COPY issues on multiple websites

[Frank]

MacOS Ventura 13.1

Mozilla Firefox 109.0.1

VDH Version 7.6.6
Not licensed

Companion App not installed

Hi.
To whoever may help me:
Since one week ago I haven't been able to see any video option in the menu, outside of M3U8 (I don't know what is that supposed to mean). Back in time, I used to see all the options available for different downloading resolution. Plus, when I try to click on the Copy URL, it doesn't really copy anything.
Link  https://www.byoblu.com/2019/04/18/la-storia-che-ci-raccontano-alessandro-barbero/

In some cases I'm not even able to see a "copy URL" option in the menu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUADs-CK7vI

[Frank]

I will reupload pictures as I couldn't send the msg cause it said it was too big.

[mjs]

Your companion app is not installed , it is required to download from many different sites across the internet. The extension worked on it's own

until Firefox 57 was rolled out called Firefox Quantum. That was back in 2017. From version 57 and up the they changed the extensions to a

different architecture which then required the companion app.

With the copy url , it doesn't work for Youtube and you'll be copying a .m3u8 link on a lot of other sites which doesn't do anything by itself

unless it's used in other tools like ffmpeg and youtube-dl. So really you shouldn't worry about using copy url.

What was your purpose to use such a feature ?

--

A vdh user

[Wild Willy]

I am running Windows 7 64-bit, Firefox 110.0 64-bit, licensed VDH 7.6.5a3 beta (same as
7.6.6), CoApp 1.6.3.

The first 2 attached images show my results with your first URL You'll have to take my
word for it that my system clipboard did get this URL:

https://streamcdnc1-09bd1346f7a44cc9ac230cc1cb22ca4f.msvdn.net/vod/B35plQf7l6G6/6aa17137-8e68-470d-b60a-dcdc2be0795f/chunklist-f1-v1-a1.m3u8?T=1624658385

I did not manually type that. I pasted it in here, clearly as a result of the Copy URL
function in VDH working. I can't explain why it doesn't work for you.

I'm showing my results from your second URL in the last 2 attached images. It's a
YouTube example. YouTube is an exception. They announced a number of years ago that
they would change their technology by presenting their content as separate video & audio
tracks. So there are always 2 URLs for any given YouTube video. Which means a Copy URL
function wouldn't be meaningful, hence its absence from the secondary VDH menu. However,
you can find those URLs by instead clicking the Details entry on the secondary VDH menu.
I'm not showing an image of that. I'll leave that as an exercise for you.

[Wild Willy]

Oops. I just noticed that the URL I pasted in is for an M3U8, which is an HLS manifest.
It's probably a master manifest. That's another exercise I'll leave for you to perform.
But once again, you can get more information off the Details page.

I echo mjs's question: what are you trying to do?

[Frank]

Hi, I sincerely thank you guys for explanations.

As regards to the COPY URL button: I used to use Jdownloader to download file, but in some websites like the first one I pictured (byoblu.com) I wasn't able to copy the video I wanted with just the cntrl+c function into JDownloader link Grabber. So their team made me used the VDH extension to copy videos.
That is why I didn't really need the CoApp.

To Wild Willy who says:
" I just noticed that the URL I pasted in is for an M3U8, which is an HLS manifest.
It's probably a master manifest. That's another exercise I'll leave for you to perform. "

I'm sorry, I am not a pro, what's a HLS manifest or a master manifest?
And again: should I download the CoApp to even be able to use the copy URL function?
I might as well avoid using JDownloader and do everything with VDH...but how if I can't see the file in the drop-down menù?

[mjs]

If JDownloader can't get your file then yes you should install the companion app and use VDH. This what I see in VDH menu below.

It repeats three times. You may not be seeing this as the companion app isn't installed in your system.

[Wild Willy]

Becoming a pro is at your fingertips.  Use "m3u8" as your search key, both within this forum & on the web.

[Frank]

Hi guys.

Just installed the companion App and still I'm not able to see any proper file to download.

I see this.

I speculated the problem was not the CoApp because I have always been able to see the various file versions and copy the URL.
In the meanwhile I updated the software to MacOS Ventura 13.2.1

So...what's next?

[Wild Willy]

There is a VDH setting that lists all the file types that VDH handles.  Look for it.  It's easy enough to find.  If that list has just 1 entry & that is m3u8, you should click the button in the settings that resets everything to default.  Other than that, I don't know what to tell you.  You're on MAC.  I'm on Windows.  It doesn't work for you.  It works for me (also mjs).  I'm sure you aren't all that receptive to the idea of dumping Apple in favor of either Microsoft or Linux.  So I must declare defeat & leave it to others to help you.

By the way, I don't work for VDH.  I'm just another user, like you & mjs & so many others participating here.

[mjs]

I don't think I have much else to add after this but I did check out the site with my bootable linux  usb drive. I added the extension but didn't install

the companion app. My result replicates what you are seeing. So there is some issue with your Mac computer and the installation of the Coapp.

You may have thought it was installed but it didn't or perhaps Apple blocked it. Whatever it is you'll have look into it further.

In your settings page does it say it is installed or not installed. My result below :

[Frank]

"By the way, I don't work for VDH.  I'm just another user, like you & mjs & so many others participating here."

That's exactly the point! Why don't they have a proper client service? Just asking...don't wanna be quarrelsome.

Everything was installed but, just in case, I RE-installed...No change.
Might it be my Kaspersky...? I don't think so...always had it.

Anyhow...thank you guys.

[Frank]

Ehy guys...I  don't know what happened (maybe me cursing), but now it's working.
I didn't change anything.
Only thing, I can't use quicktime to read the file (otherwise video trembles during playing), but with VLC is fine.