Launch with application should not save to Downloads folder when "Always ask you where to save files" is selected
Categories
(Firefox :: Downloads Panel, enhancement)
Tracking
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People
(Reporter: u706969, Unassigned)
Details
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Ubuntu; Linux x86_64; rv:100.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/100.0
Steps to reproduce:
Select "Always ask you where to save files" under Preferences/Downloads.
Select "Open with default application" under Preferences/Applications/some file type.
Click a link to a file of that type.
Actual results:
The linked file is downloaded to the directory listed under the disabled preference "Save files to" under Preferences/Downloads. The file is then opened in the default application.
Expected results:
The file should not be saved to the disabled Downloads directory.
Since bug 1710933, files opened in an application have been saved in the Downloads directory rather than a temporary directory. In my opinion, this is an unfortunate and confusing change that blurs the line between throwaway and persistent downloads, but I understand the arguments that lead to this decision. However, I think an exception should be made for users who explicitly request a save dialog for every download. In that configuration, the concept of "Downloads directory" simply makes no sense, and the UI reinforces this idea by disabling (and graying out) the Downloads folder selection widgets. Why then should files opened with an application be downloaded there?
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Comment 1•3 years ago
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The Bugbug bot thinks this bug should belong to the 'Firefox::Downloads Panel' component, and is moving the bug to that component. Please correct in case you think the bot is wrong.
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Comment 2•3 years ago
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(In reply to olivier from comment #0)
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Ubuntu; Linux x86_64; rv:100.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/100.0
Steps to reproduce:
Select "Always ask you where to save files" under Preferences/Downloads.
Select "Open with default application" under Preferences/Applications/some file type.
Click a link to a file of that type.Actual results:
The linked file is downloaded to the directory listed under the disabled preference "Save files to" under Preferences/Downloads. The file is then opened in the default application.
Expected results:
The file should not be saved to the disabled Downloads directory.
Since bug 1710933, files opened in an application have been saved in the Downloads directory rather than a temporary directory. In my opinion, this is an unfortunate and confusing change that blurs the line between throwaway and persistent downloads, but I understand the arguments that lead to this decision. However, I think an exception should be made for users who explicitly request a save dialog for every download.
Those were the same people in bug 1710933 who made the arguments you just said you understood, so this doesn't make much sense to me.
In that configuration, the concept of "Downloads directory" simply makes no sense,
and the UI reinforces this idea by disabling (and graying out) the Downloads folder selection widgets.
That's a bug, which is fixed in Firefox 101, bug 1762775.
Why then should files opened with an application be downloaded there?
Because they need to go somewhere, we can't just open them out of thin air. I'll dupe this to the bug that adds a hidden pref and enterprise policy to bring back use of tmp - although, funny thing, tons of people complained about the previous behaviour, too! (bug 69938)
Description
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