Need help with downloadable files

exe and pdf files

[barbd00]

Hello, new here and looking for help.

I am just starting out with a website. I know the basics and have created some really simple websites before. Problem I have is this:

I want visitors to be able to download something from the website. I have the concept down pat. (needing a zip program or pdf program to compress, uploading that to my server, and having a link for them to download--please correct any of this if I am wrong)

The question... what is the code for the link?

If I have it correctly, I have the file and zip it (or whatever), upload the zip file and then I am lost.

Can someone help me fill in the blanks?

Thanks so much!

[Orbite]

You view all this too complicated. All you need is to upload whatever file you want to distribute and put a link on your site for it.

pdf program to compress

The pdf format doesn't reduce file size. It only restrict and/or forbids users to print and modify the document.

If you want to save bandwidth and download time compress your file in zip format not pdf.

what is the code for the link?

<a href="http://yourserver/directory/file.zip">download file.zip</a>

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

The pdf format doesn't reduce file size. It only restrict and/or forbids users to print and modify the document.

Uhm...incorrect. The PDF format does use compression, usually LZW, and it does not implicitly restrict users in anyway, though it does allow for protection of a document. Using Adobe Acrobat you can generally modify any PDF. And it definitely doesn't forbid you to print it.

PDF is an abbreviation of Portable Document Format, and is basically a format that guarantees that the output, whether to screen or to paper, is always the same, regardless of operating system, type of printer and so on.

[mack]

It may be worth offering an html alternative to pdf. I dont have statistics for this but I imagine quite a lot of users may feel put off by having to use a pdf reader.

I guess having an alternative html page may be a good way to go.

Mack.

[barbd00]

Thanks so much!
I really needed the html code. I knew most of it, but I just didn't know if just having the link go directly to the file would have them be able to download it or just get them a page not found error.

Thanks bunches for your help!

[barbd00]

When you say having an html page I am a little confused. Just a web page with whatever it is on there?
I was planning on that, but I wanted them to be able to download it (as in an ebook sort of).

In that case, zipping it and having the link to the file.zip will have them be able to download it right?

[Orbite]

Uhm...incorrect. The PDF format does use compression, usually LZW

Yes, but you won't see any gain of space since the PDF format also inflates the file with supplementary data. You won't save any bandwidth by using the PDF format. Quite the opposite.

and it does not implicitly restrict users in anyway, though it does allow for protection of a document.

Yes, but protection of documents is why PDF has been created. If you publish unprotected text with Acrobat then you are wasting a lot of bandwidth for nothing.

[Zaphod Beeblebrox]

Yes, but you won't see any gain of space since the PDF format also inflates the file with supplementary data.

That entirely depends on the content of the PDF. If it contains loads of text with no images, the compression ratio is very good.

Yes, but protection of documents is why PDF has been created.

No, it has been created to have a standard document format that renders identically on any medium. An example of how reliable it is - print advertisers use PDF to send their ads to publishers, who can just forward them to the printer company, who can just add it to the magazine without any further adjustments. Fonts are included, images are included, colorspaces are defined - the works.

I've been doing quite a lot of work with analysing PDF files, so honestly...

[sldesigns]

When you have the link to the pdf file, it is helpful to say it is a pdf file and say how big it is. I love pdf files in general, but hate being surprised by a big one.