* New browser engine and file downloads

[RS3100]

My one irritation with the Edge based internal browser so far, is that it seems to only permit downloading files "as is" directly into the users' Downloads folder, unless I'm missing an option somewhere? Chrome (and AFAIR the previous FH/IE based internal browser) allow the opening of a file browser window, which prompts for the desired location to save the file and optionally to also rename it prior to saving, which cuts out additional steps required to move and rename files after download.

Does anyone know if it's possible to get the Webview browser to perform similarly? There's no option in the menu, and looking at the installed files I suspect it may require an edit to the Preferences file in "C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\FH-WebView2\EBWebView\Default\Preferences" if it is at all possible.

Currently that file contains the string "automatic_downloads":{} so it suggests that there may be alternate options available.

[tatewise]

The README file therein says

Microsoft Edge settings and storage represent user-selected preferences and information and MUST not be extracted, overwritten or modified except through Microsoft Edge defined APIs.

However, I wonder if any of these C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\FH-WebView2\ folder settings will need to be handled by the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings plugin?

[Jane]

If you right click and select save as you can then select the location.

[RS3100]

If you right click and select save as you can then select the location.

Only as a .PNG file though Jane, and at a substantially reduced resolution. I just tried with a census page from FMP. The JPEG image downloaded via the FMP download link is 6784x4768 pixels and 300dpi. The same image from a right-click "Save As" PNG image is 1358x900 pixels and the handwriting on the page is pretty much unreadable when enlarged sufficiently to view it.

[Jane]

I suspect mileage will vary depending on the source.

BTW Did you realise you can drag and drop the downloaded files direct from the list at the bottom web window to the media tab at which point they get copied into your Project.

[RS3100]

BTW Did you realise you can drag and drop the downloaded files direct from the list at the bottom web window to the media tab at which point they get copied into your Project.

Yes (and no). I was aware of the ability, but never tried it as I'd assumed the file just got copied with it's original name. But having just tried it as a result of your post I can see that it gives the option to select the location within the media folder and to rename the file first. That's what I was looking for. Thank you!

[Mark1834]

I hadn't noticed that significant limitation trying out the new browser yesterday, as I was just viewing record hints within FH. If I saw something that looked interesting, I accessed it with a specific search using an external browser. If I know what I am looking for, I might find other interesting stuff as well, rather than just blindly following the hint.

The drag and drop sort of works if you keep your media in the FH folder (provided you are happy to rename the file blind, without seeing what you call similar files in the same folder), but it's no use to those of us who keep media in a dedicated location outside the project folder. All I can get it to do is link to the downloads folder, keeping the original arbitrary name of the downloaded file.

Pity - FH is wonderfully flexible in most areas, but that limitation severely curtails the usefulness of the integrated browser (IMO, of course...).

[Mark1834]

However, I wonder if any of these C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\FH-WebView2\ folder settings will need to be handled by the Backup and Restore Family Historian Settings plugin?

For my one-click backup via batch file (for restoration to same PC), I'm going to just add that folder to what I copy. I wasn't prompted to install WebView2 yesterday, so have just searched to see where else it might be on my PC. I have 3 different versions of WebView2Loader.dll:

0.9.622.11 (15 Nov 2020) in Office 16 Program Files
1.0.818.41 (12 Jun 2021) in AppData\Local\Microsoft
1.0.818.41 (16 Apr 2021) in FH Program Files

Not sure that fills me with confidence...

[Jane]

That dll is designed to be installed with each application. So you will get one for each program which uses WebView.

I believe it's a "hook" to attach to the web view install and not the install it's self. Which is why it lives with the app.

Personally I would not bother backing up the Web folder as it mainly contains the cache for the browser. So is not really critical.

[Croftian]

If you go to top right corner of edge browser, and click on a "down" arrow, then "three dots" you'll get a menu for download settings, I have mine set to a desktop folder 'Pending' from which I can organize
Hope that makes sense !!
Cheers
Ian

[RS3100]

If you go to top right corner of edge browser, and click on a "down" arrow, then "three dots" you'll get a menu for download settings, I have mine set to a desktop folder 'Pending' from which I can organize
Hope that makes sense !!
Cheers
Ian

That is correct for the standalone Edge browser, but the settings aren't available in the internal browser engine that runs within FH, and the internal Webview engine doesn't follow settings enabled in the standalone browser. I've already tried that.

[Mark1834]

It's not clear whether that is a fundamental limitation of the WebView 2 control in its current form, or something that CP could fix. I've tried looking at the documentation, but it is aimed at professional developers and most of it goes way over my head .

If it is causing you a problem, raise a ticket with CP, and let's see what they have to say.

[RS3100]

It's not clear whether that is a fundamental limitation of the WebView 2 control in its current form, or something that CP could fix. I've tried looking at the documentation, but it is aimed at professional developers and most of it goes way over my head .

It goes over mine too. But the "C:\ProgramData\Calico Pie\FH-WebView2\EBWebView\Default\Preferences" file contains text strings which appear to dictate the per application browser settings, including the one defining automatic downloads. I assume that can be tweaked, but like you I have no idea to what extent and no knowledge of the available definitions. CP is my next port of call, but I thought I'd ask here first in case there was a simple solution I'd missed, plus I was trying to give them a bit of breathing space from my last bug reports

[RS3100]

A bit of googling suggests that the text strings in the Preferences file are standard Chromium configuration values. The value to cause a file save prompt to open should it seems be "download.prompt_for_download":true

I'm not confident enough to start messing about with editing the prefs file in the CP Webview installation though, as I have no idea how that might interact with other existing values and/or what else might require changing as a result, so I've raised a ticket with CP and will see what they say.

[RS3100]

Now added by CP to their development log for consideration.