text to "Notification" instead of "Media" (I wanted the text read at the notification volume not the media volume).
It worked once while listening to Google Play Music and I thought I'd give it a try with Pandora. That was a no go, nothing happened.
I was afraid that by toggling the Pause(/Play) button it would; Pause Pandora, Play Google Play and then read my text. Thank goodness that didn't happen.
Can you or anyone else offer any insight?

 

[AfroSheen]

Hello, have you found the answer to your question. I have one I've been using for quite some time. I got most of the information for You Tube "Tasker 101 Tutorials" . Then go through and search out the lessons. If you want the profiles let me know.

 

[Plabebob]

Just saw your reply.

I had to change my profile a little bit after the latest Google Music update. For some reason the media controls work different now.

Profile: SMS (4)
Event: Received Text [ Type:Any Sender:* Content:* ]
State: Bluetooth Connected [ Name:Sony Automotive Address:3C:07:71:0C:5F:75 ]
Enter: Read SMS (7)
A1: Media Control [ Cmd:Toggle Pause Simulate Media Button:Off ]
A2: Say [ Text:Received text from %SMSRN %SMSRB Engine:Voice:default:default Stream:3 Pitch:5 Speed:5 Continue Task Immediately:Off ]
A3: Media Control [ Cmd:Toggle Pause Simulate Media Button:Off ]


I can attach a few screenshots of how it looks in Tasker if that helps. Just give me a few minutes (at work atm). I will edit this post accordingly.

This is amazing thank you! Can you explain what smsrn & smsrd mean? I'm new to this & am trying to understand the process so I can create my own stuff.

 

[Thom]

See ... http://tasker.dinglisch.net/userguide/en/variables.html

Text From/Date/Subject/Time (monitored)
%SMSRF / %SMSRN / %SMSRB / %MMSRS / %SMSRD / %SMSRT
The sender address, name, body, subject, date and time of the last text (SMS or MMS) received.
These variables will be empty until the first time a text is received after they have been referenced because Tasker does not monitor texts unless it's needed.
Name is set to sender address of no contact could be looked up. It's unavailable on Android versions prior to 2.0.
Body (%SMSRB) is only set for SMSs.
Subject (%MMSRS) is only set for MMSs.

... Thom