InformAction Forums

Hi, my first post here so be gentle. I have used Orbit Downloader as my main downloader for a long time but it hasn't been compatible with Firefox for the last few versions. I read over at Gizmos site that it would work in Firefox again by using the FlashGot add on. I installed it this afternoon and as a test went to You Tube and downloaded a video and it worked first time and I thought ok,great. However when I went to my download folder it was a html file that I found. I right clicked on the file, browsed to VLC and it opened ok and played but instead of the usual traffic cone icon for VLC I got a smaller icon inside a folder. I then thought that I would use Format Factory to convert it to avi instead but FF cannot see this file in my Downloads folder.

My question is if there is a way where the FlashGot download just downloads as a VLC file like I am used to?. Thanks in advance.

What version of Orbit?
URL of the video?
(Neither probably matter.)

Depending on the download manager & what parameters are able to be passed to it, the name of a downloaded file could be as shown on the website or something generic, like, "videoplayback". (That's what I get with youtube & Net Transport <downloader>.)

Now that does not negate the fact that videoplayback is in fact an .FLV (usually).
So I rename the file to "some_name.flv", & at that point I can click on it & have it play back.

(Or I can simply drag videoplayback into my non-brain-dead player, MPlayer, & it determines if it can play it, regardless of the extension, if any. VLC works the same way in that regard.)

thought that I would use Format Factory to convert it to avi

Why?
It is most likely an FLV, so rename it as such, & won't it then open in VLC without issue?

FF cannot see this file in my Downloads folder

Not sure what you mean there?
You've downloaded the file. So you have it. (And you've now renamed it to *.flv.) So what is it for FF to see?
(Oh I see. You're using "FF" as "Format Factory". I use "FF" to mean "Firefox".)

Once renamed, FF (Format Factory) should see the file just fine.

If you still want to convert it, open it in Format Factory.

Thanks for the replies, I figured it out myself anyway. The files that were appearing in the Orbit download box as .html I just altered to .flv,.avi or whatever as you say and that works ok. I also found that if I right click on eg a movreel or megaupload link and choose the "download link" option it downloads in the proper format and not as a .html. Of course I have to use the Flashgot toolbar icon to download from You Tube which is where I have sometimes had them downloading as .html files. Anyway it is all working so I understand it now, and again many thanks for the help.
VLC player will play almost any type of video/audio file, but the reason I convert them to .avi is purely visual. If I leave it as a .flv file it shows in my downloads folder or if I decide to save it in my hard drive videos folder with the red and white banded traffic cone VLC icon whereas as a .avi file it shows as a screen showing the first frame of the video which I much prefer as it becomes easier to find during a visual search,daft I know but it is just the way I like to do things.