Feature Request: External Download Manager integration (Download Master, Internet Download Manager)

[filth]

Hello CatsXP team,

First of all, thank you for your work on CatsXP. This browser is currently the closest alternative to Cent Browser and is very much appreciated by many users.

There is one feature that makes Cent Browser unique and very useful: its Advanced Download Manager provides the option to send download links to external download managers (Download Master, Internet Download Manager) through COM/DDE integration. Importantly, the user can choose whether to download with the built-in downloader or forward the link to an external one.

This feature is extremely important for many users, because external download managers provide better speed control, scheduling, and reliability compared to the built-in downloader.

Earlier, I asked Cent Browser developers to extend this feature by adding support for Download Master (link: https://www.centbrowser.net/en/showthread.php?tid=4949
). Cent Browser is still in active development (currently on Chromium 132), but it is behind the latest Chromium version. CatsXP updates faster and could implement this feature earlier on a modern Chromium base. That would make CatsXP even more attractive to users who value powerful download capabilities.

It would be amazing if CatsXP could add a similar option:

The built-in downloader continues to work as now,

But with an option for the user to send downloads to external managers (Download Master, Internet Download Manager) via COM/DDE.

Thank you for considering this request!

[catsxp]

The downloaded flexible window allows for the selection of external download tools

[filth]

The downloaded flexible window allows for the selection of external download tools

Yes, this feature works, but with these keys (/d $1 /p $2 /f $3) Download Master just opens without starting the download. Also, this method does not provide a one-click choice between using the built-in downloader or an external one. When you need to download many different files using both the built-in and the external downloader, this becomes inconvenient — in Cent Browser it is much more convenient.

[filth]

I figured out the keys for DM: with these keys $1 referer=$2 filename=$3 it works.

But it’s still not a one-click solution. Could you add presets that will be shown in this download window? This way it will be possible to configure multiple external downloaders and choose them in one click (e.g. DM, IDM). It would also be nice to add to the context menu the ability to download a file using different presets.

This is how it is implemented in Cent Browser:


1 click → Download Master opens with its download window.
2 click → The built-in downloader starts downloading.

[catsxp]

The download tool does not have unified interface parameters, making it impossible to build in matching preset parameters

[filth]

The download tool does not have unified interface parameters, making it impossible to build in matching preset parameters

I really appreciate the unique features you have added to CatsXP. For example, the support for external downloaders with $1/$2/$3 variables is very useful and something that Chromium does not provide.

I understand your point, but I would like to clarify: Chromium itself has no built-in support for external download tools or parameter substitution. Its standard download manager only handles basic actions (save, open, etc.).

Since CatsXP already implements this functionality, it means the code was developed by you, not inherited from Chromium. Therefore, it should also be technically possible to extend it — for example, to add presets or a selection menu.

The fact that CatsXP already supports $1/$2/$3 parameters shows that this part of the functionality is fully under your control, not limited by Chromium. Adding such an improvement would make CatsXP even more convenient and further distinguish it from other browsers.