Global Action

Summary

• Internal name: GlobalAction
• Category: Android UI
• Purpose: Trigger a system-level accessibility action (back, home, recent apps, screenshot, lock screen, etc.) via the Android AccessibilityService.
• Task type: Normal

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Compatibility

• Minimum AndroMate version: 1.1.0
• Maximum AndroMate version: 1.1.0
• Minimum Android: Android 13 (API 33)
• Maximum Android tested: Android 16 (API 36)

• Supported manufacturers:

  • Samsung (One UI 6.x / 7.x / 8.x)
  • Other manufacturers - not supported yet (Xiaomi HyperOS and Google Pixel are being adapted)
  • Required permissions:
  • ACCESSIBILITY_SERVICE - the AndroMate accessibility service must be enabled in system settings

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Detailed description

The Global Action task is one of the actions split out of the deprecated combined ScreenAutomator task (see Screen Automator). It calls AccessibilityService.performGlobalAction(int) through BaseControlService, which the task reaches directly via a static instance reference (BaseControlService.getInstance()) rather than a broadcast - the accessibility service must therefore already be connected (enabled by the user) when this task runs.

Each global action has its own minimum Android SDK requirement, independent of AndroMate's own compatibility range - see the action list in > Input parameter details.

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Input parameters

Parameter	Type	Required	Possible values	Android Compatibility	AndroMate Compatibility	Default
GlobalAction_type	Integer (resolvable)	Yes	Integer code of a supported global action - see table below	Depends on the chosen action (16 -> 36)	1.1.0 -> 1.1.0	0

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Output parameters

This task produces no output variable. It returns a VoidResult on success.

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Exceptions

Code	Exception Name	Description
SCREEN-AUTOMATOR-ERROR-001	Invalid Control Service Global Action	GlobalAction_type doesn't match any known action code.
SCREEN-AUTOMATOR-ERROR-002	Unsupported Control Service Global Action	The action exists but requires a higher Android SDK than this device has.
SCREEN-AUTOMATOR-ERROR-010	Screen Automator Service Not Connected	The AndroMate accessibility service isn't enabled/connected - enable it in system settings.
SCREEN-AUTOMATOR-ERROR-011	Screen Automator Action Failed	performGlobalAction returned false (the action was refused by the system).

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Execution flowchart

flowchart TD
    Start([GlobalAction]) --> CheckConnected{Accessibility service\nconnected?}
    CheckConnected -->|No| E1[SCREEN-AUTOMATOR-ERROR-010\nSERVICE_NOT_CONNECTED]
    CheckConnected -->|Yes| Resolve{GlobalAction_type\nmatches a known action?}
    Resolve -->|No| E2[SCREEN-AUTOMATOR-ERROR-001\nINVALID_GLOBAL_ACTION]
    Resolve -->|Yes| CheckSdk{Device SDK ≥\naction's minSdk?}
    CheckSdk -->|No| E3[SCREEN-AUTOMATOR-ERROR-002\nUNSUPPORTED_GLOBAL_ACTION]
    CheckSdk -->|Yes| Perform[performGlobalAction]
    Perform --> Done{Returned true?}
    Done -->|No| E4[SCREEN-AUTOMATOR-ERROR-011\nACTION_FAILED]
    Done -->|Yes| Success([VoidResult])

    E1 --> Error([Exception])
    E2 --> Error
    E3 --> Error
    E4 --> Error

    style Start fill:#e3f2fd
    style Success fill:#c8e6c9
    style Error fill:#ffcdd2
    style Perform fill:#fff9c4

How it works:

1. Check connection: fails fast with SERVICE_NOT_CONNECTED if the accessibility service isn't enabled.
2. Resolve the action: maps GlobalAction_type (an integer) to a known GlobalActionType.
3. Check SDK: rejects the action if the device's Android version is below that action's minimum SDK.
4. Perform: calls performGlobalAction; a false return throws ACTION_FAILED.

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Code examples

Example 1 - Go back

{
  "GlobalAction": [
    { "id": "1", "title": "Go back", "GlobalAction_type": 1 }
  ]
}

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Input parameter details

1. Input parameter: GlobalAction_type

Selects which system action to perform. Stored as an integer, resolvable from a $variable.

Logical name	Description	Android Global Action constant	Min SDK
14	Show the launcher's "all apps" list	GLOBAL_ACTION_ACCESSIBILITY_ALL_APPS	31
11	Trigger the Accessibility button	GLOBAL_ACTION_ACCESSIBILITY_BUTTON	31
12	Open the Accessibility button chooser menu	GLOBAL_ACTION_ACCESSIBILITY_BUTTON_CHOOSER	31
13	Trigger the Accessibility shortcut	GLOBAL_ACTION_ACCESSIBILITY_SHORTCUT	31
1	Navigate back	GLOBAL_ACTION_BACK	16
15	Dismiss the notification shade	GLOBAL_ACTION_DISMISS_NOTIFICATION_SHADE	31
20	D-Pad center keyevent	GLOBAL_ACTION_DPAD_CENTER	33
17	D-Pad down keyevent	GLOBAL_ACTION_DPAD_LEFT¹	33
18	D-Pad left keyevent	-	33
19	D-Pad right keyevent	GLOBAL_ACTION_DPAD_RIGHT	33
16	D-Pad up keyevent	GLOBAL_ACTION_DPAD_UP	33
2	Go home	GLOBAL_ACTION_HOME	16
10	Send the KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK key event	GLOBAL_ACTION_KEYCODE_HEADSETHOOK	31
8	Lock the screen	GLOBAL_ACTION_LOCK_SCREEN	28
22	Media play/pause	(pending SDK 36)	22-36
21	Menu key event	(pending SDK 36)	21-36
4	Open notifications	GLOBAL_ACTION_NOTIFICATIONS	16
6	Open the power long-press dialog	GLOBAL_ACTION_POWER_DIALOG	21
5	Open quick settings	GLOBAL_ACTION_QUICK_SETTINGS	17
3	Overview / recent apps	GLOBAL_ACTION_RECENTS	16
9	Take a screenshot	GLOBAL_ACTION_TAKE_SCREENSHOT	28
7	Toggle split-screen (docking window)	GLOBAL_ACTION_TOGGLE_SPLIT_SCREEN	24

¹ Source enum data as of this writing; verify against GlobalActionType.java if a mismatch is suspected.

Example

"GlobalAction_type": 1

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Output parameter details

This task has no output parameters.

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Complete JSON example

{
  "GlobalAction": [
    { "id": "1", "title": "Go Home", "GlobalAction_type": 2 },
    { "id": "2", "title": "Open Notifications", "GlobalAction_type": 4 },
    { "id": "3", "title": "Take Screenshot", "GlobalAction_type": 9 }
  ]
}