Trouble sending text message to missed calls

[Texxxxxxxxxx]

HI. Thank you for your forum. I am excited about using the Macrodroid app.

I apologize upfront for it’s length, I don’t know all the jargon and lingo to make it shorter and I don’t want to leave anything out.

my problem: I run a small business and the phone rings ALOT. Instead of answering the phone, I started sending out a text message to the number immediately after they call. This has shortened the amount of time I spend on the phone...BUT now I must monitor the phone constantly for calls.

the solution: my daughter suggested the Macrodroid app to automate sending a text message to the call numbers that I have “missed”. (BTW, I do not hit ignore or interrupt the call in in anyway...IDK if that makes a difference)

So I watched a video on how to perform this task...these are the steps I took:

1. downloaded app...installed and opened

2. tapped “ADD Macro”

3. tapped trigger >> call/sms >> call missed >> (THIS MAY BE WHERE I‘M SCREWING UP...but I can’t find any guidance) it gives me 3 options select contacts, select groups, select number...I have tried all three...but “select number” seems the most logical so I pick that one >> OK >> then a pop up screen with “select number” comes up (how am I suppose to select a number when I don’t know who is calling me?) with a box to the right with ”...”, so I tap “...” and a new pop up comes up with 9 different choices (“Macrodroid mode -at the top and “Batt temp C” at bottom) so I will leave it in Macrodroid mode >> OK >> “select number screen” now has ”[mode]” wher “number” was before >> OK and NOW trigger is set...the box says “TRIGGERS“ - Call missed [mode] Is in the box below box name.

4. Actions >> messaging >> send SMS >> the next page again asks for “phone number” beside it is “...” and a contact box. Since these customers call from an unknown number to me, I can’t put them in contacts, so I tap the “...” box, a new “select option” pop up opens with 9 more choices from “call number“ at top (the one I chose) down to “current battery %” at the bottom >> OK >> the next line says ”message text” and also has a “...” box to the right with same choices that the first line “...” box had....I write my message text....I do not make a choice from the box >>> I click check mark in upper right corner.

5. Constraints....I do not need any constraints for this task so I do not even open it.

6. Macrodroid is ON...the “Macros“ is ON.

7. I have my wife call the phone wait for about 10 seconds and then hang up. (We tried this multiple times all the way through the voicemail, quick hang up, etc.)...a popup message says “Macrodroid is attempting to send a large number of messages” it asks to “accept or deny” this action. So I click deny...multiple times...then it comes up again...I click deny...multiple times again. I quickly open up Macrodroid again and turn it off.

Sorry such a long description...so many buttons and choices...this may be normal for you young folk out there, but PLEASE for MY SANITY...just make a “STUPID” button and I swear I’ll push it.

any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated...I really think this app may be a saving grace to our company and I anxiously await any support you can provide.

Thank you so much!

 

[Texxxxxxxxxx]

BTW...I, in NO WAY, believe there is a problem with the Macrodroid app...it’s ME...completely.

Just didn’t want anyone to think I was complaining...just old and dum. Lol.

 

[420]

your trigger is no good, instead of choosing "select number" try "select contact(s)" instead, and tick all 3 of these boxes: "any contact", "any number" and "non contact"

i hope this fixes it for you, your action seems to be set up correctly already.

 

[Texxxxxxxxxx]

Hi 420. I made the changes you suggested and we tested it a couple of times and everything seems to be working wonderfully.

if I could ask one other question...is there a way to make the app. Only send the message on the first time they call and not repeat it? Sometimes folks call in multiple times (that has slowed up since we started sending them the text message introducing ourselves) and I would hate that a new customer , or an existing customer, kept getting that long message every time they called us...once or twice would be fine but after that it would likely become tiresome...I know it would for me.

If not, then the magic you have already performed is awesome and I won’t chance messing up the progress we’ve already made.

I thank you VERY much for your expertise and assistance!

 

[Texxxxxxxxxx]

I also tried to follow you from your page, but your follower count stayed at 420 instead of moving to 421...we may have to look into that.

 

[Dm114]

HI. Thank you for your forum. I am excited about using the Macrodroid app.

I apologize upfront for it’s length, I don’t know all the jargon and lingo to make it shorter and I don’t want to leave anything out.

my problem: I run a small business and the phone rings ALOT. Instead of answering the phone, I started sending out a text message to the number immediately after they call. This has shortened the amount of time I spend on the phone...BUT now I must monitor the phone constantly for calls.

the solution: my daughter suggested the Macrodroid app to automate sending a text message to the call numbers that I have “missed”. (BTW, I do not hit ignore or interrupt the call in in anyway...IDK if that makes a difference)

So I watched a video on how to perform this task...these are the steps I took:

1. downloaded app...installed and opened

2. tapped “ADD Macro”

3. tapped trigger >> call/sms >> call missed >> (THIS MAY BE WHERE I‘M SCREWING UP...but I can’t find any guidance) it gives me 3 options select contacts, select groups, select number...I have tried all three...but “select number” seems the most logical so I pick that one >> OK >> then a pop up screen with “select number” comes up (how am I suppose to select a number when I don’t know who is calling me?) with a box to the right with ”...”, so I tap “...” and a new pop up comes up with 9 different choices (“Macrodroid mode -at the top and “Batt temp C” at bottom) so I will leave it in Macrodroid mode >> OK >> “select number screen” now has ”[mode]” wher “number” was before >> OK and NOW trigger is set...the box says “TRIGGERS“ - Call missed [mode] Is in the box below box name.

4. Actions >> messaging >> send SMS >> the next page again asks for “phone number” beside it is “...” and a contact box. Since these customers call from an unknown number to me, I can’t put them in contacts, so I tap the “...” box, a new “select option” pop up opens with 9 more choices from “call number“ at top (the one I chose) down to “current battery %” at the bottom >> OK >> the next line says ”message text” and also has a “...” box to the right with same choices that the first line “...” box had....I write my message text....I do not make a choice from the box >>> I click check mark in upper right corner.

5. Constraints....I do not need any constraints for this task so I do not even open it.

6. Macrodroid is ON...the “Macros“ is ON.

7. I have my wife call the phone wait for about 10 seconds and then hang up. (We tried this multiple times all the way through the voicemail, quick hang up, etc.)...a popup message says “Macrodroid is attempting to send a large number of messages” it asks to “accept or deny” this action. So I click deny...multiple times...then it comes up again...I click deny...multiple times again. I quickly open up Macrodroid again and turn it off.

Sorry such a long description...so many buttons and choices...this may be normal for you young folk out there, but PLEASE for MY SANITY...just make a “STUPID” button and I swear I’ll push it.

any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated...I really think this app may be a saving grace to our company and I anxiously await any support you can provide.

Thank you so much!

Try this as a beginning...

 

[420]

I also tried to follow you from your page, but your follower count stayed at 420 instead of moving to 421...we may have to look into that.

haha, your funny, 420 is not the ammount of followers i have, it's just my display name on this forum, you are actually my first follower

 

[420]

Hi 420. I made the changes you suggested and we tested it a couple of times and everything seems to be working wonderfully.

if I could ask one other question...is there a way to make the app. Only send the message on the first time they call and not repeat it? Sometimes folks call in multiple times (that has slowed up since we started sending them the text message introducing ourselves) and I would hate that a new customer , or an existing customer, kept getting that long message every time they called us...once or twice would be fine but after that it would likely become tiresome...I know it would for me.

If not, then the magic you have already performed is awesome and I won’t chance messing up the progress we’ve already made.

I thank you VERY much for your expertise and assistance!

Ok, here we go...

add a "set variable" - [new variable] action, UNDER the send sms action.

give it a name, for example; "phone_numbers_that_already_received_text" press ok

in the next "enter value" field add the variable you just created, through magic text or by typing it out yourself, followed by \n[call_number].

so it would looke something like this: [v=phone_numbers_that_already_received_text]\n[call_number]

this will add the call number to the variable on a new line, so you will get a growing list of phone numbers in that variable.

now add a global constraint to the macro - macrodroid specific - macrodroid variable - pick the variable you just created - pick "excludes" put [call_number] in the value field (again, either through magic text or by typing it yourself) and press ok.

i can't test it myself at the moment but unless im missing something this should work, your welcome!

oh and btw, dm144 might be right about the "any number" trigger actually working for any number.. so you maybe you don't need to tick the 'any contact" and "non contact' boxes on your trigger, i just wasn't sure because i never used any of these triggers myself.

 

[Dm114]

HI. Thank you for your forum. I am excited about using the Macrodroid app.

I apologize upfront for it’s length, I don’t know all the jargon and lingo to make it shorter and I don’t want to leave anything out.

my problem: I run a small business and the phone rings ALOT. Instead of answering the phone, I started sending out a text message to the number immediately after they call. This has shortened the amount of time I spend on the phone...BUT now I must monitor the phone constantly for calls.

the solution: my daughter suggested the Macrodroid app to automate sending a text message to the call numbers that I have “missed”. (BTW, I do not hit ignore or interrupt the call in in anyway...IDK if that makes a difference)

So I watched a video on how to perform this task...these are the steps I took:

1. downloaded app...installed and opened

2. tapped “ADD Macro”

3. tapped trigger >> call/sms >> call missed >> (THIS MAY BE WHERE I‘M SCREWING UP...but I can’t find any guidance) it gives me 3 options select contacts, select groups, select number...I have tried all three...but “select number” seems the most logical so I pick that one >> OK >> then a pop up screen with “select number” comes up (how am I suppose to select a number when I don’t know who is calling me?) with a box to the right with ”...”, so I tap “...” and a new pop up comes up with 9 different choices (“Macrodroid mode -at the top and “Batt temp C” at bottom) so I will leave it in Macrodroid mode >> OK >> “select number screen” now has ”[mode]” wher “number” was before >> OK and NOW trigger is set...the box says “TRIGGERS“ - Call missed [mode] Is in the box below box name.

4. Actions >> messaging >> send SMS >> the next page again asks for “phone number” beside it is “...” and a contact box. Since these customers call from an unknown number to me, I can’t put them in contacts, so I tap the “...” box, a new “select option” pop up opens with 9 more choices from “call number“ at top (the one I chose) down to “current battery %” at the bottom >> OK >> the next line says ”message text” and also has a “...” box to the right with same choices that the first line “...” box had....I write my message text....I do not make a choice from the box >>> I click check mark in upper right corner.

5. Constraints....I do not need any constraints for this task so I do not even open it.

6. Macrodroid is ON...the “Macros“ is ON.

7. I have my wife call the phone wait for about 10 seconds and then hang up. (We tried this multiple times all the way through the voicemail, quick hang up, etc.)...a popup message says “Macrodroid is attempting to send a large number of messages” it asks to “accept or deny” this action. So I click deny...multiple times...then it comes up again...I click deny...multiple times again. I quickly open up Macrodroid again and turn it off.

Sorry such a long description...so many buttons and choices...this may be normal for you young folk out there, but PLEASE for MY SANITY...just make a “STUPID” button and I swear I’ll push it.

any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated...I really think this app may be a saving grace to our company and I anxiously await any support you can provide.

Thank you so much!

As 420 suggested, here's an example of what you could do.
Just add a constraint to prevent 'PreviousCalls' variable to store repeatedly numbers calling again and again...
In addition, don't forget to clear this variable either on a day/time basis or any other trigger like a Button

 

[Texxxxxxxxxx]

You guys are awesome.

I will put these changes in tomorrow afternoon and test them again. I have no doubt that they will do the job perfectly.

I wish I was a younger dog so that I could more easily learn some of these new tricks...but it’s nice to know that old guys like me are in such capable hands...for that...I truly thank you!

 

[thisismyshine]

I do what 420 suggested, using variables to track who has already recieved an auto reply. I have it reset every day, too, and have a time cap on it so that if it's been only like 5 minutes, nothing is sent again, but if it's been like 2 hours, the auto reply will send to them again. It's a great solution for that.

 

[420]

yeah, i would also recommend setting the variable to empty every now and then (maybe every first of the month or every monday or every day, depending on how often you want customers to receive the sms) string variables can hold ALOT of characters, but im not sure howmany exactly...

 

[420]

As 420 suggested, here's an example of what you could do.
Just add a constraint to prevent 'PreviousCalls' variable to store repeatedly numbers calling again and again...
In addition, don't forget to clear this variable either on a day/time basis or any other trigger like a Button

you made the same mistake i made in my first suggestion

because the set variable action is placed ABOVE the send sms action, the constraint on the send sms action will always be false.

 

[420]

You guys are awesome.

I will put these changes in tomorrow afternoon and test them again. I have no doubt that they will do the job perfectly.

I wish I was a younger dog so that I could more easily learn some of these new tricks...but it’s nice to know that old guys like me are in such capable hands...for that...I truly thank you!

i got 2 more examples for you... the macro's in both screenshots (should) do exactly what you want.

the macro in the first screenshot will only fire if the caller has not yet received the sms, while the macro in the second screenshot will fire either way, and also allows you to run (different) actions if the caller has already received the sms, incase you would want that.

as you can see there is often more then one way to set things up.. if you like the app i would recommend you play around with all the different triggers and actions, it's the best way to learn and you will find more and more uses for macrodroid + it's a good braintrainer to!

 

[Dm114]

you made the same mistake i made in my first suggestion

because the set variable action is placed ABOVE the send sms action, the constraint on the send sms action will always be false.

You're right: I wrote it a bit too fast to help Texxx.
The idea was not to flood the variable with identical calling numbers. Instead of using the 2 constraints, he just has to include the 2 actions ('Set variable' and 'Send SMS') inside an 'If variable does not contain [call_number]' statement.

 

[NWPG]

Hi All,

I have set up an auto txt reply to missed calls using the advice above, and it's working great. Thanks.

I was just wondering if it possible to set up the variable to log multiple missed called numbers. At the moment the log seems to only hold one number and then it is overwritten my the next missed call.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have attached a screenshot to show you my setup.

Many thanks in advance, Dean.