How to Download files without right clicking

[balin]

I want users to be able to click on a link or a button to start a file download. Then have the 'save as' dialog do it's thing etc.

I know right click and 'save taget as' is easy but I use the 'moron' principle and don't want to have to educate users.

JON

 

[vacunita]

It will entirely depend, on the client browser, whether it displays the download dialog, or just tries to open the file. Usually, a link like this:

<a href="\somefolder\somefile.ext">Download</a>

will prompt the dialog to appear, unless the client browser has a plugin that can open the file straight into the browser.

However you could use a server-side language to serve the file, and the headers explicitly to have the browser show the download dialog. but of course you'll need to go the forum of the server-side language of choice for a more detailed explanation on how to do it.

----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[balin]

OK Understand. My problem is I'm making spreadsheets available for download and they do open up in the browser window.

This is where the user gets confused.

I had the files open in a frame but the spreadsheet menu toolbar is not visible so the user can't do a 'save as'. Why is that ??

Sounds like the server side solution is more foolproof.
JON

 

[hksoftware]

Why not just zip the files? The browser should prompt for download then.
If you need to zip on the fly, there are PHP scripts available to do that.

 

[balin]

I think I am onto an Asp solution.

Thanks everyone.

JON