[HELP] Using BDFR by running individual pre-configured script files.

[StuffonGithub]

• I am running the latest version of BDfR
• I have read the Opening an issue

Description

Hi, I need a little help if that's okay, because I'm lost and have no idea what to do next. Basically just want to ask how I can run BDFR through a .ps1 file?

Back in v1, I used to be able to simply call on the .exe file (even if the .ps1 file is saved a couple folders deep) by running variations of ..\bulk-downloader-for-reddit.exe +commands. With v2 however, I tried a similar approach by trying to call the .py script using python3 C:\BDFR\filename.py +commands, but I can't get it to work. Although, I don't know the right file to call so I just tried every .py file in the BDFR directory but with the same results. 😅

Additionally, running the command from anywhere but the main BDFRv2 folder causes the downloader to revert back to the original naming scheme (see #295) ignoring the manual changes I made based on #296. Not sure if this will be fixed if I call the correct file but figured I mention it anyway just in case.

Thank you and sorry for opening yet another issue. 😁

[aliparlakci]

First of all, be sure that python --version spits out Python 3.9.x. Then, do python -m pip install bdfr

Finally change the bulk-downloader-for-reddit.exe with python -m bdfr in your .ps1 scripts.

For the second matter, you should open a new issue and provide more detail.

[StuffonGithub]

Thanks, @aliparlakci. Yes, I can confirm I have Python 3.9.4 and I have installed the new BDFR version by following the instructions in the readme (with the exception of the two files that I changed based on #296).

The reason I tried calling for a python script instead of using the default python -m bdfr command in the .ps1 files is because BDFR just closes a second after running it using the default. Although, the same thing is happening when I tried a direct call to a .py script. 😔

[StuffonGithub]

I just read your comment in #291:

Also, this installation is global. That is, you can run your .bat files in any directory without having to have project files next to it.

So, there must be something wrong in my setup if that's the case. I'll try to figure it out as well.

[Serene-Arc]

@StuffonGithub The second issue suggests that you have a different version installed in your PATH. If you are in the BDFR folder, then that version will always take precedence over an installed one. I would suggest reinstalling it with python3 -m pip install . or installing an editable version that will always update automatically with any changes with python3 -m pip install -e ..

[StuffonGithub]

Sorry for the delay. I created a Feature Request in Issues (#306). 😁

"if you want to do stupid shit, you can be stupid, I won't stop you"

Haha I agree, I did play around Linux distros for a time and it was fun! Not much use for a basic user as myself though, so I tend to go with my main OSes as Windows and MacOS. But yeah, Windows is the type to want to simplify and have everything in a controlled environment given that majority of its users will be tech illiterate such as myself or just generally don't want the hassle. Nice that Github provides such tests outright though. Seems pretty helpful in cases of oversights. At the very least, you were aware of the issue before releasing.

[Serene-Arc]

Yeah, windows would never let you delete you're entire operating system with a single command :) Linux does though, and it's a reason that we've run into a lot of problems with the development. For example, Linux has exactly TWO characters that are not allowed in a file path: \0 and /. Windows...well, it would be easier to say what Windows does allow, which is pretty much ASCII, and even then a big chunk isn't allowed (things like ":/<>" and so on. So saving filenames like that has been something we've had to work through, since it's different from each OS.

[StuffonGithub]

Yeah, I've noticed this subtle annoyance before when I had a Linux laptop. And I'm just realising now that it's weird they just don't agree on a universal system. At least, even just for simple file and folder names. Of course, there's a lot of nuances that I don't know about that obviously prevents implementation on any or all of them, otherwise they would have done so.

[Serene-Arc]

It's pretty simple, Windows is mostly hampered by the fact that they try to stay backwards compatible. When you're trying to stay compatible with code and practices from the 80s and 90s, you can get some weird stuff. Then there's, once again, Windows assuming no one knows how to use it. Characters like ></?* are used in the command line to do things. you can use them in files on Linux, because the OS accommodates it and just escapes them. Not Windows though, for whatever reason, even though 95% of Windows users will ever open the command like.

One of the most annoying things is that in Windows files are case insensitive. So it registers TEST.png and test.png as the same thing, which can be a problem if you're trying to save things that only differ in that way. You get weird errors like the same thing trying to download on every run of the downloader.

[StuffonGithub]

Ah yeah, I remember reading some posts made by MS employees about how spaghetti the codes are for a lot of the main stuff in Windows like Explorer, Control Panel, and Task Manager. I think that's why even on the latest Win 10, we can still access the old Control Panel as well as the new 'Settings'.

Guess they prefer Windows being more consumer-friendly than devs. Tsk tsk.

[StuffonGithub]

Okay, I figured it out now. It's a simple Execution Policy error. But since entering the code manually in PS works as it should and running the .ps1 script just automatically closes the window after a second, no error message shows up and I had no way of knowing what was causing it. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Nevertheless, at least it's working how I prefer it to now and thanks so much for accommodating and helping me out, @aliparlakci and @Serene-Arc! ❤

[MuhammadEhsan2]

[Serene-Arc]

Hi. Please open a bug issue if there is no audio. If you have a question, please don't hijack another message thread, you can open one of your own.