Downloadable Files

[tech27]

Hi,

What is the best way to add files to my website which visitors can download?

Thank you.

 

[Don Schmidt]

I use either a word (short phrase) or an image to identify the file, i.e.,
Mama Bochwurst's "Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake". Get the recipe here. Create a
hyperlink with the word "here" or if you use an image, create the hyperlink
with the image. The hyperlink operation is found under the Insert drop down
menu. The hyperlink would be something like
http://www.tech27.com/kroutcake.pdf.

The kraut cake file would need to be uploaded with your website files.

Some uses of available files to download can be found at www.vanusa.org
Software and Odd, Ends & Funny Things pages. Right click on any of the
linked works/images to see what the hyperlinks look like. Note I use a
separate folder on the site for downloads, i.e.,
http://vanusa.org/downloads/Italian American.pdf <= sample of a linked
word/s. On the Odds, Ends,.... page are several links to images.

 

[tech27]

Thanks.

So I all need to do is upload the file(s) and create hyperlinks to them?

Thanks again.

 

[tech27]

I'm still having problems. I uploaded the file to a new "downloads" folder,
but I can't seem to get the syntax correct. The file is at
/httpdocs/downloads/lg.zip. My address is www.eventservices.ca.

Could you please help me get the path correct? Thank you VERY much.

 

[David Bartosik [MSFT MVP]]

you used httpdocs/downloads/lg.zip literally, that is incorrect for your
account.

your account uses httpdocs as the web root meaning httpdocs/index.htm IS
www.eventservices.ca/index.htm

your hyperlink should be /downloads/lg.zip

David Bartosik - [MSFT MVP]
www.publishermvps.com
www.davidbartosik.com

 

[tech27]

Thanks David, but I'm still not getting it. Would you mind giving me the
exact hyperlink that I should paste? I've tried "/downloads/lg.zip and it
still says document not found.

Thanks

you used httpdocs/downloads/lg.zip literally, that is incorrect for your
account.

your account uses httpdocs as the web root meaning httpdocs/index.htm IS
www.eventservices.ca/index.htm

your hyperlink should be /downloads/lg.zip

David Bartosik - [MSFT MVP]
www.publishermvps.com
www.davidbartosik.com

I'm still having problems. I uploaded the file to a new "downloads"
folder, but I can't seem to get the syntax correct. The file is at
/httpdocs/downloads/lg.zip. My address is www.eventservices.ca.

Could you please help me get the path correct? Thank you VERY much.

 

[Don Schmidt]

Giving your instructions a try I've found I've been using too much address
in my hyperlinks.
I was using (on about 100 links) a file address, i.e.,
http://www.vanusa.org/downloads/OhmsLaw.pdf
when I could have been (should have been) using
/downloads/OhmsLaw.pdf

While both paths work, is there any performance difference between the two
ways of hyperlinking?

Seems the way I was doing it required a re-pathing to my site a second time.

Thanks for the lesson.

Don
Vancouver, USA

you used httpdocs/downloads/lg.zip literally, that is incorrect for your
account.

your account uses httpdocs as the web root meaning httpdocs/index.htm IS
www.eventservices.ca/index.htm

your hyperlink should be /downloads/lg.zip

David Bartosik - [MSFT MVP]
www.publishermvps.com
www.davidbartosik.com

I'm still having problems. I uploaded the file to a new "downloads"
folder, but I can't seem to get the syntax correct. The file is at
/httpdocs/downloads/lg.zip. My address is www.eventservices.ca.

Could you please help me get the path correct? Thank you VERY much.

 

[tech27]

Got it now. Didn't realize that the file name was case sensitive.

Thanks

 

[Don Schmidt]

Great! I do like stories with happy endings. This one did some good in two
camps.

(Thanks to David.)

Don
Vancouver, USA

 

[David Bartosik [MSFT MVP]]

I cover case and naming in this article -
http://www.davidbartosik.com/2004/11/web-site-advice.htm

there are two types of url, relative and absolute, I've covered this topic
in this forum lots of times.

I typically recommend users go with the absolute as it's less likely to get
screwed up.

Relative is generally used to provide for portability of a site. With
relative links you can move the site to any domain and it doesn't break any
links.

As for performance, well maybe, but I highly doubt it's noticeable by any
means. And I only say maybe because of the mere fact that relative is
telling the browser that the file is "local", it's already here, whereas
with absolute the browser is going out and resolving the domain name first
which in turn is translated via nameservers into the server's IP address.

David Bartosik - [MSFT MVP]
www.publishermvps.com
www.davidbartosik.com

Giving your instructions a try I've found I've been using too much address
in my hyperlinks.
I was using (on about 100 links) a file address, i.e.,
http://www.vanusa.org/downloads/OhmsLaw.pdf
when I could have been (should have been) using
/downloads/OhmsLaw.pdf

While both paths work, is there any performance difference between the two
ways of hyperlinking?

Seems the way I was doing it required a re-pathing to my site a second
time.

Thanks for the lesson.

Don
Vancouver, USA

you used httpdocs/downloads/lg.zip literally, that is incorrect for your
account.

your account uses httpdocs as the web root meaning httpdocs/index.htm IS
www.eventservices.ca/index.htm

your hyperlink should be /downloads/lg.zip

David Bartosik - [MSFT MVP]
www.publishermvps.com
www.davidbartosik.com

I'm still having problems. I uploaded the file to a new "downloads"
folder, but I can't seem to get the syntax correct. The file is at
/httpdocs/downloads/lg.zip. My address is www.eventservices.ca.

Could you please help me get the path correct? Thank you VERY much.


Thanks.

So I all need to do is upload the file(s) and create hyperlinks to them?

Thanks again.


I use either a word (short phrase) or an image to identify the file,
i.e.,
Mama Bochwurst's "Sauerkraut Chocolate Cake". Get the recipe here.
Create a
hyperlink with the word "here" or if you use an image, create the
hyperlink
with the image. The hyperlink operation is found under the Insert
drop
down
menu. The hyperlink would be something like
http://www.tech27.com/kroutcake.pdf.

The kraut cake file would need to be uploaded with your website
files.

Some uses of available files to download can be found at www.vanusa.org
Software and Odd, Ends & Funny Things pages. Right click on any of
the
linked works/images to see what the hyperlinks look like. Note I use
a
separate folder on the site for downloads, i.e.,
http://vanusa.org/downloads/Italian American.pdf <= sample of a
linked
word/s. On the Odds, Ends,.... page are several links to images.


--
Don
Vancouver, USA




Hi,

What is the best way to add files to my website which visitors can
download?

Thank you.