Webmaster forum - Download File

Author

Download File - Not Open It

Tha RagMan

2005-01-24, 11:17 pm

Some time ago I asked for help on how to make a file available for
download from a web page and received the following line of code:
<a href="FileToDownload.EXE">Download</a>
I am attempting to make a txt file (*.doc) file available but instead
of offering it as a download after entering the line of code into the
*.html file, it automatically opens the file in the browser. I want
the visitor to strictly download the file, not open it from the web
site. How can I make it a "Download Only" file?
Thanks once again in advance for any help directed my way.
Tha RagMan

Mark Parnell

2005-01-24, 11:17 pm

Previously in alt.www.webmaster, Tha RagMan <wmercier.nospam@shelby.net>
said:

> I am attempting to make a txt file (*.doc) file available but instead
> of offering it as a download after entering the line of code into the
> *.html file, it automatically opens the file in the browser. I want
> the visitor to strictly download the file, not open it from the web
> site. How can I make it a "Download Only" file?

Change the way your browser is configured to handle that file type. If
you want the same behaviour on your visitor's browser, then change the
configuration on their browser (if they'll let you).

--
Mark Parnell
http://www.clarkecomputers.com.au

Sharif T. Karim

2005-01-24, 11:17 pm

Tha RagMan wrote:
> Some time ago I asked for help on how to make a file available for
> download from a web page and received the following line of code:
> <a href="FileToDownload.EXE">Download</a>
> I am attempting to make a txt file (*.doc) file available but instead
> of offering it as a download after entering the line of code into the
> *.html file, it automatically opens the file in the browser. I want
> the visitor to strictly download the file, not open it from the web
> site. How can I make it a "Download Only" file?
> Thanks once again in advance for any help directed my way.
> Tha RagMan
>

Why don't you specify for them to "Right click and save as">

--
Sharif T. Karim
....who loves IE?...
....The Probert opinion is to be ignored...
.... muahahahaha...

Tha RagMan

2005-01-24, 11:17 pm

On Tue, 25 Jan 2005 00:47:24 GMT, "Sharif T. Karim"
<sharif@nyc.rr.com> wrote:

>Tha RagMan wrote:
>
>Why don't you specify for them to "Right click and save as">

Sharif;
Excellent advice. I was hoping to add a link or line of script that
would allow me to link from a graphic button and start the download
but your advice will suffice and work for my current needs. Of course
if you or someone in the group can give me some direction to
accomplish this it would be GREAT!

Thanks also to Mark Parnell for the fine suggestion and advice as
well. The helping hand from both of you is much appreciated.
Tha RagMan

Richard

2005-01-24, 11:17 pm

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 23:44:06 GMT Tha RagMan wrote:

> Some time ago I asked for help on how to make a file available for
> download from a web page and received the following line of code:
> <a href="FileToDownload.EXE">Download</a>
> I am attempting to make a txt file (*.doc) file available but instead
> of offering it as a download after entering the line of code into the
> *.html file, it automatically opens the file in the browser. I want
> the visitor to strictly download the file, not open it from the web
> site. How can I make it a "Download Only" file?
> Thanks once again in advance for any help directed my way.
> Tha RagMan

You might try putting it into a form button.
So that the button reads "download".

Red E. Kilowatt

2005-01-25, 4:21 am

"Tha RagMan" <wmercier.nospam@shelby.net> wrote in message
news:ou1bv052jap0skeecljossdrnmti1ah2q0@4ax.com
> Some time ago I asked for help on how to make a file available for
> download from a web page and received the following line of code:
> <a href="FileToDownload.EXE">Download</a>
> I am attempting to make a txt file (*.doc) file available but instead
> of offering it as a download after entering the line of code into the
> *.html file, it automatically opens the file in the browser. I want
> the visitor to strictly download the file, not open it from the web
> site. How can I make it a "Download Only" file?
> Thanks once again in advance for any help directed my way.
> Tha RagMan

The easiest way to deal with this is to make it a zip file. You can also
put a fake extension on it like mydoc.doc.remove and then tell people to
rename the file to mydoc.doc.
--
Red

Disco Octopus

2005-01-25, 4:21 am

Red E. Kilowatt wrote:
> "Tha RagMan" <wmercier.nospam@shelby.net> wrote in message
> news:ou1bv052jap0skeecljossdrnmti1ah2q0@4ax.com
>
>
>
> The easiest way to deal with this is to make it a zip file. You can also
> put a fake extension on it like mydoc.doc.remove and then tell people to
> rename the file to mydoc.doc.

You could also (not so easily) force the server to serve the file with a
header that suggests to the browser to download the file, even if it
knows what to do with it. I am not sure how strict browsers are in
doing what they are told when it comes to things like this, but it may
be an option for you to try.

look here for further details...

http://www.google.com.au/search?q=h...sition+download

Beauregard T. Shagnasty

2005-01-25, 4:22 am

Richard wrote:

> You might try putting it into a form button.
> So that the button reads "download".

Please come back to the group after you've had a bath and washed off
all the clue repellent. Thanks for your consideration.

--
-bts
-This space intentionally left blank.

Toby Inkster

2005-01-25, 4:22 am

Red E. Kilowatt wrote:

> The easiest way to deal with this is to make it a zip file. You can also
> put a fake extension on it like mydoc.doc.remove and then tell people to
> rename the file to mydoc.doc.

Though the default setting on the most common operating system out there
is set to not display file extensions in the file manager. So people may
have problems changing the extension.

St00pid I know.

--
Toby A Inkster BSc (Hons) ARCS
Contact Me ~ http://tobyinkster.co.uk/contact

Dylan Parry

2005-01-25, 7:24 pm

Toby Inkster wrote:

> Though the default setting on the most common operating system out there
> is set to not display file extensions in the file manager. So people may
> have problems changing the extension.

Not entirely true. The default setting is to hide *known* file
extensions. I shouldn't imagine that .rename_me (etc) is a known
extension on many systems.

--
Dylan Parry
http://webpageworkshop.co.uk -- FREE Web tutorials and references

Tha RagMan

2005-01-25, 11:19 pm

On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 20:37:38 -0600, "Richard" <Anonymous@127.001>
wrote:

>On Mon, 24 Jan 2005 23:44:06 GMT Tha RagMan wrote:
>
>
>You might try putting it into a form button.
>So that the button reads "download".

Gang!
Thanks to all of you who responded with your informative insight and
help. I elected to take a couple of your fix's and put up a link to
the file with an added msg to right click then left click "Save
target as..." to download. This should allow the user to choose either
of the options. View in the browser or download. Works to perfection.
The customer loved it.

Thanks for all the great options, opinions, and information. Your
responses are much appreciated.
Tha RagMan