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axcore / tartube

A GUI front-end for youtube-dl, partly based on youtube-dl-gui and written in Python 3 / Gtk 3
GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1
1.92k stars 105 forks source link

readme

=================================================== Tartube - The Easy Way To Watch And Download Videos

Works with YouTube, Twitch, Odysee, and hundreds of other sites

.. image:: screenshots/screenshot.png :alt: Tartube screenshot

1 Introduction

Tartube is a GUI front-end for youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>, yt-dlp <https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/> and other compatible video downloaders.

It is written in Python 3 / Gtk 3 and runs on MS Windows, Linux, BSD and MacOS.

Problems can be reported at our GitHub page <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>__.

2 Why should I use Tartube?

3 Downloads

Stable release: v2.5.0 (3 Jan 2024)

Development release: v2.5.021 (4 Jun 2024)

Official packages (also available from the Github release page <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/releases>__):

Official 'Strict' packages:

Alternative DEB/RPM packages are marked STRICT. In these packages, updates to youtube-dl from within Tartube have been disabled. If Tartube is to be uploaded to a repository with lots of rules, such as the official Debian repository, then you should probably use the STRICT packages.

Semi-official packages (MS Windows):

Semi-official packages (Linux):

Source code:

4 Quick start guide

Tartube can store its videos in a database. If that's what you want, then do this:

If you just want to download videos with a minimum of fuss, do this:

5 Installation

5.1 Installation - MS Windows

MS Windows users should use the installer available at the Tartube website <https://tartube.sourceforge.io/>__. The installer contains everything you need to run Tartube.

There is also a portable edition; use this if you want to install Tartube onto removable media, such as a USB drive. Download the ZIP file, extract it, and run the file tartube_portable_64bit.bat.

Both the installer and the portable edition include a copy of AtomicParsley <https://bitbucket.org/jonhedgerows/atomicparsley/wiki/Home>__, so there is no need to install it yourself.

Tartube is no longer supported on older versions of MS Windows - see 7.24 Doesn't work on 32-bit Windows / Windows 7 / Windows 8_.

5.1.1 Manual installation - MS Windows


If you want to perform a manual installation, you can follow this procedure, which will take about 10-30 minutes, depending on your network speed.

- Download and install MSYS2 from `msys2.org <https://msys2.org>`__. You need the file that looks something like **msys2-x86_64-yyyymmdd.exe**
- MSYS2 wants to install in **C:\\msys64**, so do that
- Open the MINGW64 terminal, which is **C:\\msys64\\mingw64.exe**
- In the MINGW64 terminal, type:

        **pacman -Syu**

- If the terminal wants to shut down, close it, and then restart it
- Now type the following commands, one by one:

        **pacman -Su**

        **pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-python3**

        **pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-python3-pip**

        **pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-python3-gobject**

        **pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-python3-requests**

        **pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-gtk3**

        **pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-gsettings-desktop-schemas**

        **pip3 install feedparser**

        **pip3 install playsound**

        **pacman -S mingw-w64-x86_64-aria2**

- Download the **Tartube** source code from Sourceforge, using the links above
- Extract it into the folder **C:\\msys64\\home\\YOURNAME**, creating a folder called **C:\\msys64\\home\\YOURNAME\\tartube**
- Now, to run **Tartube**, type these commands in the MINGW64 terminal (don't forget to use *forward* slashes):

        **cd /home/YOURNAME/tartube**

        **python3 -X utf8 tartube/tartube**

- The **-X utf8** part enables **Tartube** to handle non-European alphabets (such as Japanese and Korean) correctly. If this is not a concern, then **Tartube** can be started like this:

        **python3 tartube/tartube**

5.2 Installation - MacOS
------------------------

Tartube can be installed on MacOS, but it's not a one-click operation.

Here are installation guides for new computers with Apple silicon, all other MacOS computers, and a troubleshooting section.

5.2.1 Installation - MacOS (Apple silicon)

With thanks to m3lab-zzl:

5.2.2 Installation - MacOS (other computers)


With thanks to JeremyShih:

- Install `Python 3 <https://www.python.org/downloads>`__ by downloading an installer, or with homebrew

        **brew install pkg-config**

        **brew install python**

- Install `Gtk 3 <https://python-gtk-3-tutorial.readthedocs.io/en/latest/>`__

        **pip3 install pycairo**

        **brew install gobject-introspection**

        **python3 -m pip install PyGObject**

        **brew install gtk+3**

- Install `Python Requests module <https://3.python-requests.org/>`__

        **pip3 install requests**

- Install either `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__ or `yt-dlp <https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/>`__

        **pip3 install youtube-dl**

        **pip3 install yt-dlp**

- Install the Adwaita theme for icons used by Tartube (optional)

        **brew install adwaita-icon-theme**

- It is strongly recommended that you install `FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, too

        **brew install ffmpeg**

- Install Tartube

        **pip3 install tartube**

- Now run Tartube

        **tartube**

5.2.3 Troubleshooting on MacOS

If you can't start Tartube from a terminal window (the final step in the procedures above), try these commands (with thanks to inkhalistan):

    **echo "export PATH="python3 -m site --user-base/bin:$PATH"" >> ~/.zprofile**

    **source ~/.zprofile**

    **tartube**

If you see a gi module not found error, there are two possible solutions.

If that does not work, try the following procedure.

5.3 Installation - Linux/BSD

Linux/BSD users can use any of the following installation methods.

5.3.1 Install using the DEB package


Linux distributions based on Debian, such as Ubuntu and Linux Mint, can install **Tartube** using the DEB package (see the links above).

**Tartube** requires either `youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__ or `yt-dlp <https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/>`__. If it's already installed on your system, then you can start **Tartube** immediately. Otherwise, do this:

1. Run **Tartube**
2. **Tartube** asks you to choose a data directory, so do that
3. Click **Operations > Update youtube-dl**

It is strongly recommended that you install `FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, too. On most Debian-based systems, you can open a terminal window and run this command:

        **sudo apt-get install ffmpeg**

5.3.2 Install using the RPM package

Linux distributions based on RHEL, such as Fedora, can install Tartube using the RPM package (see the links above).

Tartube requires either youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/> or yt-dlp <https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/>. If it's already installed on your system, then you can start Tartube immediately.

Otherwise, if pip is already installed on your system, do this:

  1. Run Tartube
  2. Tartube asks you to choose a data directory, so do that
  3. Click Operations > Update youtube-dl

If neither youtube-dl nor pip are installed on your system, then the recommended way to install youtube-dl is from the command line, using pip. (Software managers usually don't offer the most recent version of youtube-dl.)

On Fedora, the procedure is:

  1. Open a terminal window
  2. Type: sudo dnf -y install python3-pip
  3. Type: pip3 install youtube-dl or pip3 install yt-dlp
  4. You can now run Tartube.

It is strongly recommended that you install FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>__, too. On most RHEL-based systems (for example, Fedora 29-32), you can open a terminal window and run these commands:

    **sudo dnf -y install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm**

    **sudo dnf -y install https://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-$(rpm -E %fedora).noarch.rpm**

    **sudo apt-get install ffmpeg**

5.3.3 Install using the AUR package


On Arch-based systems. such as Manjaro, Tartube can be installed using the semi-official AUR package. The procedure is:

1. Open a terminal window
2. Type: ``git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/tartube.git``
3. Type: ``cd tartube``
4. Type: ``makepkg -si``
5. You can now run **Tartube**.

It is strongly recommended that you install `FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__, too. On most Arch-based systems, you can open a terminal window and run this command:

        **sudo pacman -S ffmpeg**

5.3.4 Install using the ebuild package

On Gentoo-based systems, Tartube can be installed using the semi-official ebuild package, using the link above.

Tartube requires youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>. It is strongly recommended that you install FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>, too.

If you're not sure how to install using ebuild, then it might be easier to install from PyPI.

5.3.5 Install using PyPI


**Tartube** can be installed from `PyPI <https://pypi.org/project/tartube/>`__ with or without root privileges.

Here is the procedure for Debian-based distributions, like Ubuntu and Linux Mint. The procedure on other distributions is probably very similar.

5.3.6 Install using PyPI (with root privileges)
  1. Make sure youtube-dl has been completely removed from your system
  2. Type: sudo apt install python3-pip
  3. ...but on Fedora, type: sudo dnf -y install python3-pip
  4. Type: sudo pip3 install youtube-dl tartube, or type sudo pip3 install yt-dlp tartube
  5. Type: tartube

5.3.7 Install using PyPI (without root privileges)


1. Type: ``sudo apt install python3-pip``
2. ...but on Fedora, type: ``sudo dnf -y install python3-pip``
3. Type: ``pip3 install tartube``
4. The **Tartube** executable is stored in ``~/.local/bin`` by default. If that is already in your path, you can start **Tartube** by typing ``tartube``. Otherwise, type ``~/.local/bin/tartube``
5. **Tartube** asks you to choose a data directory, so do that
6. In the **Tartube** main window, click **Edit > System preferences... > youtube-dl**
7. In the box marked **Path to youtube-dl executable**, select **Use PyPI path (\~/.local/bin/youtube-dl)**
8. Click **OK** to close the dialogue window
9. Click **Operations > Update youtube-dl**
10. Once the update has finished, **Tartube** is ready for use

5.3.8 Manual installation

For any other method of installation on Linux/BSD, the following dependencies are required:

These dependencies are optional, but recommended:

5.3.9 Install from source


After installing dependencies (see above):

1. Download and extract the source code (see the links above)
2. Change directory into the **Tartube** directory
3. Type: ``python3 setup.py install``
4. Type: ``tartube``

5.3.10 Run without installing

After installing dependencies (see above):

  1. Download and extract the source code (see the links above)
  2. Change directory into the Tartube directory
  3. Type: python3 tartube/tartube

5.4 Packaging Tartube

Tartube packages are usually created using one of the available environment variables:

Some packaging systems might forbid installing other packages. If that's the case, you can use TARTUBE_PKG_STRICT or TARTUBE_PKG_NO_DOWNLOAD.

Anyone with concerns over the legality of downloading videos can disable that feature altogether. Tartube will still be able to check videos, channels and playlists, as well as monitor livestreams. Users can watch a video on its original website with a single click. The authors understand that the US courts have ruled that 'scraping' a website is legal. Popular sites like YouTube provide RSS feeds for this very purpose.

Packages can be created in the standard way. For example, an RPM package would be created with the command:

    **TARTUBE_PKG=1 python3 setup.py bdist_rpm**

5.4.1 Packaging Tartube on MS Windows


The procedure used to create the MS Windows installer is described in full in the
`installer script itself <nsis/tartube_install_64bit.nsi>`__.

6 Using Tartube
===============

* `6.1 Setting up Tartube`_
* `6.2 Updating the downloader`_
* `6.3 Setting the downloader's location`_
* `6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv`_
* `6.4.1 On MS Windows`_
* `6.4.2 On Linux/BSD/MacOS`_
* `6.5 Introducing system folders`_
* `6.6 Adding videos`_
* `6.7 Adding channels and playlists`_
* `6.8 Adding videos, channels and playlists together`_
* `6.8.1 Bulk-adding channels and playlists`_
* `6.8.2 Replacing generic channel/playlist names`_
* `6.8.3 Replacing channel/playlist URLs in bulk`_
* `6.9 Adding folders`_
* `6.10 Things you can do`_
* `6.11 Profiles`_
* `6.12 Download options`_
* `6.12.1 Advanced download options`_
* `6.12.2 Other download options`_
* `6.12.3 Managing download options`_
* `6.12.4 Setting download options`_
* `6.12.5 Customising download options`_
* `6.13 Scheduled downloads`_
* `6.14 Custom downloads`_
* `6.14.1 Default custom downloads`_
* `6.14.2 Adding custom downloads`_
* `6.14.3 Independent downloads`_
* `6.14.4 Diverting to HookTube / Invidious`_
* `6.14.5 Delays between downloads`_
* `6.14.6 Splitting and slicing videos`_
* `6.14.7 Ignoring videos without subtitles`_
* `6.14.8 Launching custom downloads`_
* `6.15 Watching videos`_
* `6.16 Filtering and finding videos`_
* `6.17 Marking videos`_
* `6.17.1 Bookmarked videos`_
* `6.17.2 Favourite channels, playlists and folders`_
* `6.18 Combining channels, playlists and folders`_
* `6.18.1 Combining one channel and many playlists`_
* `6.18.2 Extracting playlists from a channel`_
* `6.18.3 Combining channels from different websites`_
* `6.18.4 Download all videos to a single folder`_
* `6.18.5 Download all videos to an external folder`_
* `6.18.6 External folders and yt-dlp`_
* `6.19 Archiving videos`_
* `6.20 Performance limits`_
* `6.21 Managing databases`_
* `6.21.1 Importing videos from other applications`_
* `6.21.2 Multiple databases`_
* `6.21.3 Multiple Tartubes`_
* `6.21.4 Exporting/importing the database`_
* `6.21.5 Importing from YouTube`_
* `6.21.6 Old Export formats`_
* `6.22 Converting to audio`_
* `6.23 Classic Mode`_
* `6.23.1 Customising Classic Mode`_
* `6.24 Livestreams`_
* `6.24.1 Detecting livestreams`_
* `6.24.2 Customising livestreams`_
* `6.24.3 Livestream notifications`_
* `6.24.4 Downloading livestreams`_
* `6.24.5 Compatible websites`_
* `6.25 Detecting missing videos`_
* `6.26 More information about FFmpeg and AVConv`_
* `6.26.1 Using FFmpeg / AVConv with youtube-dl`_
* `6.26.2 Using FFmpeg directly`_
* `6.26.3 Using FFmpeg options`_
* `6.26.4 Advanced FFmpeg options`_
* `6.27 Video clips`_
* `6.27.1 Video clip preferences`_
* `6.27.2 Quick video clips`_
* `6.27.3 Video clips in Classic Mode`_
* `6.27.4 Frequent video clip downloads`_
* `6.27.5 Extracting video clips`_
* `6.28 Video slices`_
* `6.28.1 Video slice preferences`_
* `6.28.2 Quick video slices`_
* `6.28.3 Video slices in Classic Mode`_
* `6.28.4 Frequent sliced video downloads`_
* `6.28.5 Extracting video slices`_
* `6.29 Using youtube-dl forks`_
* `6.30 Video comments`_
* `6.31 Dark themes on MS Windows`_

6.1 Setting up Tartube
----------------------

When you first start **Tartube**, you will be asked to choose a few settings.

.. image:: screenshots/example1.png
  :alt: Tartube's setup window

Most users can use this window to download and install some packages. If not, those packages must be installed separately.

All of these settings can be changed later, if you want. For example, to change where **Tartube** stores its files, see `6.21 Managing databases`_.

6.2 Updating the downloader
---------------------------

*If you installed Tartube via a repository such as the official Debian repository, then Tartube may not be allowed to update youtube-dl. In that case, this section does not apply; update youtube-dl using your system's package manager.*

**Tartube** uses a downloader to interact with websites like **YouTube**. **Tartube** officially supports two downloaders,
`youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/>`__ and `yt-dlp <https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/>`__. (Other forks of **youtube-dl** will probably work as well.)

Websites changes their code frequently, and therefore the downloaders must be updated frequently.

- Click **Operations > Update youtube-dl**
- The name will be different if you're using a different downloader

.. image:: screenshots/example2.png
  :alt: Updating youtube-dl

6.3 Setting the downloader's location
--------------------------------------

If the update operation fails on MS Windows, you should `ask the authors for help <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/>`__.

On other systems, users can customise the downloader's location. There are several locations on your filesystem where **youtube-dl** might have been installed.

.. image:: screenshots/example3.png
  :alt: Updating youtube-dl

- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Downloaders > File paths**
- Try changing the setting **Path to executable**
- Try changing the setting **Command for update operations**
- Try the update operation again

6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv
------------------------------

`FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>`__ and `AVConv <https://sourceforge.io/projects/avconv/>`__ are commonly use for various video-processing tasks.

**It is strongly recommended that all users install FFmpeg**. Without it, Tartube won't be able to do any of these things:

- Display thumbnails from **YouTube**
- Download high-resolution videos from any website
- Download some video formats
- Convert video files to audio
- Split or slice videos

**youtube-dl** uses FFmpeg by default, but it can use AVConv for certain tasks.

For more information about **Tartube**'s use of FFmpeg and AVConv, see `6.26 More information about FFmpeg and AVConv`_.

6.4.1 On MS Windows

On MS Windows, the usual methods of FFmpeg installation will not work. You must download an MSYS2-compatible version of FFmpeg. This can be done in the setup window, or from Tartube's main menu: click Operations > Install FFmpeg....

There is no known method of installing a compatible version of AVConv.

6.4.2 On Linux/BSD/MacOS


On all other operating systems, **Tartube** and **youtube-dl** should be able to find **FFmpeg** (and **AVConv**, if it is also installed) without any help from you.

If the **FFmpeg** / **AVConv** executables have been installed to an unusual location, you can tell **Tartube** where to find them.

.. image:: screenshots/example4.png
  :alt: Updating FFmpeg and AVConv

- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Downloaders > FFmpeg / AVConv**
- Click the **Set** buttons and select the **FFmpeg** or **AVConv** executable
- Click the **Reset** buttons to remove that selection
- Click the the **Use default path** buttons to use the normal location for each executable

6.5 Introducing system folders
------------------------------

On the left side of the **Tartube** window is a list of folders. You can store videos, channels and playlists inside these folders. You can even store folders inside of other folders.

**Tartube** saves videos on your filesystem using exactly the same structure.

When you start **Tartube** for the first time, there are several folders already visible. You can't remove any of these folders (but you can hide them, if you want).

.. image:: screenshots/example5.png
  :alt: Tartube's system folders

- The **All Videos** folder shows every video in **Tartube**'s database, whether it has been downloaded or not
- The **Bookmarks** folder shows videos you've bookmarked, because they're interesting or important (see `6.17.1 Bookmarked videos`_ )
- The **Favourite Videos** folder shows videos in a channel, playlist or folder that you've marked as a favourite (see `6.17.2 Favourite channels, playlists and folders`_ )
- The **Livestreams** folder shows livestreams. Videos are automatically removed from this folder (but not from other folders) when the livestream is finished
- The **Missing videos** folder (see `6.25 Detecting missing videos`_ ) shows videos that you've downloaded, but which have since been removed from the website by their creator
- The **New Videos** folder shows videos that have been downloaded, but not yet watched
- The **Recent Videos** folder shows videos that were checked or downloaded, the last time you used **youtube-dl** (to change this behaviour, right-click the folder and select **Downloads > Set removal time...**)
- The **Waiting Videos** folder shows videos that you want to watch soon. When you watch the video, it's automatically removed from the folder (but not from **Tartube**'s database)
- Videos saved to the **Temporary Videos** folder will be deleted when **Tartube** next starts
- The **Unsorted Videos** folder is a useful place to put videos that don't belong to a particular channel or playlist
- The **Video Clips** folder is a useful place to put video clips  (see `6.27 Video clips`_)

6.6 Adding videos
-----------------

*If you want a simpler way to download videos, see* `6.23 Classic Mode`_.

You can add individual videos by clicking the **Add new videos** button near the top of the window. (On MS Windows, the text is not visible unless your mouse is hovering over the button, which is in the top-left corner.)

A dialogue window will appear.

.. image:: screenshots/example6.png
  :alt: Adding videos

Copy and paste the video's URL into the dialogue window. You can copy and paste as many URLs as you like.

When you're ready, click the **OK** button.

Finally, click on the **Unsorted Videos** folder to see the videos you've added.

.. image:: screenshots/example7.png
  :alt: Your first added video

6.7 Adding channels and playlists
---------------------------------

You can also add a whole channel by clicking the **Add a new channel** button or a whole playlist by clicking the **Add a new playlist** button.

**Tartube** will download all of the videos in the channel or playlist.

.. image:: screenshots/example8.png
  :alt: Adding a channel

Copy and paste the channel's URL into the dialogue window. You should also give the channel a name. The channel's name is usually the name used on the website (but you can choose almost any name you like).

6.8 Adding videos, channels and playlists together
--------------------------------------------------

When adding a long list of URLs, containing a mixture of channels, playlists and individual videos, it's quicker to add them all at the same time. Click the **Add new videos** button near the top of the window, and paste all the links into the dialogue window.

**Tartube** doesn't know anything about these links until you actually download them (or check them). If it's expecting an individual video, but receives a channel or a playlist, **Tartube** will the handle the conversion for you.

By default, **Tartube** converts a link into a channel, when necessary. You can change this behaviour, if you want to.

- In **Tartube**'s main window, click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Preferences**
- Select one of the buttons under **URL flexibility preferences**

Unfortunately, there is no way for **Tartube** to distinguish a channel from a playlist. Most video websites don't supply that information.

If your list of URLs contains a mixture of channels and playlists, you can convert one to the other after the download has finished.

- In **Tartube**'s main window, right-click a channel, and select **Channel actions > Convert to playlist**
- Alternatively, right-click a playlist, and select **Playlist actions > Convert to channel**
- After converting, you can set a name for the new channel/playlist by right-clicking it, and selecting **Channel actions > Rename channel...** or **Playlist actions > Rename playlist...**

6.8.1 Bulk-adding channels and playlists

If you're confident that your long list of URLs contains only channels and playlists, there are a couple of other ways to add them.

Firstly, you can click Media > Add many channels/playlists....

Secondly, you could import a text file contaiing a list of channels/playlists. You can write the text file yourself. Each channel/playlist is defined by three consecutive lines, in the following format:

    @channel

    Alice's Channel

    <url>

    @playlist

    Bob's Playlist

    <url>

... where is the web address of the channel/playlist. (Leave out the diamond brackets.)

When you're ready, click Media > Export/import > Import into database...

6.8.2 Replacing generic channel/playlist names


There are several situations in which **Tartube** might create a channel with a generic name like **channel_1**, or a playlist with a generic name like **playlist_2**.

* Click the **Add video video(s)** button, and enter a URL which is actually a channel or a playlist
* Add several channels/playlists together by clicking **Media > Add many channels/playlists...**

In this situation, you can either rename all the new channels and playlists yourself, one at a time, or you can let **Tartube** try to do it automatically. (This works fine on **YouTube** and many other sites, but not necessarily on all of them.)

* For each channel/playlist you want to rename, download or check at least one video
* Tartube will extract the channel/playlist name from each video's metadata
* In the main menu, click **Media > Reset channel/playlist names...**
* Select everything you want to rename
* When you're ready, click the **OK** button to perform the renaming

6.8.3 Replacing channel/playlist URLs in bulk

If you need to update the URLs of many channels and playlists, you can do so by clicking Edit > System preferences... > Files > URLs.

6.9 Adding folders

The left-hand side of the window will quickly still filling up. It's a good idea to create some folders, and to organise your channels/playlists inside those folders.

Click the Add a new folder button near the top of the window, and create a folder called Comedy.

.. image:: screenshots/example9.png :alt: Adding a folder

Then repeat that process to create a folder called History. You can then drag-and-drop your channels and playlists into those folders.

.. image:: screenshots/example10.png :alt: A channel inside a folder

6.10 Things you can do

Once you've finished adding videos, channels, playlists and folders, you can make Tartube do something. Tartube offers the following operations:

.. image:: screenshots/example11.png :alt: The Check and Download buttons

Checking/download videos:

Refreshing the database:

Updating packages:

Fetching information:

Tidying up the filesytem:

Dealing with livestreams:

Processing videos with FFmpeg:

6.11 Profiles

Next to each channel, playlist and folder is a checkbox. Click one or more of the checkboxes, and the buttoms in the bottom-left corner of the Videos tab will change:

.. image:: screenshots/example33.png :alt: Marked channels, playlists and folders

This is one way of checking or downloading just some of the channels, playlists and folders. Other methods include:

If you frequently mark a group of channels, playlists and folders for download, then you can create a profile. A profile is just a list of items that have been marked for download.

If you select Media > Profiles > Remember last profile, then Tartube will automatically switch to that profile, whenever the database is loaded.

Note that the red system folders can't be marked for download.

6.12 Download options

youtube-dl offers a large number of download options. This is how to set them.

.. image:: screenshots/example12.png :alt: Opening the download options window

A new window opens. Any changes you make in this window aren't actually applied until you click the 'Apply' or 'OK' buttons.

6.12.1 Advanced download options


Some of the options are intended for advanced users, so they're hidden by default. To reveal them, click the button **Show advanced download options**.

.. image:: screenshots/example13.png
  :alt: Showing advanced download options

After clicking the button, some new tabs will appear. The existing tabs will also have some new features.

6.12.2 Other download options

When you click Edit > General download options..., you are seeing the default download options. If you want to apply a different set of download options to a particular channel or particular playlist, you can do so.

At the moment, the general download options apply to all the videos, channels, playlists and folders you've added.

.. image:: screenshots/example14.png :alt: The window with only general download options applied

Now, suppose you want to apply some download options to the History folder:

In the new window, select Create new download options, and then click the OK button. A second window will appear, so you can click the OK button there, too.

The new options are applied to everything in the History folder. A pen icon appears above the folder to remind you of this.

.. image:: screenshots/example15.png :alt: Download options applied to the History folder

Now, suppose you want to add a different set of download options, but only for the channel OverSimplified.

The previous set of download options still applies to everything in the History folder, except the channel OverSimplified.

.. image:: screenshots/example16.png :alt: Download options applied to The Armchair Historian channel

6.12.3 Managing download options

In fact, you can create as many sets of download options as you like.

.. image:: screenshots/example17.png :alt: The list of download options

The first item in the list, general, is the default set of download options. The second item, classic, is the set of download options that apply in the Classic Mode tab (see 6.23 Classic Mode_).

Download options are saved in the Tartube database, so if you switch databases (see 6.21.2 Multiple databases_), a different selection of download options will apply. If you want to move a set of download options from one database to another, you can Export them, then switch databases, then Import them.

6.12.4 Setting download options

Here is a quick summary of the download options that are most useful, assuming that advanced download options are hidden (see 6.12.1 Advanced download options_).

You can change the format of the filename for the downloaded video, so it includes useful information such as the playlist number or the video resolution.

When you download a video, a thumbnail and a metadata file are usually downloaded too. This can be customised.

If you want to specify which video and audio formats should be downloaded, at which resolution and at which bitrate, do this:

youtube-dl downloads very high-resolution videos as two separate files, video and audio. If Ffmpeg is installed, the two separate files are automatically merged into one output file.

If you want to specify the format of the output file, for example to create an .mp4 file, do this:

Most videos cannot be downloaded in every media format. For example, YouTube does not offer mp3 downloads. If you want files in a particular video/audio format, often it's necessary to use Ffmpeg to convert the downloaded video.

youtube-dl can download subtitles for a video, if they exist. The chat replay of YouTube livestreams can also be downloaded, and is handled as if it were another set of subtitles.

If you want to download subtiles only in particular languages:

See also 6.14.7 Ignoring videos without subtitles_.

6.12.5 Customising download options

If you want to set the download options manually - typing them, rather than clicking some buttons - you can do so.

.. image:: screenshots/example36.png :alt: Customising download options

Download options added here override everything else in the window. (However, they don't override the format selector in the Classic Mode tab.)

You can find a complete list of download options for youtude-dl here <https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl>, and a complete list for yt-dlp here <https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp>.

6.13 Scheduled downloads

Tartube can check and download videos, channels and playlists on a regular schedule. This is very useful if you want to leave Tartube running unattended.

.. image:: screenshots/example18.png :alt: The Scheduling tab

.. image:: screenshots/example19.png :alt: The scheduled download tab

A new window appears. You can use this window to congifure the scheduled download.

When you specify a start time like 'Mondays at 15:00', there is a five-minute window in which the scheduled download can begin. This means that, if you open Tartube at 15:02, the scheduled download will still start (but not if you open Tartube at 15:10).

Now click the Media tab. By default, a scheduled download checks or downloads everything in Tartube's database, but if you don't want that, you can select individual channels, playlists and folders.

There are several ways to add channels, playlists and folders to this list:

You can create as many scheduled downloads as you like. Scheduled downloads are performed in order, from the top of the list to the bottom.

6.14 Custom downloads

By default, Tartube downloads videos as quickly as possible, one URL (link) at a time. A URL might point to an individual video, or it might point to a whole channel or playlist. Tartube will try to download every video associated with the URL.

A Custom download enables you to modify this behaviour, if desired. You can use it to fetch videos from a mirror, add random delays, download video clips, download (or ignore) only livestreams, ignore videos without subtitles, or to download videos with the adverts removed.

It's important to note that a custom download behaves exactly like a regular download until you specify the new behaviour.

6.14.1 Default custom downloads


By default, **Tartube** provides two custom downloads.

The custom download called **general** applies in the **Videos** tab. It is used, for example, when you right-click a channel and select **Custom download channel**.

If you use the **general** custom download a lot, you can add an extra button to the **Videos** tab.

- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Videos**
- Select the button **Show a 'Custom download all' button in the Videos tab**

.. image:: screenshots/example20.png
  :alt: The option custom download button

The custom download called **classic** applies in the **Classic Mode** tab. To enable it, right-click the menu button in the top-right corner of the tab, and select **Enable custom downloads**.

6.14.2 Adding custom downloads

In addition to the those, you can create as many new custom downloads as you want.

Now, when you select a custom download in the Videos tab (for example, by right-clicking a channel and selecting Custom download channel, you'll be prompted to choose the custom download you want.

6.14.3 Independent downloads


By default, **Tartube** instructs **youtube-dl** to download a channel or a playlist. **youtube-dl** only needs a link to the channel or playlist, so **Tartube** doesn't send it a link to every single video.

If you need to download each individual video, one URL at a time, you can do this:

- Open the window for your preferred custom download. For example, click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Custom**, click **general** to select it, and click the **Edit** button
- In the new window, click **Download each video independently of its channel or playlist** to select it
- If it is not already selected, click **Check channels/playlists/folders before each custom download**
- Click **OK** to close the window

Many custom download settings only work when Tartube is downloading videos one at a time. If you enable this setting, you will be able to enable several other settings in the other tabs.

6.14.4 Diverting to HookTube / Invidious

If Tartube can't download a video from YouTube, it's sometimes possible to obtain it from an alternative website instead.

There are a number of alternative YouTube front-ends available, besides HookTube <https://hooktube.com/>. The original Invidious <https://invidio.us/> closed in September 2020, but there are a number of mirrors, such as this one <https://yewtu.be/>. To get a list of mirrors, see this page <https://instances.invidio.us/>, or use your favourite search engine.

When specifying an alternative website, it's very important that you type the exact text that replaces youtube.com in a video's URL. For example, you must type hooktube.com, not www.hooktube.com or http://www.hooktube.com/.

6.14.5 Delays between downloads


If the video website is complaining that you're making too many requests (in other words, downloading too many videos too quickly), it's possible to add a delay betwen downloads. The delay can have a fixed or random duration.

- Open the window for your preferred custom download. For example, click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Custom**, click **general** to select it, and click the **Edit** button
- In the new window, click the **Delays** tab
- Click **Apply a delay after each video/channel/playlist is downloaded** to select it
- Set the maximum delay (in minutes)
- If you also set a minimum delay. If you do, **Tartube** uses a random value between the maximum and minimum
- Click **OK** to close the window
- You can now start the custom download

The delay is applied after downloading a channel or a playlist. If you want to apply the delay after each video, you should enable individual video downloads as well (as described above).

6.14.6 Splitting and slicing videos

During a custom download, you can automatically split a video into video clips while it is being downloaded. A list of clips can be grabbed from the video's description, or from its chapter list, or you can specify your own list of clips. For more information, see see 6.27 Video clips_

You can also remove slices from a video while it is being downloaded. This is useful for removing adverts, intros and outros. A list of video slices is obtained from a SponsorBlock server <https://sponsor.ajay.app/>_. Alternatively, you can specify your own list of video slices. For more information, see see 6.28 Video slices

Both of these features require FFmpeg.

6.14.7 Ignoring videos without subtitles


You can ask Tartube not to download videos without subtitles.

- Open the window for your preferred custom download. For example, click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Custom**, click **general** to select it, and click the **Edit** button
- In the new window, click the **Subtitles** tab
- Click **Only download videos with available subtitles** to select it
- Click **OK** to close the window
- You can now start the custom download

Note that this setting *reduces the number of videos downloaded*. It isn't responsible for downloading the subtitles themselves. Here is how to do that:

- In Tartube's main menu, click **Edit > General download options > Subtitles > Options**
- Select **Download all available subtitle files**
- Alternatively, select **Download subtitle files for these languages**, and then add one or more languages below
- Click **OK** to close the window
- You can now start the custom download

**youtube-dl** handles YouTube live chat in the same way as subtitles, so you can select that instead of (or as well as) the languages.

6.14.8 Launching custom downloads

Besides the optional button described above, there are several ways to start a custom download.

6.15 Watching videos

If you've downloaded a video, you can watch it by clicking the word Player.

.. image:: screenshots/example21.png :alt: Watching a video

If you haven't downloaded the video yet, you can watch it online by clicking the word YouTube, Twitch, Website, Odysee, BitChute or Website. (One or the other will be visible).

Restricted YouTube videos (not available in your region, or not visible without a Google account) can sometimes be watched without restrictions on an alternative website, such as HookTube <https://hooktube.com/> or an Invidious mirror such as this one <https://invidious.site/>.

As mentioned above, the original Invidious server has now closed. You can change the Invidious mirror that Tartube is using, if you like.

6.16 Filtering and finding videos

Beneath the videos you'll find a toolbar. The buttons are self-explanatory, except for the one on the right.

.. image:: screenshots/example22.png :alt: The video catalogue toolbar

Click that button, and a larger toolbar is revealed. You can use this to filter out videos, change the order in which videos are displayed, or find a video uploaded at a certain date.

.. image:: screenshots/example23.png :alt: The toolbar's hidden buttons revealed

You can search for videos by applying a filter. For example, you could search for videos whose name contains the word History:

You can also search using a regular expression (regex), too. These searches are also case-insensitive. For example, to find all videos whose name begins with the word "Minecraft":

By default, the search applies to video names. You can toggle to buttons so it applies to descriptions and/or comments, as well.

Alternatively, you can find videos uploaded around a certain date.

6.17 Marking videos

You can mark videos, channels, playlists and folders that you find interesting, or which are important.

Bookmarked and favourite videos shouldn't be confused with archived videos, which are protected from automatic deletion - see 6.19 Archiving videos_.

6.17.1 Bookmarked videos


There are several ways to bookmark a video.

- Right-click a video, and click **Mark Video > Video is bookmarked** to select it
- If the **B/mark** label is visible under the video's name, click it. (If not, click the **Switch** button to select a different layout)
- Right-click a channel, and select **Channel contents > Mark as bookmarked**. This will bookmark every video in the channel, but it won't automatically bookmark videos that are added to the channel later
- (This can also be done with playlists and folders)

A bookmarked video appears in **Tartube**'s own **Bookmarks** folder, as well as in its usual location.

6.17.2 Favourite channels, playlists and folders

When you mark a channel, playlist or folder as a favourite, all of its videos will also be visible in Tartube's own Favourite Videos folder.

If new videos are later added to the channel, playlist or folder, they will automatically appear in the Favourite Videos folder.

(It's possible to mark or unmark an individual video as a favourite, but it's better to use bookmarking for that.)

6.18 Combining channels, playlists and folders

Tartube can download videos from several channels and/or playlists into a single directory (folder) on your computer's filesystem. There are four situations in which this might be useful:

6.18.1 Combining one channel and many playlists


A creator might have a single channel, and several playlists. The playlists contain videos from that channel (but not necessarily *every* video).

You can add the channel and its playlists in the normal way but, if you do, **Tartube** will download many videos twice.

The solution is to tell **Tartube** to store all the videos from the channel and its playlists in a single location. In that way, you can still see a list of videos in each playlist, but duplicate videos are not actually downloaded.

- Click **Media > Add channel**..., and then enter the channel's details
- Click **Media > Add playlist**... for each playlist
- Now, right-click on each playlist in turn, and then select **Downloads > Set download destination...**
- In the dialogue window, click **Use a different location**, select the name of the channel, then click the **OK** button.

A quicker way to add multiple playlists is from Tartube's main menu. Click **Media > Add many channels/playlists...**.

6.18.2 Extracting playlists from a channel

As described above, a creator might have a single channel, and several playlists. If there are a lot of playlists, it might take a long time to add them all to Tartube's database. However, there is a shortcut for YouTube channels.

YouTube does not always send us the list of playlists; that's why it's necessary to click the Playlists tab, rather than the Videos tab, as we normally would.

Now you have two choices. If you want to keep the original channel in your database, without downloading duplicate videos, do this:

Alternatively, if you don't want to keep the original channel, do this:

6.18.3 Combining channels from different websites


A creator might release their videos on **YouTube**, but also on a site like **Odysee**. Sometimes they will only release a particular video on **Odysee**.

You can add both channels in the normal way but, if you do, **Tartube** will download many videos twice.

The solution is to tell **Tartube** to store videos from both channels in a single location. In that way, you can still see a list of videos in each channel, but duplicate videos are not actually downloaded.

- Click **Media > Add channel**..., and then enter the **YouTube** channel's details
- Click **Media > Add channel**..., and then enter the **Odysee** channel's details
- Right-click the **Odysee** channel and select **Downloads > Set download destination...**
- In the dialogue window, click **Use a different location**, select the name of the **YouTube** channel, then click the **OK** button

It doesn't matter which of the two channels you use as the download destination. There is also no limit to the number of parallel channels, so if a creator uploads videos to a dozen different websites, you can add them all.

6.18.4 Download all videos to a single folder

If you don't care about keeping videos in separate directories/folders on your filesystem, you can download all videos into the Unsorted videos folder. Regardless of whether you have added one channel or a thousand, all the videos will be stored in that one location.

Alternatively, you could select Temporary Videos. If you do, videos will be deleted when you restart Tartube.

6.18.5 Download all videos to an external folder


By default, all files are downloaded into Tartube's data folder. Users often request that **Tartube** should be able to download videos to other locations in the filesystem, *while retaining those videos in Tartube's database.*

A whole bunch of things can go wrong when we start writing files to arbitrary locations on hard drives that may or may not be accessible in the future. Tartube is simply not designed to handle file input/output of that complexity.

In addition, writing files outside Tartube's data folder breaks portability because it's no longer possible for the folder to be copied or moved anywhere else.

Nevertheless, since v2.4.0 it has been possible to download videos to any location in the filesystem for which you have read/write permissions. (It has always been possible to do so from the **Classic Mode** tab). *Don't do it without a good reason*. Good reasons include:

- A separate application will process the videos, after Tartube has downloaded them
- You want some videos (but not others) to be available on a drive shared between several devices
- You are an advanced user and you're happy to deal with any filesystem problems yourself

If one of these reasons applies, then you can do this:

- Right-click a channel, playlist or folder, and select **Downloads > Set download destination...** (etc)
- Select **Use an external location**
- Click the **Set** button, and choose an external folder
- When you're ready, click the **OK** button to apply your changes

6.18.6 External folders and yt-dlp

Users of yt-dlp <https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/>__ should be aware of the download option --paths, which may be more convenient in some situations. See the yt-dlp documentation for more information about how it works. In Tartube, it can be configured like this:

6.19 Archiving videos

You can tell Tartube to automatically delete videos after some period of time. This is useful if hard drive is smaller than the size of the observable universe.

Alternatively, you can select Remove downloaded videos from the database (but don't delete files).

If you want to protect your favourite videos from being deleted or removed automatically, you can archive them. Only videos that have actually been downloaded can be archived.

You can also archive all the videos in a channel, playlist or folder.

6.20 Performance limits

By default, Tartube downloads two video, channels or playlists at a time, as quickly as possible (in other words, without bandwidth limits).

You can change this behaviour in the Progress tab, if you want.

These are the default settings. Many users might want lower download speeds during the day, but higher download speeds at night (and so on).

There is a third way to change Tartube's behaviour. The maximum downloads and bandwidth limits can also be set for a scheduled download (see 6.13 Scheduled downloads_).

Tartube honours most requests to change the maximum downloads and the bandwidth limit, so it's not a good idea to set lots of different values.

6.21 Managing databases

Tartube downloads all of its videos into a single directory (folder) - the Tartube data directory. The contents of this directory comprise the Tartube database.

Tartube stores important files here, some of which are invisible (by default). Don't let other applications store their files here, too.

You can modify the contents of the directory yourself, if you want, but don't do that while Tartube is running.

It's fine to add new videos to the database, or to remove them. Just be careful that you don't delete any sub-directories (folders), including those which are hidden, and don't modify the Tartube database file, tartube.db.

6.21.1 Importing videos from other applications


**Tartube** is a GUI front-end for **youtube-dl**, but it is not the only one. If you've downloaded videos using another application, this is how to add them to **Tartube**'s database.

- In **Tartube**'s main window, add each channel and playlist in the normal way
- When you're ready, click the **Check all** button. This adds a list of videos to **Tartube**'s database, without actually downloading the videos themselves
- Now copy the video files into **Tartube**'s data directory (folder). For example, copy all your **PewDiePie** videos into **../tartube-data/PewDiePie**
- In the **Tartube** menu, click **Operations > Refresh database...**
- **Tartube** will search for video files, and try to match them with the list of videos you just compiled
- The whole process might some time, so be patient

6.21.2 Multiple databases

Tartube can only use one database at a time, but you can create as many databases as you want.

For example, you could create a new database on an external hard drive.

Tartube remembers the location of the databases it has loaded. To switch back to your original database:

6.21.3 Multiple Tartubes


**Tartube** can't load more than one database, but you can run as many instances of **Tartube** as you want.

If you have added three databases to the list, and if you have three **Tartube** windows open at the same time, then by default each window will be using a different database.

By default, the databases are loaded in the order they appear in the list.

6.21.4 Exporting/importing the database

You can export the contents of Tartube's database and, at any time in the future, import that information into a different Tartube database, perhaps on a different computer.

It is important to note that only a list of videos, channels, playlists and folders are exported. The videos themselves are not exported, and neither are any thumbnail, description or metadata files.

It is safe to share this export file with other people. It doesn't contain any personal information.

This is how to import the data into a different Tartube database.

6.21.5 Importing from YouTube


You can also import your **YouTube** subscriptions directly.

- Click **Media > Export/import > Import YouTube subscriptions**
- A wizard window opens, showing you how to export your YouTube subscriptions as a single **.zip** file
- When you have the export file, click the **Next** button
- Click **Select file**, and choose the export file
- If the file is valid, click the **Next** button again
- Select the channels you want to import, then click **OK** to update Tartube's database

If you have a lot of channels to import, you might want to import them into a folder.

- In the **Videos** tab, create a new folder, or select an existing folder
- Click **Media > Import YouTube subscriptions**, and continue as above

6.21.6 Old Export formats

The format of exported plain text/CSV files changed in v2.3.208, and again in v2.3.307. If you try to import files from earlier versions, you may not get everything you were expecting.

Here are some notes for anyone who wants to edit the CSV export by hand (for example, in a spreadsheet):

Here are some notes for anyone who wants to edit the plain text export by hand:

6.22 Converting to audio

Tartube can automatically extract the audio from its downloaded videos, if that's what you want.

The first step is to make sure that either FFmpeg or AVconv is installed on your system - see 6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv_.

The remaining steps are simple:

Alternatively, if you have enabled advanced options (see 6.12.1 Advanced download options_) then the Post-processing tab will be visible, and you can do this:

Some websites, such as YouTube, allow you to download the audio (in .m4a format) directly, without downloading the whole video, and without using FFmpeg or AVconv.

6.23 Classic Mode

Tartube compiles a database of the videos, channels and playlists it has downloaded.

If you want something simpler, then click the Classic Mode tab, which has an interface that looks just like older GUIs.

.. image:: screenshots/example24.png :alt: The Classic Mode tab

Tartube doesn't add any of these videos to its database. When you restart Tartube, all of the URLs will be gone. However, the videos themselves will still be on your hard drive.

Because the videos aren't in a database, you can move them anywhere you want (once you've finished downloading them).

Video clips and sliced videos can be created in this tab; see 6.27.3 Video clips in Classic Mode. and - see 6.28.3 Video slices in Classic Mode.

6.23.1 Customising Classic Mode


If you *only* use this tab, you can tell **Tartube** to open it automatically.

- Click **Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Main window**
- Select **When Tartube starts, automatically open the Classic Mode tab**

If you don't want **Tartube** to forget URLs when it restarts, you can do this:

- In the **Classic Mode** tab, click the menu button in the top-right corner
- Click **Remember URLs** to select it
- **Tartube** will only remember URLs that haven't been downloaded yet

A separate set of download options (see `6.12 Download options`_) usually applies to the **Classic Mode** tab. You can change this behaviour, if you like.

- Click the menu button in the top-right corner of the tab
- Click **Set download options** to see the complete list of download options
- Alternatively, click **Use default download options** to use the download options called **general**

In the same menu, custom downloads can be enabled (see `6.14 Custom downloads`_). Depending on the behaviour you've selected, **Tartube** may fetch a list of videos from each URL, before downloading them (so don't be alarmed if each URL is 'downloaded' twice).

In the bottom half of the window, you can select one or more URLs by clicking them. The buttons in the bottom-left apply to the selected URLs. Let your mouse hover over a button to see what it does.

6.24 Livestreams
----------------

**Tartube** can detect livestreams, and to notify you when they start. This feature works on **YouTube**, **Odysee** and **Twitch**. It might work on other websites, after a little configuration - see `6.24.5 Compatible websites`_.

**Tartube** can download livestreams while they are broadcasting. If `streamlink <https://streamlink.github.io/>`__ is installed on your system, Tartube can use it; otherwise it will download the livestream using its .m3u manifest.

`Youtube Stream Capture <https://github.com/mrwnwttk/youtube_stream_capture>`__ is deprecated, and **Tartube** no longer supports it.

6.24.1 Detecting livestreams

Tartube searches for livestreams whenever you check or download channels and playlists.

Livestreams are easy to spot. A livestream that hasn't started yet has a red background. A video that's streaming now has a green background. (Livestreams that have finished have a normal background.)

YouTube sometimes 'streams' a pre-recorded video at an pre-determined time, as if it were a livestream. These 'debut' or 'premiere' videos are shown in slightly different colours - orange before the stream starts, and cyan while it is in progress.

.. image:: screenshots/example25.png :alt: The main window with livestreams visible

Every few minutes, Tartube checks whether a livestream (or debut) has started or stopped. This happens automatically in the background; there is no need for you to do anything.

6.24.2 Customising livestreams


You can modify how often livestreams are detected. If you are using **yt-dlp**, you can also prevent livestreams from being downloaded at all. Click **Livestreams > Livestream preferences...**.

.. image:: screenshots/example26.png
  :alt: Livestream preferences

For technical reasons, there are practical limits to what **Tartube** can detect. On busy channels, **Tartube** may not be able to detect livestreams that were announced some time ago. Even if you change the number of days from 7 to a very large number, there is no guarantee that **Tartube** will detect everything. (If you change the value to 0, **Tartube** will only detect livestreams that are listed before any ordinary videos.)

By default, **Tartube** checks a livestream every three minutes, waiting for it to start (or stop). When a livestream is due to start, a check happens every minute. Making more frequent checks is probably not a good idea - the video website might block you.

If you want to force a check, in the main window click **Livestreams > Update existing livestreams**. (Checks are silent, so don't worry if nothing seems to be happening).

6.24.3 Livestream notifications

It's really useful to be notified when a livestream is starting. In the same window, click the Operations > Actions tab.

.. image:: screenshots/example27.png :alt: Livestream actions

Desktop notifications do not work on MS Windows.

Tartube provides a number of sound effects. You can choose the one you want to use as an alarm. If you want to add your own sound effects, find the directory (folder) where Tartube is installed, copy the new .mp3 or .wav files into ../sounds, and then restart Tartube.

Most users will prefer to leave all of these checkboxes unselected, and instead set up notifications only for the livestreams they want to see.

.. image:: screenshots/example28.png :alt: Some example livestreams

To disable any of these actions, simply click the same label again.

6.24.4 Downloading livestreams


**Tartube** can download a livestream while it is still broadcasting. (A livestream that has already finished is treated like any other video.)

There are three different ways to download a livestream. The default method is to use **youtube-dl**, fetching the video's **.m3u** manifest before downloading it.

If `streamlink <https://streamlink.github.io/>`__ is installed on your system, you can use that, instead. MS Windows users can install streamlink from **Tartube**'s main menu (click **Operations > Install streamlink**).

Direct downloads using **youtube-dl** alone are sometimes possible, but are not recommended.

You can choose your preferred method by clicking **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Livestreams**, and selecting one of the three options.

Note that *none of these methods can download a livestream from the very beginning*.

6.24.5 Compatible websites

Livestream downloads should work on most websites. streamlink <https://streamlink.github.io/>__ works on most popular websites, but not necessarily on all of them.

Tartube's livestream detection works on YouTube, Odysee and Twitch. It might work on other websites, after a little configuration. Here is how to set that up.

Firstly, find the RSS feed for the channel or playlist. You may have to use a search engine to find out how to do that, but first try this site <https://fetchrss.com//> and this one <https://12bytes.org/articles/tech/how-to-access-rss-feeds/>.

Secondly, right-click the channel and select Show > Channel properties... (alternatively, right-click a playlist and select Show > Playlist properties...)

Now click the RSS feed tab. Enter the link (URL) to the RSS feed in the box. Click the OK button to close the window.

6.25 Detecting missing videos

Tartube can detect videos you have downloaded, but which have been since deleted by the original uploader.

Having enabled detection, removed videos will appear in the Missing Videos folder. To empty that folder, right-click it and select Folder contents > All contents > Mark as not missing.

Tartube only detects missing videos when checking/downloading whole channels or playlists. If you interrupt a download, no detection occurs.

6.26 More information about FFmpeg and AVConv

6.26.1 Using FFmpeg / AVConv with youtube-dl


If you explicitly set the location of the **FFmpeg** and/or **AVConv** executables, then those locations are passed on to **youtube-dl** when you check or download videos.

If *both* locations are set, only one of them is passed on. Usually, that's the location of **FFmpeg**. However, if you specify the **--prefer-avconv** download option, then **AVConv** is passed on, instead.

- Click **Edit > General download options...**
- In the new window, if the **Show advanced download options** button is visible, click it
- Now click the **Post-processing** tab
- Click the **Prefer AVConv over FFmpeg** button to select it
- Make sure the **Prefer FFmpeg over AVConv (default)** button is not selected
- Click **OK** to apply your changes

For more information about download options, see `6.12 Download options`_.

6.26.2 Using FFmpeg directly

You can process videos and thumbnails with FFmpeg directly, if you need to. This is useful for converting a file from one format to another, and for many other tasks.

.. image:: screenshots/example29.png :alt: The FFmpeg options window

FFmpeg options behave much like download options.

The box at the top allows you to add FFmpeg options directly. For example, to convert the framerate of some videos to 24 fps, add the following text:

    **-r 24**

6.26.3 Using FFmpeg options


In the options windows, click the **File** tab.

Converting a video from one format to another is as simple as adding the text **avi** or **mkv** (or any other valid video format) to the box **Change file extension**,

The **Videos** tab contains an optional list of videos. These are the videos that are processed, when you click the **Process files** button in the bottom-right corner. (If the list is empty, you will see an **OK** button instead).

You can add videos to this list by dragging and dropping them. Dragging from an external application is allowed, if the videos are also visible somewhere in **Tartube**'s main window (for example, in its database, or in the **Classic Mode** tab).

6.26.4 Advanced FFmpeg options

Now click the Name tab again. One box shows the FFmpeg system command that will be used to process the videos.

If you click the Show more FFmpeg options button, you'll notice that the system command changes radically, and that two new tabs have appeared. Go ahead and click the new Settings tab.

.. image:: screenshots/example30.png :alt: Advanced FFmpeg settings

This tab defines a source file and an output file.

The source file can be a video, or a thumbnail. If you select Thumbnail, then FFmpeg will process the thumbnails associated with videos listed in the Videos tab; otherwise, it will process the video files themselves.

The Output setting defines whatever you're trying to achieve. If you want FFmpeg to produce a video, then H.264 is the most useful setting (but you could also choose GIF).

When youtube-dl downloads a video, it often downloads the video and audio components seperately. The two pieces are then merged by FFmpeg. Usually, all of this happens automatically, but if the merge didn't succeed (or wasn't attempted), you can try again by selecting Merge video/audio. This settings expects to find a video file and an audio file with the same name (but with different file extensions).

If the source file is a thumbnail, then the output file must also be a thumbnail.

6.27 Video clips

Tartube can create video clips by downloading parts of a video. It can also split up a video it has already downloaded. This functionality requires FFmpeg.

Tartube can extract a list of timestamps from a video's description. It can also extract the chapter list from a video's metadata (.info.json) file. If you prefer, you can specify your own timestamps. Using this data, you can create video clips of any length.

Both video clips and the original video are normally added to Tartube's database. Of course, if you create clips in the Classic Mode tab, then they won't be added to the database - see 6.27.3 Video clips in Classic Mode_.

It's important to be aware of the limitations of this feature.

6.27.1 Video clip preferences


Before you start, take a look at **Tartube**'s video clip preferences (click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Clips**).

- It will save a lot of time if you let **Tartube** automatically extract timestamps, so most users should enable that
- Video clips are stored in the **Video Clips** folder by default, but you can store them alongside the original video, if you prefer
- Video clips can be added to **Tartube**'s database, either alongside or instead of the original video
- If you're going to make a lot of video clips, you can store them in a sub-folder (one for each original video)

If your database already contains a lot of videos, you can ask **Tartube** to extract timestamps from their descriptions or metadata.

- Click **Edit > System preferences > Files > Updates**
- Click the button **Extract timestamps for all videos**

If you prefer to update videos one at a time, right-click the video and select **Show video > Properties... > Timestamps**. Then click the button **Reset list using video description**.

6.27.2 Quick video clips

After checking or downloading a video, you can right-click it and select Special > Create video clips...

.. image:: screenshots/example34.png :alt: Create video clips window

The new dialogue window contains a lot of buttons, but it's actually quite simple.

If you have already downloaded a video, you can select Create clips from the downloaded video. However, it is often quicker just to download the clips you want.

There are two options for downloading clips. For some users, downloading with yt-dlp might produce better results than downloading with FFmpeg, but you can use whichever method you prefer.

A timestamp is in the form 15:29, meaning 15 minutes and 29 seconds, or 1:15:29, meaning 1 hour, 15 minutes and 29 seconds.

Each video clip is represented by two timestamps: a start and a stop timestamp. The start timestamp is compulsory. The stop timestamp is optional; if it isn't specified, then the video clip will end at the beginning of the next video clip (or at the end of the video, if there are no more.)

If you already know the start and stop timestamps for your clip, you can use this Download one clip / Create one clip section. Enter the timestamps, enter a clip title, and then click the Download clip / Create clip button. The procedure will begin immediately.

When you use the Download one clip / Create one clip section, the timestamps are forgotten as soon as the procedure is finished. In the section below, any timestamps you add are stored in Tartube's database permanently. (You can see them by right-clicking a video and selecting Show video > Properties... > Timestamps).

If you don't already see a list of timestamps in the window, you can click the Reset list using video description button. If this doesn't work, you will have to add the timestamps yourself.

When you're ready, you can click one of the buttons at the bottom of the window.

Download all clips / Create all clips will use all of the clips in the list. Download marked clips / Create marked clips will use only the clips you have marked. To mark a clip, select the small button on the left edge of the row.

Download all chapters is only available when you have selected Download new clips using yt-dlp. It uses yt-dlp's built-in ability to download separate video chapters; the timestamps in the list above are ignored.

6.27.3 Video clips in Classic Mode


As mentioned above, video clips created in the **Classic Mode** tab are not added to **Tartube**'s database.

To download video clips, click the **Add video clips** button. The dialogue window is similar to the one described above, but you will have to add the original video's URL. (Make sure you use the URL for a single video, not one for a channel or a playlist.)

It's a good idea to add a name for the original video, too; this will help to prevent duplicate file names.

When you click one of the **Download** buttons, the dialogue window disappears, and a line is added to the list at the bottom of the tab. Set up more downloads, if you like; when you've finished, click the **Download all** button.

If you want to create video clips from a video you've already downloaded, or if you want to download new clips without re-entering the URL, you can right-click the same line and select **Create video clips...**

6.27.4 Frequent video clip downloads

If you frequently create video clips, then you should set up custom downloads (see 6.14 Custom downloads_).

The next step is to check any videos, channels and playlists (for example by clicking the big Check all button in the Videos tab).

This will fetch information about the videos. In many cases, a video's description will include a list of timestamps, and in other cases the video's metadata will include a list of chapters. Assuming that you enabled the auto-extract settings (as described above), that information will have been extracted. If not, you can enter some timestamps manually: right-click a video, and select Show video > Properties > Timestamps.

When you're ready, perform a custom download in the normal way (for example, by clicking Operations > Custom download all). Videos will be downloaded as a series of video clips. (If no timestamps have been specified, then the video is downloaded whole.)

Don't forget that custom downloads can be enabled in the Classic Mode tab, if you need them. Before downloading, click the menu button in the top-right corner of the tab, and select Enable custom downloads.

6.27.5 Extracting video clips


There is an alternative way of splitting into clips a video you've already downloaded. This method allows advanced users to customise **FFmpeg**'s behaviour during the splitting process.

- Right click the video, and select **Special > Process with FFmpeg...**
- If the **Clips** tab is visible, click it
- Otherwise, the **Settings** tab will be visible. Click it, then in the **Output** line, select **Video clip**

You can split a video using the timestamps already extracted. In the **Clips** tab (if visible), you can select **Split videos using these timestamps** to specify your own timestamps. The second method is useful if FFmpeg is acting on multiple videos at the same time.

When you're ready to go, click the **Process files** button.

6.28 Video slices
-----------------

Unwanted parts of a video, such as adverts and intro/outro music, are called video **slices**.

**Tartube** can download a video with the slices removed. It can also remove slices from a video you have already downloaded. This functionality requires **FFmpeg**.

**Tartube** contacts a `SponsorBlock <https://sponsor.ajay.app/>`__ server to get a list of video slices. Not all videos have been added to the SponsorBlock database, so you can also specify your own slices when necessary.

It's important to be aware of the limitations of this feature.

- Downloading and slicing a video might take longer than a normal download. In some cases, it might be quicker just to skip over (or watch!) the adverts
- Some video formats cannot be sliced accurately. **.mp4** is much better than **.webm**. If you want to remove slices, we recommend downloading videos in **.mp4** format
- If you want to remove slices starting and ending at a particular frame, **Tartube** is not a suitable tool. Use a dedicated video editor instead

6.28.1 Video slice preferences

Before you start, take a look at Tartube's video slice preferences (click Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Slices).

If you want to update a video, you can right-click it and select Check video, which will update the video and contact SponsorBlock for a second time.

6.28.2 Quick video slices


After checking or downloading a video, you can right-click it and then select **Special > Remove video slices...**

.. image:: screenshots/example35.png
  :alt: Remove video slices window

The new dialogue window contains a lot of buttons, but it's actually quite simple.

- First, choose what you want to do

If you have already downloaded a video, you can select **Remove slices from the downloaded video**. However, it is sometimes quicker just to download the a new copy of the video with the slices removed, in which case, you should select **Download new sliced video**.

- Removing a single slice

A timestamp is in the form **15:29**, meaning 15 minutes and 29 seconds, or **1:15:29**, meaning 1 hour, 15 minutes and 29 seconds.

Each video slice is represented by two values: a start and a stop value. You can use a timestamp, or a value in seconds. The start value is compulsory. The stop value is optional; if it isn't specified, then the video slice will end at the beginning of the *next* video slice (or at the end of the video, if there are no more.)

If you already know the start and stop values for your slice, you can use this **Download sliced video** / **Create sliced video** section. Enter the values and then click the **Download sliced video** / **Create sliced video** button. The procedure will begin immediately.

- Removing multiple slices

When you use the **Download video with one slice** / **Create video with one slice** section, the time values are forgotten as soon as the procedure is finished. In the section below, any time values you add are stored in **Tartube**'s database permanently. (You can see them by right-clicking a video and selecting **Show video > Properties... > Slices**).

If you don't already see a list of time values in the window, you can click the **Contact SponsorBlock to reset list** button. If this doesn't work, you will have to add the time values yourself.

SponsorBlock categorises video slices, distinguishing between (for example) adverts and intro music. In this window, it is not necessary to choose a category before clicking the **Add slice** button, since you'll be choosing for yourself which slices to remove.

When you're ready, you can click one of the buttons at the bottom of the window.

**Download video, removing all slices** / **Create video, removing all slices** will use all of the slices in the list. **Download video, removing marked slices** / **Create video, removing marked slices** will use only the slices you have marked. To mark a slice, select the small button on the left edge of the row.

6.28.3 Video slices in Classic Mode

As mentioned above, sliced videos created in the Classic Mode tab are not added to Tartube's database.

Removing video slices in the Classic Mode tab is very simple; it is essentially an on/off setting. To enable it, select the Use SponsorBlock button.

This setting will not work at all unless you are using yt-dlp, and at least FFmpeg v5.1+. (Note that, at the time of writing, many users will have an older version of FFmpeg installed on their system.)

6.28.4 Frequent sliced video downloads


If you frequently remove slices from videos, then you should set up custom downloads (see `6.14 Custom downloads`_).

- Open the window for your preferred custom download. For example, click **Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Custom**, click **general** to select it, and click the **Edit** button
- In the new window, click **Download each video independently of its channel or playlist** to select it
- Now click the **Slices tab**
- You can now select **Remove slices from the video using SponsorBlock data**
- Select which types of slice you want to remove by clicking the small box on the left edge of each row
- When you're ready, click **OK** to close the window

The next step is to check any videos, channels and playlists (for example by clicking the **Check all** button in the **Videos** tab).

This will fetch information about the videos. Assuming that you allowed Tartube to contact SponsorBlock automatically (as described above), some of those videos will now have a red icon next to them, indicating that a list of slices has been obtained. If not, you can enter some slices manually: right-click a video, and select **Show video > Properties > Slices**.

Each video slice is represented by four properties:

- The start and stop times, in seconds or expressed as timestamps
- The stop time is optional. If you don't specify it, the end of the video is used
- **Category** is the type of slice; for example, a **sponsor** slice is an advert
- At the moment, there is only one **Action type** available: **skip** means to remove the slice from the video

When you're ready, perform a custom download in the normal way (for example, by clicking **Operations > Custom download all**). Tartube will download the video as a sequence of video clips, before concatenating (joining) them together into a single video. (If no slices have been specified, then the video is downloaded whole.)

Don't forget that custom downloads can be enabled in the **Classic Mode** tab, if you need them. Before downloading, click the menu button in the top-right corner of the tab, and select **Enable custom downloads**.

6.28.5 Extracting video slices

There is an alternative way of removing slices from a video you've already downloaded. This method allows advanced users to customise FFmpeg's behaviour during the slicing process.

You can slice a video using SponsorBlock data already obtained. In the Slices tab (if visible), you can select Use this slice data to specify your own video slices. The second option is useful if FFmpeg is acting on multiple videos at the same time.

When you're ready to go, click the Process files button.

6.29 Using youtube-dl forks

youtube-dl <https://youtube-dl.org/> is open-source software, and there are a number of forks available. Tartube officially supports both the original version and yt-dlp <https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp>.

If a youtube-dl fork is still compatible with the original, then Tartube can use it instead of the original.

6.30 Video comments

yt-dlp can retrieve a video's comments (youtube-dl cannot, currently).

The comments are written to the video's metadata (.info.json) file. Tartube can also store a copy of the comments in its database.

Fetching comments will increase the length of a download, perhaps by a lot. Adding comments to Tartube's database may increase its size dramatically, meaning that on startup, the database takes much longer to load.

This is how to enable comment fetching.

By default, the metadata file isn't kept permanently. If you want a permanent archive of video comments, you should do this:

Comments can be loaded from the metadata file into the Tartube database at any time.

Alternatively, you can update the entire database at once. (This may take a long time.)

6.31 Dark themes on MS Windows

On Linux and MacOS, Tartube will automatically assume the desktop theme (whatever it is). That isn't technically possible on MS Windows, but if you want a darker window to match your darker desktop theme, do this:

If you really want to, it's possible to add more themes to the small selection included in the MS Windows installer.

First, select a suitable theme pack. Tartube's installer includes this one <https://github.com/B00merang-Project/Windows-10-Dark>__. Let's imagine a future installer that doesn't include that particular theme pack; this is how you would add it.

Note that Windows10 is the name of the theme pack, not the name of your operating system.

Now you must install the theme pack itself at the correct location.

You can now set the theme from Tartube's menu.

7 Frequently-Asked Questions

7.1 Tartube won't install/won't run/doesn't work

Q: I can't install Tartube / I can't run Tartube / Tartube doesn't work properly!

A: See 7.24 Doesn't work on 32-bit Windows / Windows 7 / Windows 8_

A: See also 7.2 Update Tartube on MS Windows_

A: On Linux, if the DEB or RPM package doesn't work, try installing via PyPI: 5.3.5 Install using PyPI_

A: Please report any problems to the authors at our Github page <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>__.

As of v2.4.108, most system errors should be visible in Tartube's main window (in the Errors/Warnings tab). If not, it may be necessary to run Tartube from inside a terminal window in order to see the errors

On MS Windows, this is how to run Tartube from inside a terminal window:

7.2 Update Tartube on MS Windows

Q: You told me I need to update my Windows installation, how do I do that?

A: New installers for MS Windows are not released frequently, but small updates and fixes are uploaded frequently to Github <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/>__. You can update your Tartube installation quite easily.

7.3 "Download did not start" error

Q: When I try to download videos, nothing happens! In the Errors/Warnings tab, I can see "Download did not start"!

A: See 6.3 Setting the downloader's location_

7.4 Can't download a video

Q: I can't download the video!

A: Make sure youtube-dl is updated; see 6.2 Updating the downloader_

Before submitting a bug report <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>__, find out whether Tartube is responsible for the problem, or not. You can do this by opening a terminal window, and typing something like this:

youtube-dl

...where \<url> is the address of the video. If the video downloads successfully, then it's a Tartube problem that you can report. If it doesn't download, you should submit a bug report to the authors of the downloader instead. (You could also try a different downloader.)

Because most people don't like typing, Tartube offers a shortcut.

7.5 Downloads never finish

Q: I clicked the 'Download all' button and it starts, but never finishes!

A: This generally indicates an error in the Python, Gtk and/or Tartube code. The error should be visible in the Errors/Warnings tab. See 7.1 Tartube won't install/won't run/doesn't work_).

7.6 Videos are missing after a crash

Q: After I downloaded some videos, Tartube crashed, and now all my videos are missing!

A: Tartube creates a backup copy of its database, before trying to save a new copy. In the unlikely event of a failure, you can replace the broken database file with the backup file.

Tartube can make more frequent backups of your database file, if you want. See the options in Edit > System preferences... > Files > Backups.

Note that Tartube does not create backup copies of the videos you've downloaded. That is your responsibility!

7.7 Tartube database is broken

Q: The Tartube database is totally broken! How do I rebuild it? I don't want to download everything again!

A: If Tartube is able to load the database at all, then there is a built-in database repair tool. Click File > Check database integrity

A: Try loading one of the database backups - see 7.6 Videos are missing after a crash_

A: If the database file (tartube.db) is not actually corrupted, you can extract a list of channels and playlists from it. The list is exported as a JSON file.

To create the export, click File > Database preferences > Dump database to JSON.

The export can then be re-imported into your current database in the normal way (see 6.21.4 Exporting/importing the database_).

A: Earlier versions of Tartube did in fact introduce occasional blips into the database. It's possible (though unlikely) that some blips still exist, despite the best efforts of the authors. If you really want to rebuild the database from scratch, this is how to do it.

Firstly, click Media > Export/import > Export from database....

In the dialogue window, it's not necessary to select the button Include lists of videos. Click the OK button. Let Tartube create the backup file. You now have a backup of the names and URLs for every channel/playlist you've added.

Next, shut down Tartube.

Tartube's data folder contains the database file, tartube.db. Rename it (don't delete it).

Now you can restart Tartube. Tartube will create a brand new database file.

Click Media > Export/import > Import into database... and select the file you created moments ago.

All the channels/playlists should now be visible in the main window. Click the Check All button in the bottom-left corner and wait for it to finish.

Your new database now contains information about all the videos, but it doesn't know that most of those videos have been downloaded already. Click Operations > Refresh database... to take care of that.

A: Database files created by Tartube v1.1.0 and earlier cannot be loaded due to serialisation issues. There is possibly no way to fix this.

7.8 'Check all' button takes too long

Q: I clicked the 'Check all' button, but the operation takes so long! It only found two new videos!

A: By default, the underlying youtube-dl software checks an entire channel, even if it contains thousands of videos.

You can drastically reduce the time this takes by telling Tartube to stop checking/downloading videos, if it receives (for example) details about three videos it has already checked/downloaded.

This works well on sites like YouTube, which send information about videos in the order they were uploaded, newest first. We can't guarantee it will work on every site.

7.9 'Download all' button takes too long

Q: I clicked the 'Download all' button. The whole operation took so long, even though Tartube only downloaded two new videos!

A: youtube-dl can create an archive file. The archive file remembers which videos have been downloaded, so that youtube-dl can skip them (which saves a lot of time).

To enable this functionality, click Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Archive and select Allow downloader to create its own archive file.

By default, the archive file is stored in the same folder as the video, but you can change this behaviour, if you like.

7.10 Channel downloads one video at a time

Q: In the Progress tab, 'Max downloads' is set to 2. But when I download my favourite channel, it downloads only one video at a time!

When you add a channel (or a playlist), Tartube knows the URL of the channel, but it doesn't know anything about the videos inside it. Therefore it passes the URL of the channel to youtube-dl. Therefore the channel is downloaded, one video at a time.

You can download multiple videos from the same channel simultaneously, if you want (but it probably won't speed up your overall download).

Alternatively, you can use custom downloads (see 6.14 Custom downloads_).

7.11 Tartube database file is getting in the way

Q: Tartube stores its database file in the same place as its videos. Why can't I store them in different places?

A: This question has been asked by several people who were storing their videos on some remote filesystem (perhaps in the so-called 'cloud'). They found that the videos could be downloaded to that remote location, but that Tartube couldn't save its database file there.

At the moment, the answer is 'Tartube is working fine, fix your own computer'. Perhaps in the future, someone will think of an urgent need for the database file and the data folder to be split up. Until then, there are a number of good reasons for keeping them together:

7.12 Duplicate video names

Q: I downloaded a channel, but some of the videos in the channel have the same name. Tartube only downloads one of them!

A: Tartube can create files with names in different formats. The name of two videos might be identical, but each video will have a unique ID, so you can add the ID to the filename.

7.13 Convert video to audio

Q: I want to convert the video files to audio files!

A: See 6.22 Converting to audio_

7.14 Video is downloaded as separate video/audio files

Q: I downloaded a video and expected a single video file, instead Tartube downloaded several files, none of which are playable!

Q: I set the download option 'If a merge is required after post-processing, output to this format', but it doesn't work!

A: The solution to both problems is to install FFmpeg, and to set the output format correctly.

Firstly, make sure FFmpeg is installed on your system - see 6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv_.

Secondly, set your desired output format. Open the Download options window (for example, click Edit > General download options... > Formats). Add a format like mp4 to the List of preferred formats, then add the same format to If a merge is required after post-processing, output to this format.

For some reason, youtube-dl ignores the download option unless the format is specified in both places. (You will see a warning if you forget.)

.. image:: screenshots/example31.png :alt: The Download options window

Tartube can merge a video and audio file together, long after they have been downloaded - see 6.26 More information about FFmpeg and AVConv_.

7.15 Too many folders in the main window

Q: The main window is full of folders I never use! I can't see my own channels, playlists and folders!

A: In the main window's toolbar, click the Hide (most) system folders button (a red folder)

A: In the main menu, click Media > Show/hide > Hide (most) system folders

A: Right-click the folders you don't want to see, and select Folder actions > Hide folder. To reverse this step, in the main menu click Media > Show/hide > Show hidden folders

A: In the main menu, click Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Videos, and click Show smaller icons to select it

A: If you have many channels and playlists, create a folder, and then drag-and-drop some channels/playlists into it

7.16 Not enough videos in the main window

Q: I want to see all the videos on a single page, not spread over several pages!

A: In the toolbar at the bottom of the Videos tab, set the page size to zero, and press ENTER.

7.17 Toolbar is too small

Q: The toolbar is too small! There isn't enough room for all the buttons!

A: Click Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Main window and then click Don't show labels in the main window toolbar to select it.

MS Windows users can already see a toolbar without labels.

7.18 Toolbar is too big

Q: The toolbar is too big! Make it go away!

A: Click Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Main window, and then click Don't show the main window toolbar. The new setting is applied when you restart Tartube.

7.19 YouTube name/password not accepted

Q: I added my YouTube username and password, but I am still seeing authentification errors!

A: The questioner is talking about the settings in Edit > General download options... > Advanced > Authentication.

This is a youtube-dl issue. A general solution is described in this post <https://github.com/ytdl-org/youtube-dl/issues/21313#issuecomment-499496235>__.

The solution describes how to create a cookies.txt file, which can be specified as a download option.

Having created the file, in the same edit window, click the Name tab. In the box labelled Additional download options, you can add:

--cookies=YT-cookies.txt

See also the Tartube thread here <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues/68>__.

7.20 Georestriction workarounds don't work

Q: I want to download a video, but it's blocked in my region. I set the geostriction workarounds, but I still can't download the video!

A: youtube-dl provides some options for bypassing region-blocking. To show them, click Edit > General download options...

Click the Show advanced download options button if it's visible, then click the tabs Advanced > Geo-restriction.

Unfortunately, although these options exist, websites are not compelled to respect them. YouTube, in particular, may completely ignore them.

In many cases, the only remedy is to buy a subscription to a VPN <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network>__ (or to the video website itself).

7.21 Video website blocks me

Q: I downloaded some videos from a channel, but then YouTube blocked me, and I can't download the rest of them!

A: Change your IP address and try again.

A: Subscribe to a VPN <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_private_network>__.

A: You can specify a list of proxies (Edit > System preferences... > Operations > Proxies). During a download operation, Tartube will cycle between these proxies.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to switch between proxies while downloading a channel (youtube-dl does not offer that functionality). But the proxy list will work well if you're trying to download ten different channels.

7.22 Too many blocked videos

Q: The Videos tab is full of 'blocked' videos!

.. image:: screenshots/example32.png :alt: A selection of blocked videos

A: If Tartube detects a video that has been age-restricted, censored or otherwise blocked, it is still added to the database. Unfortunately, Tartube doesn't know anything about the video, not even when it was uploaded, so videos like this appear at the top of the list.

If you don't want to see blocked videos in the Videos tab, deselect the button in the toolbar. (If you're not sure how to use the toolbar, see see 6.16 Filtering and finding videos_.)

If you don't want the blocked videos added to your database at all, you can click Edit > System preferences > Operations > Downloads, and then de-select Add censored, age-restricted and other blocked videos to the database

7.23 MS Windows installer is too big

Q: Why is the Windows installer so big?

A: Tartube is a Linux application. The installer for MS Windows contains not just Tartube itself, but a copy of Python and a whole bunch of essential graphics libraries, all of them ported to MS Windows.

Installing FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>__ will dramatically increase the size of the installed folder.

If you're at all suspicious that such a small application uses such a large installer, you are invited to examine the installed files for yourself:

Everything is copied into this single folder. The installer doesn't modify the Windows registry, nor does it install files anywhere else (other than to the desktop and the Start Menu).

The NSIS scripts used to create the installers can be found here:

The scripts contain full instructions, so you should be able to create your own installer and then compare it to the official one.

7.24 Doesn't work on 32-bit Windows / Windows 7 / Windows 8

Q: Tartube does not install/work on my ancient computer!

A: MSYS2 has dropped support for older Windows systems. As of November 2023, the minimum requirement is 64bit Windows 8.1 / Windows Server 2012 R2 <https://www.msys2.org/docs/windows_support/>__.

Tartube cannot be run on any 32-bit Windows system.

Tartube can be run on Windows 7 and Windows 8, but you will need to use an older installer <https://sourceforge.net/projects/tartube/files/v2.4.386/install-tartube-with-ffmpeg-2.4.386-64bit.exe/download>__.

After running the installer, you can manually update Tartube to the most recent version, as described here: 7.2 Update Tartube on MS Windows_.

7.25 Tartube can't detect livestreams

Q: Tartube can't detect upcoming livestreams at all!

A: Click Edit > System preferences... General > Modules.

If the Python feedparser module <https://pypi.org/project/feedparser/>__ is not available, you can install it via PyPI. On Linux/BSD, the command to use is something like:

pip3 install feedparser

The Tartube installer for 64-bit MS Windows already contains a copy of feedparser, so there is no need to install it again.

7.26 Livestream is already finished

Q: Tartube is showing a livestream that finished hours/days/centuries ago!

A: Right-click the video and select Livestream > Not a livestream.

7.27 Can't hear livestream alarms

Q: I set an alarm for an upcoming livestream, but I didn't hear anything!

A: Obviously you have already checked that your speakers are turned on, so now click Edit > System preferences... > General > Modules.

If the Python playsound module <https://pypi.org/project/playsound/>__ is not available, you can install it via PyPI. On Linux/BSD, the command to use is something like:

pip3 install playsound

The Tartube installer for 64-bit MS Windows already contains a copy of playsound, so there is no need to install it again.

7.28 Some icons not visible

Q: Icons in the Videos tab are broken! They all look the same!

Q: Icons in the Classic Mode tab are broken! They all look the same!

A: Since v2.4, Tartube uses a set of custom icons, replacing system (stock) icons. This was because some users were complaining that their (broken) systems didn't provide the stock icons.

If you want to restore stock icons, click Edit > System preferences... > Windows > Main window and then click Replace stock icons with custom icons (in case stock icons are not visible) to deselect it. Click the OK button to close the window, then restart Tartube.

7.29 Video thumbnails not visible

Q: Tartube doesn't download video thumbnails any more! It used to work fine!

A: In June 2020, YouTube changed its image format from .jpg to .webp. Unfortunately, most software (including the graphics libraries used by Tartube) don't support .webp images yet. Worse still, YouTube begain sending .webp thumbnails mislabelled as .jpg files.

In September 2020, Tartube and youtube-dl added separate fixes for this problem. These fixes both depend on FFmpeg <https://ffmpeg.org/>_, so they won't work if FFmpeg is not installed on your system - see 6.4 Installing FFmpeg / AVConv.

If you have already downloaded a lot of .webp images, you can ask Tartube to convert them back to .jpg. Once converted, they will be visible in the main window.

7.30 Video text not visible

Q: I can't see the text below each video!

A: If the background colours in the Videos and Drag and Drop tabs are getting in the way, you can change them: click Edit > Sysem preferences... > Windows > Colours.

7.31 Graphs not visible

Q: My buddy installed Tartube, and he showed me some download history graphs. But when I looked for that on my computer, I couldn't find them!

A: Tartube shows download statistics in a number of places, for example Edit > System preferences... > Files > History.

The graphs are created by matplotlib <https://matplotlib.org/>__, but none of the Tartube installers include it (because it's quite a large download). If you want graphs, you have to install matplotlib yourself.

On Linux/BSD, use your system's software manager.

On MS Windows, click Operations > Install matplotlib...

7.32 Tartube is not visible in the system tray

Q: Tartube is not visible in the system tray! There is just an empty space where the Tartube icon should be!

A: This problem exists on certain Linux desktop environments (e.g. Cinnamon <https://github.com/linuxmint/Cinnamon>__) which have still not fixed an ancient bug. The bug is related to a message you might be able to see in a terminal window:

gdk_window_thaw_toplevel_updates: assertion 'window->update_and_descendants_freeze_count > 0' failed.

Other desktop environments (e.g. MATE <https://mate-desktop.org/>__) display the Tartube icon correctly.

7.33 Tartube is not portable

Q: I want to install Tartube on a USB stick. How do I make Tartube portable?

A: On MS Windows, download the portable edition rather than the usual installer - see 5.1 Installation - MS Windows_.

A: On other operating systems, just download the source code and run it. Installation is not necessary (as long as you have installed the correct dependencies) - see 5.3.10 Run without installing_.

Tartube looks for a configuration file in two places: firstly, the directory (folder) containing the source code (the one that contains a setup.py file), and then, the default location for the system.

If it doesn't find a configuration file in either location, it creates one in the default location for your system.

However, you can create an empty settings.json file in the source code directory. If Tartube sees that empty file, it starts writing config files to that location, rather than to the default location. The source code directory is now truly portable, since when you move it somewhere, its configuration file moves with it.

You can see both locations by clicking Edit > System preferences... > Files > Config.

7.34 Run out of disk space

Q: When I try to download videos, Tartube refuses, complaining "You have only X / Y Mb remaining on your device". But I'm using an external hard drive with over a trillion terabytes of empty space!

A: Some users have reported that, when using a virtual machine (e.g. VirtualBox <https://www.virtualbox.org/>__), and when downloading videos to a separate filesystem (e.g. an external hard drive), Tartube checks the size of the virtual filesystem instead of the external drive.

This seems to be an issue with the virtualisation software itself (we have confirmed that everything works as expected on a non-virtual system).

The only thing that can be done is to disable the checks and warnings altogether. Click Edit > System preferences > Files > Device, and deselect both Before checking/downloading videos, warn user if disk space is less than and Halt downloads if disk space is less than.

7.35 Cannot embed thumbnails in videos

Q: In download options, I enabled embedding thumbnails in my downloaded videos, but it doesn't work!

A: Make sure you have installed FFmpeg.

A: Make sure you have not disabled the setting to remove .webp thumbnails after converting them to another format. Open Edit > System preferences > Operations > Downloads. If Convert .webp thumbnails into .jpg thumbnails is enabled, then ...but don't delete the original thumbnails should also be enabled.

7.36 Cannot install FFmpeg

*Q: I'm trying to install Tartube on MS Windows. When Tartube prompts me to install FFmpeg, the installation fails!**

A: The software library that makes FFmpeg available for download breaks frequently. The only solution is to wait for the library to be fixed (but please still report the problem to Tartube's authors in the usual way).

This issue only affects users on MS Windows.

7.37 Annoying messages after downloads

Q: Every time Tartube downloads videos, it shows an annoying dialogue window. Make it stop!

A: The dialogues can be disabled in Edit > System preferences > Operations > Actions > Don't notify the user at the end of an operation.

7.38 No puedo hablar inglés

Q: ¡No puedo usar Tartube porque no hablo inglés!

A: Necesitamos más traductores.

If you would like to contribute a translation of this project, please read this document <docs/translate.rst>__.

Contributions can be made using Tartube's Weblate page <https://hosted.weblate.org/projects/tartube/>__, if that is convenient.

8 Contributing

Report a bug: Use the Github issues <https://github.com/axcore/tartube/issues>__ page

9 Authors

See the AUTHORS <AUTHORS>__ file.

10 License

Tartube is licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License v2.1 <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/lgpl-2.1-standalone.html>__.

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