3.6 Save to Disk Pops Debugging Command Window

skipster10 · 08-12-2017, 08:31 AM

In 3.6, If I choose several books and Save To Disk in a Single Directory, a Command Window pops open with "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Apps - General\calibre 64bit - E-book Management>rem Src: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5185030/drag-and-drop-batch-file-for-multiple-files/5192427#5192427" and awaits "Press any key...".

skipster10 · 08-12-2017, 08:51 AM

I fixed this by deleting a script that I had created in "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test.bat" that contained the line "rem Src: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5185030/drag-and-drop-batch-file-for-multiple-files/5192427#5192427". Note that I was Saving to Disk in a Single Directory "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test" when that command window popped open.

Why would saving books to directory "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test" cause execution of a batch file at "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test.bat"?

kovidgoyal · 08-13-2017, 02:32 AM

calibre most definitely does not execute anything when saving books to disk.

skipster10 · 08-14-2017, 10:07 AM

I was able to recreate the behavior. I created C:\Users\Username\Downloads\test.bat whose contents were:

REM 12345
PAUSE

I then Saved to Disk in a Single Directory and selected the "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test" folder.

After the books are saved to disk, I get a Command Window with:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Apps - General\calibre 64bit - E-book Management>rem 12345

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Apps - General\calibre 64bit - E-book Management>PAUSE
Press any key to continue . . .

kovidgoyal · 08-14-2017, 10:37 AM

Saving to disk opens the target folder after saving. Which is done by passing the folder path to windows. Since you have a test.bat file and test folder, when calibre asks windows to open the folder it executes the bat file instead, which presumably happens because microsoft thought it a good idea to execute files with .exe/.bat and .cmd extensions even when the full filename with extension is not supplied. Given that microsoft also thought having magic filenames in their filesystems sunch as NUL and COM was a good idea, I'm not surprised.

skipster10 · 08-14-2017, 10:49 AM

Thank you for the explanation. Now it makes sense.

DNSB · 08-15-2017, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kovidgoyal

Saving to disk opens the target folder after saving. Which is done by passing the folder path to windows. Since you have a test.bat file and test folder, when calibre asks windows to open the folder it executes the bat file instead, which presumably happens because microsoft thought it a good idea to execute files with .exe/.bat and .cmd extensions even when the full filename with extension is not supplied. Given that microsoft also thought having magic filenames in their filesystems sunch as NUL and COM was a good idea, I'm not surprised.

You really can't blame Microsoft for those reserved names since device special files were used long before Gates and Allen wrote their first line of code. You might place some blame on Gary Kildall and CP/M since CP/M's PIP program supported a number of special device names and QDOS (the ancestor of MS/PC-DOS) inherited them (hmmm.... perhaps pirated them might come closer

) but then we have to move back to DEC's RT-11 or OS/8 for their influence on Gary Kildall. Not so fond memories of RT-11 and dishwasher sized disk drives. Subtract One and Branch. Honestly, we weren't referring to management when we muttered that opcode.

kovidgoyal · 08-15-2017, 12:21 AM

I dont blame microsoft, there were probably good reasons for it at the time, and their committment to backward compatibility is admirable. I'm just saying that given that the windows filesystem is full of these kinds of traps, it's not surprising to add one more to the list.

08-12-2017, 08:31 AM	#1
skipster10 Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: iPad Pro 10.5	3.6 Save to Disk Pops Debugging Command Window In 3.6, If I choose several books and Save To Disk in a Single Directory, a Command Window pops open with "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Apps - General\calibre 64bit - E-book Management>rem Src: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5185030/drag-and-drop-batch-file-for-multiple-files/5192427#5192427" and awaits "Press any key...".

08-12-2017, 08:51 AM	#2
skipster10 Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: iPad Pro 10.5	Solved - Does this Indicate a Bug in Calibre? I fixed this by deleting a script that I had created in "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test.bat" that contained the line "rem Src: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5185030/drag-and-drop-batch-file-for-multiple-files/5192427#5192427". Note that I was Saving to Disk in a Single Directory "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test" when that command window popped open. Why would saving books to directory "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test" cause execution of a batch file at "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test.bat"?

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08-13-2017, 02:32 AM	#3
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,850 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	calibre most definitely does not execute anything when saving books to disk.

08-14-2017, 10:07 AM	#4
skipster10 Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: iPad Pro 10.5	I was able to recreate the behavior. I created C:\Users\Username\Downloads\test.bat whose contents were: REM 12345 PAUSE I then Saved to Disk in a Single Directory and selected the "C:\Users\Username\Downloads\Test" folder. After the books are saved to disk, I get a Command Window with: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Apps - General\calibre 64bit - E-book Management>rem 12345 C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Apps - General\calibre 64bit - E-book Management>PAUSE Press any key to continue . . .

08-14-2017, 10:37 AM	#5
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,850 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	Saving to disk opens the target folder after saving. Which is done by passing the folder path to windows. Since you have a test.bat file and test folder, when calibre asks windows to open the folder it executes the bat file instead, which presumably happens because microsoft thought it a good idea to execute files with .exe/.bat and .cmd extensions even when the full filename with extension is not supplied. Given that microsoft also thought having magic filenames in their filesystems sunch as NUL and COM was a good idea, I'm not surprised.

08-14-2017, 10:49 AM	#6
skipster10 Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2013 Device: iPad Pro 10.5	Thank you for the explanation. Now it makes sense.

08-15-2017, 12:21 AM	#8
kovidgoyal creator of calibre Posts: 43,850 Karma: 22666666 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Mumbai, India Device: Various	I dont blame microsoft, there were probably good reasons for it at the time, and their committment to backward compatibility is admirable. I'm just saying that given that the windows filesystem is full of these kinds of traps, it's not surprising to add one more to the list.