[Idea] copy YouTube video transcriptions efficiently

[0uros]

⚬ PROBLEM: Many times, I want to copy the transcription of a YouTube video, but I have to manually select all the text in the video to be able to copy it, making it time-consuming and tedious when dealing with multiple videos (this is useful for sending it to some AI).

⚬ SOLUTION:
Add an option to quickly copy everything in a transcription, like a button, either in the transcription section itself or elsewhere in the UI.

⚬ ALTERNATIVES: Some way to automatically select all the text in transcriptions.

⚬ RELEVANCE / SCOPE: Scope is complicated to measure; it's something I don't think many people are actively looking for, but at the same time, it's something I haven't seen anyone develop, so it could be niche, but it could also be the first and only solution to that niche problem or situation.

⚬ "SIDE EFFECTS":
I don't believe anyone would be bothered by an easier way to do something that can already be done.

SHORT Table	(Summary)
Problem	Want to copy YouTube video transcriptions efficiently.
Solution	Add a quick "Copy All" option in the transcription section.
Alternatives	Provide automatic text selection in transcriptions.
Scope	Niche problem; potential unique solution.
Side effects	Unlikely to bother users.

[asifurrahaman754]

The idea is good, i would like to work on this, can anyone assign me?

[asifurrahaman754]

@ImprovedTube any suggestion as to how can I get started with the codebase? I have read the wiki and discussion but didn't find a straightforward guide to get started, I might miss something important. Would really help if you can tell

[ImprovedTube]

hi @asifurrahaman754! i regret the delay, you can join us on discord too.

• We have some global variables & regex here: https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/blob/bdc9e0ea6d8113d3514ef22f8657473ae9622032/js%26css/web-accessible/core.js#L4 https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/blob/bdc9e0ea6d8113d3514ef22f8657473ae9622032/js%26css/web-accessible/core.js#L32-L40

• We observe the DOM for changes to apply features as soon as certain elements appear https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/blob/bdc9e0ea6d8113d3514ef22f8657473ae9622032/js%26css/web-accessible/functions.js#L5

• We observe changes of settings, so that we can call the feature with no page-reload (or possibly an introductory animation, or undo a feature when it is switched off) https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/blob/bdc9e0ea6d8113d3514ef22f8657473ae9622032/js%26css/web-accessible/core.js#L168

• We have our extension popup's GUI & re-purposable functions in our little library https://github.com/code-charity/SATUS

[ImprovedTube]

most features can be developed indepently of the rest @asifurrahaman754

(this one might not be one line, while #1774 could be near the minimum.)

thank you again!

[asifurrahaman754]

most features can be developed indepently of the rest @asifurrahaman754

of course this one might not be e smallest webdev task found in #good-first-issue, while #1774 should be near the minimum.

thank you again!

Thanks for your help

[ElmorenohWTF]

I think this could be incredibly useful for things like asking ChatGPT for video summaries. I would love to see this implemented.

[asifurrahaman754]

@ImprovedTube please review the pr and please add "hacktoberfest-accepted" on that pr.

[asifurrahaman754]

@0uros enjoy the feature

[0uros]

@asifurrahaman754 Thanks! The feature has already been implemented? Under what name can I search for it or where it is located?

[asifurrahaman754]

@0uros you can find it Appearance -> Details -> Copy transcript

[0uros]

@asifurrahaman754 atm I don't see the option (version 4.355) :P

Thanks anyway, I hope to use the feature soon

[asifurrahaman754]

@0uros the feature is approved, maybe they didn't add it yet

[ImprovedTube]

hi @0uros you can test the github repo version https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/archive/master.zip it can also be uploaded to the stores too with the next update, besides it didnt work here just yet.

• Also Google asks for a reason for the "tabs" permission (possibly longer review time).
  And I think WebStore's alert on installation will say that the extension accesses browser history? (and disable it at update everybody until users agree. - So while we probably need the tabs permission for many reasons at one point in future, we might not require it today. (permissions can also be requested optionally the first time a feature is used)

  • Yet our other buttons for screenshot or ImprovedTube Icon itself appear on the Youtube page. So this should be an option. @asifurrahaman754.

    • Existing positions:
      • player controls : https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/blob/d8733eaf2037f084078d52aaf5df34cd7253690e/js%26css/web-accessible/www.youtube.com/player.js#L547
      • header, draggable, ...https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/blob/d8733eaf2037f084078d52aaf5df34cd7253690e/js%26css/web-accessible/www.youtube.com/settings.js#L6
      • below player https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/blob/d8733eaf2037f084078d52aaf5df34cd7253690e/js%26css/web-accessible/www.youtube.com/appearance.js#L316
    • We can also offer an option to make it appear position:absolute or position:fixed (this still works when youtube changes and avoid bugs like here: https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/issues/1544 https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/blob/d8733eaf2037f084078d52aaf5df34cd7253690e/js%26css/web-accessible/www.youtube.com/playlist.js#L23 )

  • The way you started will be nice too. We can put some buttons on the front screen of the popup, to make it efficient (two clicks)

[asifurrahaman754]

@ImprovedTube I also thought that I could add a copy button in the youtube description. that way the user can easily copy the transcript in just one click. what do you think about that?And about the tab permission, i needed that. I am not sure if i can do that without the tab permission. If you have anything, please suggest

[ImprovedTube]

hi! @asifurrahaman754

• when removing the <span>'s we can add line breaks \r\n
• consider transcripts also do have headlines in between
• when opened the transcripts look like <div id="header> <ytd-transcript-segment-renderer> <yt-formatted-string ...> ... </ytd-transcript-segment-renderer>

also thought that I could add a copy button in the youtube description

also can be the 4th one here:

• below player https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/blob/d8733eaf2037f084078d52aaf5df34cd7253690e/js%26css/web-accessible/www.youtube.com/appearance.js#L316

---

I am not sure if i can do that without the tab permission.

why? this part looks optional:

const YOUTUBE_WATCH_URL = "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v"; chrome.runtime.onMessage.addListener( function(request) { if (request.action === "copyTranscript" && request?.tab?.url.startsWith(YOUTUBE_WATCH_URL)){ copyTranscript(); }else if(request.action === "copyTranscript" && !request?.tab?.url.startsWith(YOUTUBE_WATCH_URL)){ alert('This feature is only available on YouTube video pages.'); } } );

thanks!

[0uros]

Any news? 😅

[ImprovedTube]

hi @0uros, hopefully soon! (entertianing? : https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/issues/1568#issuecomment-1870934393 )

happy 2024 @asifurrahaman754 ♡

[ThoughtPhotography]

Hoping to be able to download/copy full transcripts was the main reason I installed the add-on so I'd love to see it added.

[ImprovedTube]

hi! and thanks @CATIOR (#2467)

this work is still pending to be finished:
https://github.com/code-charity/youtube/pull/1792