Link to file action

Hi,

I’ve set up several pages on my site that use the link to file action so that my viewers can download them. It all works well, except . . . As I’ve noticed on other sites, if you click on the download link, the associated file just shows in the browser and in order to actually download it, you have to hold down the option key when you click the link.

Is there any way to have the standard download dialogue box show when you click so that you can pick where the file will be saved and so that you don’t have to hold down the option key on the Mac to save the file? Haven’t tested yet on Windows or with any other browsers than Safari.

Thanks,
Martin


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Hi Martin, I’m not 100% sure on this, but I think it’s all down to how
the recipient’s browser is set up so you have no real control over it.
I think the only foolproof way to force download is to save the file
as a zip file and this forces most, if not all, browsers to download,
Trev

On 18 Feb 2011, at 10:00, Rice Martin wrote:

Hi,

I’ve set up several pages on my site that use the link to file
action so that my viewers can download them. It all works well,
except . . . As I’ve noticed on other sites, if you click on the
download link, the associated file just shows in the browser and in
order to actually download it, you have to hold down the option key
when you click the link.

Is there any way to have the standard download dialogue box show
when you click so that you can pick where the file will be saved and
so that you don’t have to hold down the option key on the Mac to
save the file? Haven’t tested yet on Windows or with any other
browsers than Safari.

Thanks,
Martin


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Hi Martin,
You can use PHP to force the file to download using this action;
http://www.actionsforge.com/projects/view/109-force-download-php

Regards,
Tim.

On 18 Feb 2011, at 10:00, Rice Martin wrote:

Is there any way to have the standard download dialogue box show when you click so that you can pick where the file will be saved and so that you don’t have to hold down the option key on the Mac to save the file? Haven’t tested yet on Windows or with any other browsers than Safari.

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Hi, Tim:

Thanks for this reference. I just took a look at it and have a question. The pages in question display the same material that is in the download files. Each of these pages has a line of text that says download this file. The link to file action is applied to that item. With the force download php action, do I apply it to this these items instead of the link to file action?

Thanks,
Martin

On Feb 18, 2011, at 5:32 AM, Tim Plumb wrote:

Hi Martin,
You can use PHP to force the file to download using this action;
ActionsForge - The Complete Repository of Freeway Actions

Regards,
Tim.

On 18 Feb 2011, at 10:00, Rice Martin wrote:

Is there any way to have the standard download dialogue box show when you click so that you can pick where the file will be saved and so that you don’t have to hold down the option key on the Mac to save the file? Haven’t tested yet on Windows or with any other browsers than Safari.

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HI Martin,
Place your i-beam where you want the download link to go and select Action/ Force Download (PHP) from the Insert menu. In the actions palette add the link text and the file to download and the action will do the rest of the work when you publish the site. Much like the PHP Feedback Form action this action creates a separate PHP file that does all of the work to get the file to download.

You can also apply the action to a regular graphic item so you can have the download started from an graphic button (for example).

Personally if you are simply offering PDFs of the same content on the page I would use a service like PDF My URL - http://pdfmyurl.com/
You can add a link to your pages like this;

<a href="http://pdfmyurl.com?url=www.opentracker.net">download this page as pdf</a>

and the site will PDF the page and force it to download to your user’s machine. You can also set up a specific css print stylesheet so that the resulting PDF will format to the A4 or US Letter format of the PDF. This way you only have to maintain the main web site and the PDFs will look after themselves.
Regards,
Tim.

On 18 Feb 2011, at 11:07, Rice Martin wrote:

Thanks for this reference.i just took a look at it and have a question. The pages in question display the same material that is in the download files. Each of these pages has a line of text that says download this file. The link to file action is applied to that item. With the force download php action, doi apply it to this these items instead of the link to file action?

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Tim,

Thanks so much for the clarification and the additional information. I’m sure that I’ll be in good shape now.

Regards,
Martin

On Feb 18, 2011, at 7:51 AM, Tim Plumb wrote:

HI Martin,
Place your i-beam where you want the download link to go and select Action/ Force Download (PHP) from the Insert menu. In the actions palette add the link text and the file to download and the action will do the rest of the work when you publish the site. Much like the PHP Feedback Form action this action creates a separate PHP file that does all of the work to get the file to download.

You can also apply the action to a regular graphic item so you can have the download started from an graphic button (for example).

Personally if you are simply offering PDFs of the same content on the page I would use a service like PDF My URL - http://pdfmyurl.com/
You can add a link to your pages like this;

<a href="http://pdfmyurl.com?url=www.opentracker.net">download this page as pdf</a>

and the site will PDF the page and force it to download to your user’s machine. You can also set up a specific css print stylesheet so that the resulting PDF will format to the A4 or US Letter format of the PDF. This way you only have to maintain the main web site and the PDFs will look after themselves.
Regards,
Tim.

On 18 Feb 2011, at 11:07, Rice Martin wrote:

Thanks for this reference.i just took a look at it and have a question. The pages in question display the same material that is in the download files. Each of these pages has a line of text that says download this file. The link to file action is applied to that item. With the force download php action, doi apply it to this these items instead of the link to file action?

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Hi Martin

I have just spent 10 mins writing a detailed explanation in answer to your other post - only to discover that you had started a new thread and had your question answered.

Please try not to duplicate posts on the same subject as us older folk get confused.

David


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Hi, David:

I’m really sorry about this. I’m not sure, however, that I know precisely what post you’re referring to. One thing I did notice this morning was that I posted a query about downloading files from my web site and not having the file open in the browser and having to option-click to download it. At almost the same time that my post appeared, there also appeared a post by David Sahadev that was almost identical to mine and there were suddenly two threads going that were essentially the same topic.

If that’s not what you’re referring to, David, as I said above, I’m terribly sorry if I inadvertently did a duplicate post on something else.

As far as older folks getting confused, I’m about as old as they come and if I’m totally confused here, I’m afraid that’s just one of the myriad of joys that come with old age.

I would appreciate it, though, if you could let me know whether this was a coincidence of two threads by two people starting at almost the same moment or if it was something else?

Thanks,
Martin

On Feb 18, 2011, at 10:41 AM, DeltaDave wrote:

Hi Martin

I have just spent 10 mins writing a detailed explanation in answer to your other post - only to discover that you had started a new thread and had your question answered.

Please try not to duplicate posts on the same subject as us older folk get confused.

David


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Yes I think it probably was an overlap.

I replied to your “Link To File Action” email and alongside it there’s
a “PDF won’t display” topic also.

I’m getting on too so that’s 3 of us for the scrapheap.

Trev

On 18 Feb 2011, at 15:57, Rice Martin wrote:

Hi, David:

I’m really sorry about this. I’m not sure, however, that I know
precisely what post you’re referring to. One thing I did notice this
morning was that I posted a query about downloading files from my
web site and not having the file open in the browser and having to
option-click to download it. At almost the same time that my post
appeared, there also appeared a post by David Sahadev that was
almost identical to mine and there were suddenly two threads going
that were essentially the same topic.

If that’s not what you’re referring to, David, as I said above, I’m
terribly sorry if I inadvertently did a duplicate post on something
else.

As far as older folks getting confused, I’m about as old as they
come and if I’m totally confused here, I’m afraid that’s just one of
the myriad of joys that come with old age.

I would appreciate it, though, if you could let me know whether this
was a coincidence of two threads by two people starting at almost
the same moment or if it was something else?

Thanks,
Martin

On Feb 18, 2011, at 10:41 AM, DeltaDave wrote:

Hi Martin

I have just spent 10 mins writing a detailed explanation in answer
to your other post - only to discover that you had started a new
thread and had your question answered.

Please try not to duplicate posts on the same subject as us older
folk get confused.

David


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Going slightly off topic, why do you, Martin, and Trevor and Dave, prescribe confusion to, old age? I know I’ve done it myself, but judging by this forum, there are quite a few young’uns, who are not only very confused but rely on the older members of FWT to get them back on track. Age may bring some physical slowness, but it leaves some surprisingly agile and perceptive minds with a wealth of experience to draw upon - even though the odd senior moment may still switch in!

Admittedly I am stepping down from the plate in a couple of months, when my years will start with a big 7, but passing my main work on to a younger designer (a new recruit to FW but a ton of web experience) has been refreshing and I shall be there to act as aFW mentor, should he wish it, for a while yet. And I expect I shall keep dipping into FWT for when I start the odd personal job and family favour and relating to a new venture I envisage keeping my brain cells alive a little longer.

Colin

On 18 Feb 2011, at 15:57, Rice Martin wrote:

Hi, David:

I’m really sorry about this. I’m not sure, however, that I know precisely what post you’re referring to. One thing I did notice this morning was that I posted a query about downloading files from my web site and not having the file open in the browser and having to option-click to download it. At almost the same time that my post appeared, there also appeared a post by David Sahadev that was almost identical to mine and there were suddenly two threads going that were essentially the same topic.

If that’s not what you’re referring to, David, as I said above, I’m terribly sorry if I inadvertently did a duplicate post on something else.

As far as older folks getting confused, I’m about as old as they come and if I’m totally confused here, I’m afraid that’s just one of the myriad of joys that come with old age.

I would appreciate it, though, if you could let me know whether this was a coincidence of two threads by two people starting at almost the same moment or if it was something else?

Thanks,
Martin

On Feb 18, 2011, at 10:41 AM, DeltaDave wrote:

Hi Martin

I have just spent 10 mins writing a detailed explanation in answer to your other post - only to discover that you had started a new thread and had your question answered.

Please try not to duplicate posts on the same subject as us older folk get confused.


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At almost the same time that my post appeared, there also appeared a post by David Sahadev that was almost identical to mine and there were suddenly two threads going that were essentially the same topic.

And that is where my brain went funny… and when you (Martin) replied to his post with a comment which appeared to be in response to my post on his thread - well BLOOOOOEY!

So my apologies for any confusion and for berating you unjustifiably.

And we had better refer David to this thread for his answer.

D


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I didn’t really take it as being berated, just reminded. I’ve been online since 1979 (at that time at 300 baud), and I know berating and flaming when I see it :slight_smile: In fact I understood your remark about age (pace Colin) as a deliberate softening of the reminder you were sending.

A nice weekend to all.

Martin

On Feb 18, 2011, at 11:54 AM, DeltaDave wrote:

At almost the same time that my post appeared, there also appeared a post by David Sahadev that was almost identical to mine and there were suddenly two threads going that were essentially the same topic.

And that is where my brain went funny… and when you (Martin) replied to his post with a comment which appeared to be in response to my post on his thread - well BLOOOOOEY!

So my apologies for any confusion and for berating you unjustifiably.

And we had better refer David to this thread for his answer.

D


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Just wanted to say that Tim’s suggestion of using the Force Download PHP action worked just great for me and did the job I needed.


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