Smart Downloads Manager

Overview

Smart Downloads Manager is a Chrome extension that allows users to manage their downloads efficiently by assigning file lifespans and interacting with native scripts to automate tasks such as deleting specific files. The extension uses Chrome's Native Messaging API to communicate with a Python script running locally.

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Features

• Set file lifespans for downloaded files.
• Delete specific files from the Downloads folder directly through the extension.
• Cross-platform support for Windows and macOS.
• Easy setup with an installer for both platforms.

Popup Look

Advanced Mode Tab

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Installation

Windows Users

1. Download the Repository

   • Clone or download this repository.

2. Run the Installer

   • Navigate to the installer folder in the project.
   • Double-click installer.bat to execute the installer.

3. What the Installer Does

   • Locates your Python installation.
   • Configures the run.bat file with the correct paths.
   • Updates the smartdownloadsmanager.json file with the correct paths.
   • Adds a registry key for Chrome's Native Messaging Host.

4. Upload the Extension

   • Navigate to chrome://extensions in Chrome.
   • Enable Developer Mode and select "Load Unpacked Extension."
   • Upload the chromeExtension folder.
   • Note the Extension ID and manually add it to the smartdownloadsmanager.json file under the allowed_origins key.

5. Verify Installation

   • Check the installation log at installer/install.log for any errors.
   • Confirm that the extension can communicate with the native Python script by pressing the "Test Communication" button in the extension popup.

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macOS Users

1. Download the Repository

   • Clone or download this repository.

2. Run the Installer

   • Open a terminal and navigate to the installer folder in the project.
   • Run the following commands:

     chmod +x installer.sh
     ./installer.sh

3. What the Installer Does

   • Locates your Python installation.
   • Configures the run.sh file with the correct paths.
   • Updates the smartdownloadsmanager.json file with the correct paths.
   • Places the JSON file in ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/NativeMessagingHosts/.

4. Upload the Extension

   • Navigate to chrome://extensions in Chrome.
   • Enable Developer Mode and select "Load Unpacked Extension."
   • Upload the chromeExtension folder.
   • Note the Extension ID and manually add it to the smartdownloadsmanager.json file under the allowed_origins key.

5. Verify Installation

   • Check the installation log at installer/install.log for any errors.
   • Confirm that the extension can communicate with the native Python script by pressing the "Test Communication" button in the extension popup.

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File Structure

Key Files and Folders

• chromeExtension/
  • Contains the Chrome extension files, such as manifest.json, popup.html, popup.js, and supporting files.
• NativeMessaging/
  • run.bat (Windows) or run.sh (macOS): Used to execute the Python script.
  • smartdownloadsmanager.json: Configures the Native Messaging Host.
• installer/
  • installer.bat: Sets up the project on Windows.
  • installer.sh: Sets up the project on macOS.
  • install.log: Logs the installation progress and errors.
• python.py
  • The Python script that handles commands from the extension.

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Usage

1. Install the Chrome Extension

   • Load the extension manually by enabling Developer Mode in Chrome and selecting "Load Unpacked Extension."
   • Point to the chromeExtension folder.
   • Navigate to installer/installer.bat or .sh and run the file.

2. Test Communication

   • Open the extension popup and press the "Test Communication" button.
   • If the setup is successful, you should see a success response in the popup.

3. Delete a File

   • Enter the filename (from the Downloads folder) in the "Test Delete File" field in the popup.
   • Press the "Test Delete File" button to delete the file.

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Troubleshooting

1. Native Messaging Host Not Found

   • Verify that the JSON file is correctly placed:
     • Windows: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Google\Chrome\NativeMessagingHosts\smartdownloadsmanager
     • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/NativeMessagingHosts/smartdownloadsmanager.json

2. Python Script Not Running

   • Ensure that Python is installed and added to the PATH.
   • Check the paths in run.bat (Windows) or run.sh (macOS).

3. Logs

   • Check install.log in the installer folder for errors.
   • Check log.txt in the project root for runtime logs.

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.