How to run youtube-dl through "do shell script" in Applescript?

[Caleb707]

I've never posted on GitHub before so idk if I'm doing this right... but I'm trying to do a shell script through Applescript but it won't work! how do I do it?

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Make sure you are using the latest version: run youtube-dl --version and ensure your version is 2017.11.15. If it's not, read this FAQ entry and update. Issues with outdated version will be rejected.

• I've verified and I assure that I'm running youtube-dl 2017.11.15

Before submitting an issue make sure you have:

• At least skimmed through the README, most notably the FAQ and BUGS sections
• Searched the bugtracker for similar issues including closed ones

What is the purpose of your issue?

• Bug report (encountered problems with youtube-dl)
• Site support request (request for adding support for a new site)
• Feature request (request for a new functionality)
• Question
• Other

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The following sections concretize particular purposed issues, you can erase any section (the contents between triple ---) not applicable to your issue

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If the purpose of this issue is a bug report, site support request or you are not completely sure provide the full verbose output as follows:

Add the -v flag to your command line you run youtube-dl with (youtube-dl -v <your command line>), copy the whole output and insert it here. It should look similar to one below (replace it with your log inserted between triple ```):

[debug] System config: []
[debug] User config: []
[debug] Command-line args: [u'-v', u'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaW_jenozKcj']
[debug] Encodings: locale cp1251, fs mbcs, out cp866, pref cp1251
[debug] youtube-dl version 2017.11.15
[debug] Python version 2.7.11 - Windows-2003Server-5.2.3790-SP2
[debug] exe versions: ffmpeg N-75573-g1d0487f, ffprobe N-75573-g1d0487f, rtmpdump 2.4
[debug] Proxy map: {}
...
<end of log>

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If the purpose of this issue is a site support request please provide all kinds of example URLs support for which should be included (replace following example URLs by yours):

• Single video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaW_jenozKc
• Single video: https://youtu.be/BaW_jenozKc
• Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4lCao7KL_QFVb7Iudeipvc2BCavECqzc

Note that youtube-dl does not support sites dedicated to copyright infringement. In order for site support request to be accepted all provided example URLs should not violate any copyrights.

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[johnhawkinson]

It looks like it's correct…perhaps youtube-dl is not in your PATH.

Try:

set youtubeDownloadCommand to "/usr/local/bin/youtube-dl -o" ...

If not, run type -ap youtube-dl in your Terminal interactively and try the result (or post it here).

[section83]

This is really an AS question not ytdl. Anyway, as johnhawkinson says, make sure youtube-dl is in your Path. For example, assuming youtube.exe is in /usr/local/bin:

set shellPath to "PATH=$PATH:/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin:~/opt/bin:~/opt/sbin:/opt/local/bin:/opt/local/sbin:" & quoted form of (POSIX path of ((path to me as text) & "::")) & "; "

then,

do shell script shellPath "youtube-dl" & etc. etc.

NB: AppleScript uses a different shell to Terminal. Thus, any Path changes in Terminal will not affect what happens when you run a script.

I am working on an AppleScript based front end for youtube-dl. Current version is available here:

https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/384566-youtube-dl-GUI-for-Apple-Macs

It works well with built-in updates for components, sub-titles, descriptions etc. But, currently can't do playlists.

Next version will be available soon (when I finish ironing out bugs).

[johnhawkinson]

I think it's just easier to specify /usr/local/bin/youtube-dl instead of youtube-dl rather than going to the effort of setting the path in AppleScript. Anyhow, good luck!

[yan12125]

Thanks for all the kind help for youtube-dl users! I bet $PATH is exactly the issue, so closing.