[Abandoned] Trying to get two actions on a single file in a Dolphin Service menu

[oshunluvr]

I use Dolphin service menus to extract subtitles from video files. Then, if the subtitle is ssa format, I use a second service menu to convert it to srt. Independently, they both work fine. I'd like to combine this into a single service menu; i.e extract and convert automatically when the file type is ssa.

The subtitle extraction is done with a python script that I call from the service menu like this:

Exec=$HOME/.local/share/applications/mkvextract-allsubs-eng %u

The conversion to srt is much simpler and uses ffmpeg, so it's a one-liner:

ffmpeg -i "$fn" "${fn%.*}".srt

I suspect I could add the conversion function to the python script, but I don't know python at all - the python script is something I found on the 'net.

I have attempted this in the service menu:

Exec=$HOME/.local/share/applications/mkvextract-allsubs-eng %u; fn=%u; if [[ "${fn#"${fn%???}"}" = "ssa" ]]; then ffmpeg -i "$fn" "${fn%.*}".srt; rm "$fn"; fi

The results are the extraction occurs but not the conversion.

All the pieces in the if statement work from the command line so I think the issue is in the Service Menu action itself - like once the python script is called the service menu stops provessing.

Looking for ideas..

[Snowhog]

Looking for ideas..

Put the actions in a .desktop file and call that from your custom Service menu?

[oshunluvr]

Put the actions in a .desktop file and call that from your custom Service menu?

I don't seem to be able to call two actions from a single Exec= line. Here's the desktop file:

[Desktop Entry]
Type=Service
Icon=video-x-matroska
X-KDE-ServiceTypes=KonqPopupMenu/Plugin
MimeType=video/x-matroska;text/x-microdvd
Actions=geteng
Encoding=UTF-8

[Desktop Action geteng]
Name=Extract English subs
Icon=archive-extract
Exec=$HOME/.local/share/applications/mkvextract-allsubs-eng %u; fn=%u; if [[ "${fn#"${fn%???}"}" = "ssa" ]]; then ffmpeg -i "$fn" "${fn%.*}".srt; rm "$fn"; fi

But maybe calling a script that then calls the Python script and finally then the rename action might work? Not sure how I'd handle the variables though...

[Snowhog]

AI Overview

Standard .desktop files do not support multiple Exec= lines within a single [Desktop Entry] section. If you include more than one, only one will be recognized.

To run multiple commands or applications from one file, use one of the following methods:

1. Chain Commands in One Line

You can use a shell wrapper to execute multiple commands sequentially or simultaneously:

• Sequential (Wait for completion): Runs command 2 after command 1 finishes successfully.
  Exec=sh -c "command1 && command2"
• Unconditional Sequence: Runs command 2 after command 1 finishes, regardless of whether command 1 succeeded.
  Exec=sh -c "command1; command2"
• Simultaneous (Background): Runs both at the same time.
  Exec=sh -c "command1 & command2"

2. Use a Shell Script

For complex sequences, write a separate shell script and point the Exec= line to it.

• Create a file (e.g., myscript.sh) and make it executable: chmod +x myscript.sh.
• Set the full path in your .desktop file:
  Exec=/home/user/scripts/myscript.sh

[die.boer]

I don't seem to be able to call two actions from a single Exec= line. Here's the desktop file:

Replace your Exec= line with this:
Exec=bash -c '$HOME/.local/share/applications/mkvextract-allsubs-eng "$1"; for f in "${1%.*}".*.ss[a]; do [ -e "$f" ] || continue; ffmpeg -i "$f" "${f%.*}.srt"; rm "$f"; done' _ %u
then after editing run

kbuildsycoca6

(or kbuildsycoca5) depending on your KDE version.
then restart dolphin

killall dolphin

see if it works ?

[oshunluvr]

Replace your Exec= line with this:
Exec=bash -c '$HOME/.local/share/applications/mkvextract-allsubs-eng "$1"; for f in "${1%.*}".*.ss[a]; do [ -e "$f" ] || continue; ffmpeg -i "$f" "${f%.*}.srt"; rm "$f"; done' _ %u
then after editing run

kbuildsycoca6

(or kbuildsycoca5) depending on your KDE version.
then restart dolphin

killall dolphin

see if it works ?

Here's the errors when using the above:

kf.config.core: Skipping Action "_SEPARATOR_" due to empty Name field in file "/home/stuart/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/subvol_manager.desktop"
kf.service.services: The action "geteng" in the desktop file "/home/stuart/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/mkvsubextract.desktop" has no Exec key and not D-Bus activatable
kf.kio.core: No Exec field in "/home/stuart/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/mkvsubextract.desktop"
kf.kio.gui: "" "No Exec field in /home/stuart/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/mkvsubextract.desktop"
​

[skyfishgoo]

why not just write a script that does what you need done, and then call the script from the service menu.

[die.boer]

Here's the errors when using the above:

kf.config.core: Skipping Action "_SEPARATOR_" due to empty Name field in file "/home/stuart/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/subvol_manager.desktop"
kf.service.services: The action "geteng" in the desktop file "/home/stuart/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/mkvsubextract.desktop" has no Exec key and not D-Bus activatable
kf.kio.core: No Exec field in "/home/stuart/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/mkvsubextract.desktop"
kf.kio.gui: "" "No Exec field in /home/stuart/.local/share/kio/servicemenus/mkvsubextract.desktop"
​

hmm think KDE's parser breaks if the command gets too complex inline,specially with ' inside EXEC=
best is to probably just make a script and run it from the service menu ,like others suggested.
it'll be more reliable

[oshunluvr]

Thank you to everyone who offered help, but this is now a dead issue.

I think the real problem is I screwed up: The extracted "ssa" filename does not match the source MKV file - it's amended by the python script and includes "English" and a couple other tags like track number and track type. This causes the if statement in the service menu to always return "false" so the conversion is not happening. The Service Menu itself IS working, it's just not written correctly.

I didn't think it all the way through.

To further complicate this, a movie file can have more than one English subtitle track type and quite often has 3 - a full subtitle track, a "hearing impaired" track (includes text of various sound effects), and a "forced" track (English to replace a foreign language). The python script extracts ALL English subtitle tracks, which is desired.

So clearly, my desired goal is not achievable using this method.

I also tried doing the ffmpeg conversion by running a "watch" on the folder using "inotifywait" which worked on the ssa files but for some reason blocked the python script from working at all. I could move an ssa file into the folder and it would convert. But the extraction action using the python script would not extract anything while the inotifywait action was active.

Back to the drawing board...


...or maybe some Python training, LOL