Browser Niggles #01 -- The Exact Addressing Problem

#1

I have practical issues with Browser Niggles …

A case … I set the Chrome browser to …

Ask where to save each file before downloading

BUT sometimes I need to save a single Tiddler to a precise address like …

downloads/batch-files/command.bat

What I don’t understand is whether I can both specify an exact address when needed in a TW AND otherwise be free?

The Truth Is … Users need both freedom and exact directives, when needed.

Q: Can you help me understand what I need do to
(1) be free on save location generally; but
(2) be precise when required?

I know this is more than a TW issue.
But one that matters, I think?

TT

#2

That is why I prefer Timimi which I currently only have running in Firefox. not that I export other files often.

#3

I have a wiki that makes O/S Script files (Windows .bat & .ps1). To be safe they should only export to one place: “downloads/batch-files/”.

What I am trying to grasp is WHAT CONTROL a TW has on EXPORT LOCATION, if any, on Exact Addressing?

1 Like
#4

I’m sure the browser makers are imagining the scenario where http://notamalicioussiteatall.oh.no.com want to download the file really.its.just.harmless.bat to the folder %user_dir%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup or just-a-friendly-script.sh to ~/.config/autostart or a Mac equivalent.

You really, really don’t want them to get that wrong!

#5

for generating content for the local machine such as batch files and scripts have you tried tiddlydesktop or other methods outside a general purpose internet browser?

more permissions are available in those environments

#6

Browsers will never allow websites to specify download folder locations, mostly for the reasons outlined in the answers above.

The only solution is to have the browser remember the download location as part of its existing site preferences database. The only browser I’m aware of that can do this is Firefox. See:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1386344

I did a quick search of Chrome/Edge browser extensions, but didn’t find anything useful.

#7

Yes.

In past I used TiddlyDesktop. It is well suited to anything local to one machine. I work, now, on three with different O/S.

I really liked Bob too. Same issue.

#8

Thanks for the researched reply!

It is frustrating and confusing situation on viable pathing. A jujitsu to make decent use of.

Why? I accept /downloads as the default. BUT it is mad I can’t force a tid to save to /downloads/subdir/

Within a TW in /subdir/ I can easily iframe a TW in /downloads/ using relative addressing. TWs know where they are. What’s the problem on saving a .tid using that?

Q: Am I the only puzzled one?

#9

I think there is not much we can do about that. Browsers do not allow JS code to define the download path.

If you set your browser setting to Always ask for download actions, the browser shows the OS native Save as … dialogue. Depending on the OS, it may or may not remember, where you did save you last file. Usually it presents that directory the next time you start a download action.

The only way to avoid this, is to use a browser extension. Browser extensions have a limited possibility to define the download directory. The limit is: It can only be in the browsers Download directory defined in the browser settings.

As Tony pointed out. The Browser extensions Native Saver functionality was able to define a full path, in combination with a paired external saver.

The new: Native Saver API, will allow us to overwrite existing files, once we allowed the browser to do so. → The Native Saver API is not supported by FireFox yes. It is supported by Chrome-like browsers.

I do not know, if it would allow you to define the download path. … I did not read the dev docs yet.

But for apps that use it, users still complain about the workflow. They have to “jump some loops” to make it work locally.

It seems most users prefer to send their stuff to the cloud, where it can be harvested by the big 5.

#10

Regarding the security scenario of that, yes.

In the O/P I was trying to grasp why, since a TW “knows” where it is, it can’t under /downloads/ fix an address exactly as it “wants”.

What could possibly go wrong?

TT

#11

As I wrote – browsers do not let us. Web extensions aka browser add-ons can do that, with a trick.

What exactly, do you try to achieve?
Which browser do you use?
And how does the browser know, where to save one of your “created” files. Is there a configuration somewhere?

May be my file-backups plugin can be extended. — no promise.

#12

Right.

I set browsers like that. It is good for one-off saves. That is how I save my TWs now. Easy. Reliable. No saver plugins. Works cross-platform.

So we have the ODD situation where I can save a TW anywhere the file browser can go, but can’t force an address automatically. It is NUTS!

TT

#13

I have a TW that makes executable scripts (Windows .bat & .ps1).
I need them to export to a specific directory (ironically, partly, for security reasons) so I know where they are.
I then launch them via an iframed file-manager in TW.

TT

#14

So the distinction between the different files is .BAT or .PS1 … So if there would be configuration, that allows to assign those extensions with a directory, it would be good to go.

bat: ./batch-files/
ps1: ./ps1-files/

As I wrote, that could only be done with a web-extension / browser addOn.

Where are your wikis saved. Are they also in the downloads dir?
Which browser do you use?

#15

Now. Yes. Basically because of the Browser Nightmares a few years ago I gave up.
“Downloads” is, essentially, now, my Home Directory.

Chrome on Chromebook (Android compatible) where this message comes from.

Firefox on Windows 10 where I do the things I described.

TT