-o different filenames of multiple files when downloading more formats of a youtube-video

[Klaus1189]

If you want to download a video in different formats and want to build different filenames for the files, I don't find the solution to set up different filenames with -o
May you please tell me how to do it?

If it's not possible, I want to make a feature request for this.

Thank you

[dstftw]

Read FAQ on -o.

[Klaus1189]

I don't get it. Which syntax do I need?

[Klaus1189]

I already read this, but I don't know how to put in different filenames for the different files.
Please help me.

[yan12125]

What you need is format_id. Here's a quick example:

$ youtube-dl -o "%(title)s-%(id)s-%(format_id)s.%(ext)s" --get-filename test:youtube
youtube-dl test video ''_ä↭𝕐-BaW_jenozKc-137+141.mp4

It's documented in Filesystem options section. However, it's not so easy to find, so I add an item in Output template section.

[Klaus1189]

OK, thank you. So %(format_id)s is for the itag value.
My intention for this issue:
Is it possible to type in text for the different filenames by hand with -o?

[yan12125]

Not really sure what's the meaning of "by hand". Can you give a more concrete example?

[Klaus1189]

For example I want to download a video from youtube in two or more formats. But the files should be named abcdef.mp4 and ghijkl.mp4:
youtube-dl -f 136,135 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuOBzWF0Aws -o "abcdef.%(ext)s" "ghijkl.%(ext)s"

But this doesn't work, I need a separator for the two filenames in -o
Without that, it is recognized as one filename.

[Klaus1189]

Do you know how I can do that?

[yan12125]

It's not possible with youtube-dl only. A possible solution is using %(autonumber)s.%(ext)s and rename the files with another script.

EDIT: --exec option may be useful for running external scripts after downloading.

[Klaus1189]

OK, I see. Can we make a feature request of this issue, so youtube-dl can do that?

[yan12125]

I prefer using extra scripts. Filename computation is a quite complex part in youtube-dl. Changing it is not a good idea.

[dstftw]

Why not just download separately?

youtube-dl -f 136 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuOBzWF0Aws -o "abcdef.%(ext)s"
youtube-dl -f 135 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuOBzWF0Aws -o "ghijkl.%(ext)s"

[Klaus1189]

If you download for example 5 videos and want each video in three formats, then you need to download 5 times instead of 15 times.
-> It would be a really usefull feature, only one time to download and you have all files you want of the desired video.

I know how to download with a batch-list, but this would be much better especially for most download usage scenarios.

[dstftw]

The only gain you'll get is that you'll download data needed for extraction once instead of 3 times for each video. But still this would be neglected by the same 15 media files you'll need to download in any case that will consume much more time and bandwidth in comparison to extraction data.
As already mentioned by @yan12125 just use %(format_id)s in output template and perform filename-based postprocessing substituting format codes by your strings.

[Klaus1189]

OK. I see.

I beg to add this funktionality to youtube-dl.
Then it would be perfect. I'm sure it's possible to achieve that behavior.
It's only a separator like ;; or similar characters and youtube-dl knows, OK, we download three files and there are two separators ;; and then it puts the string to the right file.

Please add this feature.

[dstftw]

Separator for what? If you want anything to be implemented you have to clearly formulate it in the first place.
I would prefer keeping output template as is since your suggestion of multiple -o args -o "template1" "template2" ... breaks the original idea of single output template and doesn't fit into current format selection mechanisms.

[Klaus1189]

youtube-dl -f 136,135 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuOBzWF0Aws -o "abcdef.%(ext)s" ;; "ghijkl.%(ext)s"
separator between the strings of -o

Sounds like it's not possible to add that?

[dstftw]

No, that's counter-intuitive to regular CLI UX.

[Klaus1189]

What?

[dstftw]

The way command line programs are usually used.

[Klaus1189]

OK, I see. That would have been great, but now I know it can't be done. I'm sad now
Anyway, Thank you
BTW: Is it possible to link to a txt-file with proxy in it in --proxy URL

[dstftw]

txt-file with proxy in it in --proxy URL

No, for what?

[Klaus1189]

Just a thought, so I can paste the proxy like 192.168.178.001:0123 in a txt-file and while using youtube-dl I give the path to the txt-file.

[dstftw]

I mean what is the scenario for youtube-dl to use this list?

[Klaus1189]

If I need a proxy because the video is blocked in bavaria and I need a proxy, then I look up for a proxy and paste it in the txt-file and the proxy-string in cmd.exe can stay like it is. It's quite long^^

[dstftw]

This does not rationalize the need of proxy list instead of single proxy.

[Klaus1189]

No, not a list.
Only one proxy in the txt-file, so I don't have to change my long string which contains the proxy several times.
Then I only copy the new working proxy to the txt-file and youtube-dl reads the proxy in the txt-file and the string contains the links to the txt-file instead of the proxy itself.

[dstftw]

You can achieve this with configuration file as well as put any default options in it.

[Klaus1189]

Do you have more information about the configuration file?

[dstftw]

What info you need?

[Klaus1189]

How do I set up such a file with the proxy setting for example and what things can I set up in the file?
-> Which options are available? Something like that? --proxy 123.456.789:0123

[dstftw]

Yes. Any option you pass in command line can be put into configuration file.

[Klaus1189]

So a configuration file for example only consist of --proxy 123.456.789:0123
and then youtube-dl will always use that proxy?

[dstftw]

Exactly.

[Klaus1189]

Thank you very much.

[Klaus1189]

I copied config.txt to the location in appdata, but it doesn't work.

[Klaus1189]

Now I copied it to users ... youtube-dl.conf.
Now it works.