Companion app installs but not recognized on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

[Eric Blackstone]

I can install the companion app, but under the VDH Settings it is never recognized. Here is some more info:

--------------------------------------------

Video DownloadHelper

Version 7.3.1

Browser locale: en-US

Production build

Built on Tue Jun 05 2018 10:53:31 GMT+0200 (CEST)

Build options: browser=firefox

Platform Linux x86-64

Browser Mozilla Firefox 60.0.2

Checking companion app returned: No such native application net.downloadhelper.coapp

-----------------------------------------

I've tried installing via the .deb file (using apt, dkpg, and the GUI) and also tried the targz instructions. When I use the targz instructions and install system-wide, I get the message that the companion app is successfully installed, but then when I check in the VDH settings it always says "No such native application net.downloadhelper.coapp"

One error I only see when using apt-get is the following:

Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree      
Reading state information... Done
Note, selecting 'net.downloadhelper.coapp' instead of './net.downloadhelper.coapp-1.2.3-1_amd64.deb'
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  net.downloadhelper.coapp
0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 0 B/32.2 MB of archives.
After this operation, 97.3 MB of additional disk space will be used.
Get:1 /home/eric/snap/firefox/common/Downloads/net.downloadhelper.coapp-1.2.3-1_amd64.deb net.downloadhelper.coapp amd64 1.2.3 [32.2 MB]
Selecting previously unselected package net.downloadhelper.coapp.
(Reading database ... 211787 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack .../net.downloadhelper.coapp-1.2.3-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking net.downloadhelper.coapp (1.2.3) ...
Setting up net.downloadhelper.coapp (1.2.3) ...
N: Can't drop privileges for downloading as file '/home/eric/snap/firefox/common/Downloads/net.downloadhelper.coapp-1.2.3-1_amd64.deb' couldn't be accessed by user '_apt'. - pkgAcquire::Run (13: Permission denied)

I have also tried the same with the beta version. Any suggestions?

Thank you!

[mig]

Is there any chance you forgot to sudo the installation of the .deb file ? sudo dpkg -i net.downloadhelper.coapp-1.2.3-1_amd64.deb

[Eric Blackstone]

No, I didn't forget sudo (and just tried again to make sure). Here is the result:

(Reading database ... 212178 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack net.downloadhelper.coapp-1.2.3-1_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking net.downloadhelper.coapp (1.2.3) over (1.2.3) ...

Setting up net.downloadhelper.coapp (1.2.3) ...

Then when I check the settings it says:

Checking companion app returned: No such native application net.downloadhelper.coapp

Rechecking gives the same result.

[mig]

Clearly, the error is related to this error message from your first post:

N: Can't drop privileges for downloading as file '/home/eric/snap/firefox/

common/Downloads/net.downloadhelper.coapp-1.2.3-1_amd64.deb' couldn't be accessed by user '_apt'. - pkgAcquire::Run (13: Permission denied)

In a "normal" situation, the downloaded .deb file should go to /home/eric/Downloads/net.

downloadhelper.coapp-1.2.3-1_amd64.deb

Do you think of a particular Firefox setup you are running ? Any idea what user '_apt' could be ?

[Eric Blackstone]

I only get that error when I try installing with sudo apt install ...

I don't get any errors when I use sudo dkpg ....

I've tried reinstalling Firefox, it's the standard Firefox Quantum that comes up when I search for "Firefox" under Ubuntu Software. Under Firefox, Help, About it says:

Firefox Quantum

60.0.2 (64-bit)

Mozilla Firefox Snap for Ubuntu

canonical-002 - 1.0

Firefox is up to date

The download path is /home/eric/snap/firefox/common/Downloads

[Eric Blackstone]

OK, I figured it out! It turns out if you install the "SNAP" packaged Firefox your extension can't find the companion app. The SNAP package is the default one that Ubuntu Software provides when you search for "Firefox". I uninstalled the SNAP Firefox and then used apt-get to install Firefox and now all is well. Sheesh....

Thanks for the quick responses, your info about where the Downloads folder is supposed to be is what clued me in :)

All the best!!

[mig]

Thanks for the feedback.