Settings profiles and App shorcuts to switch between them

[ArtyoZ]

The feature

Please, add the ability to save settings to profiles and add support for App shortcuts for quickly switching between profiles.
Usecase: currently my SpamBlocker is configured to filter out calls that do not belong to my home region using Regex, and calls from the home region are additionally checked via the API service. However, sometimes I need to receive calls from other regions (eg. couriers), but I don't want to completely disable the protection. I would like to be able to save the current settings to the default profile, and the settings with Regex disabled and API enabled to another profile then switch between them using shortcuts.

[aj3423]

Some thoughts about it:

1. What you want is essentially disabling/enabling regex rules with shortcuts. Saving profiles or backups will involve all other settings, making it more difficult to maintain, as you would need to regenerate the profile after changing anything.
   So I'd suggest not using profiles, just enable/disable something, this can be achieved using a workflow.

2. By "shortcuts", do you mean quick setting tiles?

3. "sometimes I need to receive calls", by the "sometimes", is there a pattern? I mean, if there is a pattern, it can be achieved automatically without using any shortcuts. For example, if the "sometimes" is when you go abroad, then some rules can be automatically disabled according to the current SIM location.

So I think this feature is:

• Support binding workflows to custom quick setting tiles
• Or, trigger it automatically.

How do you think?

[ArtyoZ]

What you want is essentially disabling/enabling regex rules with shortcuts.

Yes.

By "shortcuts", do you mean quick setting tiles?

https://developer.android.com/develop/ui/views/launch/shortcuts

"sometimes I need to receive calls", by the "sometimes", is there a pattern?

No. "Sometimes" means that most of the time I prefer default settings (Regex enabled). But for example, today I'm waiting for an important call from non-home region and I need to temporary disable Regex.

So I want 2 menu items (let's call them "Default (total) protection" and "API-service protection only") for your app. Like "New Tab" and "New Incognito Tab" that Chrome app has (see a screenshot). And I think it should be configurable, because some users may want to disable API-service or something else...

As an alternative to this approach, it may be a new work mode "Notify" instead of "Block", when SpamBlocker doesn't block spam calls but notifies about them. It should shows a window over the CallUI screen with the characteristics of the call after passing all the checks. For example:

• The number is a contact - failed.
• The Regex "Home region" check - passed.
• API-service check - failed (spam).
  Recommendation: the call is most likely spam and it is better to reject it.

In this case menu items (shortcuts) should be something like "Blocking" and "Notifying only".

[aj3423]

After reading that "shortcuts" doc, I decide to use quick setting tiles instead..., as:

1. It's too complex to implement and hard to maintain, there even needs to be a shortcuts manager, and backup/restore issues.
2. Yes shortcuts are good for Normal/Incognito use in chrome, but they aren't ideal for this app, as they're essentially app openers and don't provide ongoing state feedback. In our case, it's better to use 1 tile rather than 2 shortcuts. At a glace, you can tell which state is active, you don't need to open the app.

The only concern is that adding one more tile could be a problem if there're already many, but that's a trade-off, developer experience VS user experience...

when SpamBlocker doesn't block spam calls but notifies about them. It should shows a window over the CallUI screen....

The app won't do caller ID things, that's different.

Here's the proposal:

• Add a dynamic quick setting tile, it can be linked to a workflow that can modify regex rules
• On an incoming call
  • If the tile is ON, the workflow will be triggerd and your rule will be disabled
  • If the tile is OFF, nothing happens, the rule remains unchanged
• So you can toggle the tile to enable/disable the rule, or multiple rules, or maybe other features in the future.

This is less intuitive than your proposal, but it's more flexible, I'd prefer reusing existing features, combining them together rather than creating new features, you know, DX vs UX. I'll show you a sample setup later.

[aj3423]

BTW, I didn't get push notification from you reply, not sure why.

[ArtyoZ]

The app won't do caller ID things, that's different.

My alternative proposal isn't about caller ID, it's about notification window over CallUI by user's default call app. AFAIK, these are different things. "SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW" permission, etc.

I'd prefer reusing existing features, combining them together rather than creating new features, you know, DX vs UX. I'll show you a sample setup later.

Well, if it solves my problem, I don't mind. I'll be waiting for an example.

BTW, I didn't get push notification from you reply, not sure why.

🤷

[aj3423]

done: https://github.com/aj3423/SpamBlocker/actions/runs/17819415202

How to setup:

1. Set a description to the regex rule, e.g.: rule_desc.
2. Import this workflow:

{
    "id": 6,
    "desc": "toggle rule using tile",
    "schedule": {
        "type": "Daily",
        "time": {
            "hour": 0,
            "min": 0
        }
    },
    "actions": [
        {
            "type": "QuickTile",
            "tileIndex": 0
        },
        {
            "type": "FindRules",
            "pattern": "rule_desc",
            "flags": 0
        },
        {
            "type": "ModifyRules",
            "config": "{\"flags\":0}"
        }
    ],
    "enabled": false,
    "workUUID": "7d06f9f1-2aaf-434b-93ad-4987c5c4ed1d",
    "lastLog": "",
    "lastLogTime": 0
}

3. There's a new tile item Custom, that regex rule will be disabled when the tile is active.

[ArtyoZ]

Import this workflow:

I've got an error on this step:

[aj3423]

done: https://github.com/aj3423/SpamBlocker/actions/runs/17819415202

You need to install this one, it contains a downloadable apk.

[ArtyoZ]

You need to install this one, it contains a downloadable apk.

Oh, my fault. I've downloaded and installed the wrong version from September, 17 :) Now I've installed the right version and it works like a charm!
But maybe it's possible to do the same thing using only one tile? See a screenshot of the tile "Screenshot" for details:

It has a grey triangle in the right bottom corner. Tapping on it opens the window with 3 items.

[aj3423]

Wow, I've never noticed there is a submenu in the tile.
But why do you want to use it? Do you have more than 2 profiles?
If you just want to disable multiple rules, you can add them all to this workflow, such as:

• QuickTile
• FindRules (find rule 1)
• ModifyRules (modify rule 1)
• FindRules (find rule 2)
• ModifyRules (modify rule 2)
• ...

[ArtyoZ]

But why do you want to use it? Do you have more than 2 profiles?

First of all, I think that it's a neater and more compact variant than current. Now we have 2 quick tiles having the same icons, with the new quick tile called "Custom". It's not too clear for an untrained user, is it? Besides, yes, I assume that I (or someone else) will one day want to add a new profile independent of the first one.

[aj3423]

I'd expect most users to use only one tile at a time, that small triangle would be unnecessary and prone to accidental taps.
For those who use both tiles, precisely tapping the triangle would be too cumbersome.
Better to separate them.

On the other hand, stacking them together would provide a "profile switching" functionality, but it's unnecessary for most users and more difficult to implement.

[ArtyoZ]

Ok, as you see fit. Anyway, thanks for implementing toggle of Regex rules via quick tiles.