vdhcoapp hanging downloads/cant change download location on linux

[David Manitoba]

Hi

Environment: Arch Linux, Firefox (latest) vdhcoapp (1.6.3-1), all installed via pacman, no snaps or flatpacks.

I am certain this is a new issue for me as it worked before, but the vdhcoapp no longer downloads anything - the browser download still works. In the extension popup, downloads get added to the queue (blue circle), but they stay at 0%.

One interesting thing and seems likely related, is that I can no longer choose the download location - as the directory dropdown doesn't appear or work and I can't add new download locations - I also cant change it via the text box. So maybe because there is no download location, the download hangs.

I have tried uninstalling the app and extension, clearing cache, and changing a few settings with no luck.

[Wild Willy]

I don't use Linux so take what I say as just guesses. The ability to change the target
directory for a download is connected to use of the CoApp. So in order to download to a
directory of your choosing, you have to use the CoApp. The CoApp is not the default
download processor. You have to manually enable it. Installing it is not enough. You
have to go into the VDH Settings dialog & turn the CoApp on. That's on the Behavior tab
of the Settings dialog. That tab also shows where the most recent VDH download went.
The label on the field says it's the default directory, but that's just an indication of
where your next download will go by default. If you use the CoApp, you can change this.
Even if you don't use the CoApp, I believe you can change that field using the Change
button on the right. Then click the Save button in the bottom right corner of the
screen. My doubts come from the fact that I only ever use the CoApp so I'm not entirely
certain about how it works otherwise. I think I've read that things work as I describe
but this is subject to testing.

If none of that is helpful, sorry. I did warn you I'm not a Linux user. I pretty much
expect this is ground you've already covered. But I thought I'd give it a shot since
nobody else has answered you yet.

[David Manitoba]

Thanks for the reply, but yeah, that's all information I know.

I know how to enable the app, and in principle how to use it instead of the browser downloader.

I also know how to change the location of the download folder, but as you can see from the screenshot, there is some sort of rendering issue that doesn't allow me to add a new location.

Thank you nonetheless

[Wild Willy]

You know, there is an intermittent problem that users have been reporting for years that
deals with the file selection dialog. It happens when you try to launch a download. The
file selection dialog comes up but it's empty. You have to close it & try to launch the
download again. I've observed it on my system where I have to try 4, 5, 6 times before
the file selection dialog actually populates. I recall one user saying he couldn't get
it to populate no matter how many times he tried. I'm curious. Your screenshot does
show the drop down list for the drive letters in the upper left. When you click the
Change button in the Settings (admittedly not the same as launching a download), is the
drive letter drop down still functional? Or is the whole screen just dead? They're both
file selection dialogs so that's why I'm making the connection. Your screenshot does
look like it's not populated properly but I'm curious about the drop down in the upper
left. Does it work anyway? What happens if you try a few times in a row? Any luck that
way?

There's another possibility. The 7.6.3a4 beta does have some changes in the area of the
file selection dialog. I don't know if that might affect your case. I don't use that
beta because unfortunately, it does not handle livestreams properly. Michel added some
changes to the 7.6.3.a1 beta that make recording of livestreams very reliable. I just
did one earlier today. I've asked him to port all those changes forward but he has not
yet done so. He's brought some of the changes forward to 7.6.3a4 but not all of them.
My testing has shown that 7.6.3a4 is not reliable for recording livestreams. So I'm
sticking with 7.6.3a1 until he brings all the changes forward. Still, 7.6.3a4 might make
a difference for you. It might be worth a shot.

[mig]

David: if you open VDH settings, in the first tab, does it say "Companion App installed" or "Companion App not installed" ?