Using FTP to download files from the Web

[Darrenb]

I was wondering if someone were able to tell me how I go about enabling my website so that people can download files from it. I would like them to be able to click on a link, have the Save As box appear, then have it start downloading. Is this hard to do? What does it involve? Does anyone know of any tutorials anywhere that can point me in the right direction?

Any help would be great!

Thanks
Darren

 

[WebGodiva]

Darren,

You really don't need to do much more than place instructions on the site stating the user should right click and save target as. Any link on a website will give you that option. Hope this helped.

 

[Comtech]

If the files you want to have available are .exe files, the user will get a prompt to "Open in this location, or Save file as". If they're in .zip format, the user will usually get the "save file as" option, unless they have no archiver such as WinZip on their computer.
A simple instruction to "Right click, and choose Save File as:" or "Save Target As" works wonders... Cheers,
Jim
reboot@pcmech.com

http://members.cnx.net/reboot/

Moderator at

http://www.56k.com

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http://www.pcmech.com

Windows 9x/ME instructor.
Jim's Modems:

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[johntabita]

Darren,

Here are some step-by-step instructions on how to do this without requesting that the user right/control-click...

First, compress your file(s) into .zip format.

PC users will need PKZip to do this, available at

http://www.pkware.com

(it's shareware).

If you are on a Macintosh, go to

http://www.maczipit.com

and download ZipIt (also shareware) which will allow you to compress files into .zip format right on your Mac.

Next, link to each .zip file like so:

<a href=&quot;filename.zip&quot;>Click here to download</a>

When the user clicks the link, the file will begin to download automatically - no right-clicking or control-clicking required.

On a PC, both Internet Explorer and Netscape will ask you where you want to save the file to.

On a Mac Internet Explorer will automatically download the file, but Netscape will ask where you want to save the file.

To see an example, go to

http://www.mmtglobal.com/birdy/downloads.html.

To unstuff the .zip file(s) once they've downloaded, PC users will need PKZip, and Macintosh users will need StuffIt Expander (

http://www.aladdinsys.com),

so it's a good idea to put links to both of these sites on your download page.

Hope this is helpful.