White List (pattern matching)

[Astisme]

Checklist

• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I made sure that there are no existing discussions - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I have read the FAQs inside the app (Menu -> About -> FAQs) and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the request will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one feature request.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.

Feature description

Simple white list for pattern matching. I know you think that

You can already set the app to allow only calls from contacts stored in your phone.

but this is different from having a full on contact since this is a white list request.

This would allow us to receive calls from number which follow a specific pattern (like for example all businesses in our area which use landline-starting phone numbers).

Why do you want this feature?

I've set the app as follows: contacts saved, block all hidden numbers on, block all numbers not in contacts on.

But the other day I needed to receive a phone call from a business for which I only knew the area code (after the country code).

To make sure I could receive their call, I had to disable the block all numbers not in contacts and wait their call. Meanwhile, I received 3 spam calls (which I knew weren't important due to the prefix not matching) and got really annoyed by receiving them.

Once I finally got the call I was expecting, I then had to go back to the settings to re-enable the option to block calls from unknown callers (which I love).

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If I had the white list feature available, I could've simply added this business' area code with a * after it to the white list and not have to worry about anything else! + I would've probably kept it and not think about it the next time I had to receive a call from another business in my area (it happens a lot!)

After all, this is not even a weird feature to have since we all have to receive calls from our area of residence from time to time ;)

Additional information

I am aware of #152 and I did send a message there 16 days ago without any response which is why I'm making this as a new issue (you'll probably have better visibility).

[vertigo220]

You can just use SpamBlocker instead of Phone to manage call blocking. It's much more powerful and flexible.

[Astisme]

You can just use SpamBlocker instead of Phone to manage call blocking. It's much more powerful and flexible.

I tried it for 2 weeks but I got too many spam calls and could not set it up for my local area.
Also, the test feature does not really explain how it works.
My geofencing block would block all calls from my area but not from outside of it...

[antodc]

I started using SpamBlocker a couple of weeks ago as well, and I find it very flexible indeed. If you want to block all calls from outside your area you should go to "Regex rules" -> New -> "Local number". Then in the geolocation field write ^(?!___).* where ___ is your area code. This should block all calls/SMSs except those from your area. I never tried it, so be carefull.
Let me know if it works. If so, there is a typo in the suggested geolocation field proposed by SB and we should notify the developer of that app.

[vertigo220]

The SB dev has tried to make it straightforward and user-friendly, but there will always be difficulties, especially for those unfamiliar with regex. The dev is also very responsive, friendly, and helpful, so you should ask there for help, as well as offer suggestions on how to improve it and make it easier to understand. Feel free to @ mention me and I'll help if I can. Keep in mind there's already a fair amount of help/documentation in the app and the repo, so make sure you at least try to figure it out. I don't think the repo has a discussions section, which would be useful for getting help from each other with setting it up, so that could be a useful addition.