Using Trigger & Tasker for NFC Automated Foursquare Checkins

I’m using an HTC M8 running KitKat along with Tasker v.4.3 and Trigger v.8.5 to add in NFC support.

Assumptions for this guide are that you have:

1. A phone that supports NFC
2. Some programmable NFC stickers or badges
3. A Foursquare account, valid OAuth token, and a VenueID you would like to use. If not, visit Foursquare’s Developer Site before proceeding

STEP 1 – Install & Configure Tasker

1. Launch Tasker and enter Preferences
2. Touch to the MISC tab and enable “Allow External Access”
3. Save/Confirm changes, and close Tasker

STEP 2 – Install Trigger

1. The order of installation apparently makes a difference, so make sure to install it after Tasker

STEP 3 – Create a Foursquare Checkin Task

1. Launch Tasker
2. Touch to enter the Tasks tab
3. Add a new task, and label it whatever you’d like
4. When prompted to “Click + to add an Action”, do so and select the “Net” option
5. Within the “Net” action group, select “HTTP Post”
6. For the “Server:Port” enter the following:  https://api.foursquare.com
7. For the “Path” enter the following:  /v2/checkins/add?venueId=VenueIDHere&oauth_token=OauthTokenHere&v=YYYYMMDD
   Example:  /v2/checkins/add?venueId=5642309487SDFdsda29&oauth_token=0NVSDFJSDHFDSKFJDSFAFDAWBS&v=20140626
8. Save the Task and press the Play icon from the Task Edit section to run the task and confirm it’s working as expected
9. All done with Tasker

STEP 4 – Create an NFC based Trigger

1. Launch Trigger
2. Touch the “+” icon to add a new Trigger
3. Touch the “+” icon once again to define what the Trigger will be based on, and select “NFC”
4. You’ll receive a prompt indicating that you’ll be able to write this trigger to an NFC tag once done. Touch “Next” to proceed
5. Define any Restrictions for when this trigger will be applicable, or just touch Done to proceed with the default settings of “No Restrictions”
6. Touch Next to proceed with what this Trigger will do once activated
7. Touch the “+” icon once again to choose between categories of actions, scroll down to Tasker and check the “Tasker Task” box and touch “Next” to proceed
8. Touch the magnifying glass to reveal all Tasks configured within Tasker and select the one configured above to checkin to your Foursqaure venue
9. One done, you’re returned to the Tasks section where you can add or define other actions which should take place with the trigger is activated
10. Touch Next to proceed and you’ll be prompted to configure a “Switch” set of actions. Click Done to proceed
11. You’ll be taken to a screen where Trigger will wait for you to present or tap an NFC tag to program it. Once done, you’ll receive an audio/visual confirmation
12. Touch Done when finished and you’ll be returned to the Tasks/Triggers screen to reveal which triggers are currently enabled and what their actions are

STEP 5 – Test it out!

1. Close out of Tasker and Trigger
2. With the phone unlocked, tap your programmed NFC tag and Trigger should pick up from there
3. Based on the Trigger you’ve set up it will check you into the predefined venue and kick off any other actions you may have set