Downloading with Netscape - no left click?

[bullseye]

Since moving my site to FQ, Netscape users are complaining they can't download by left clicking on a file or image link anymore.[nbsp][nbsp]Using Right click and choosing Save Link As will start the d/l,[nbsp][nbsp]but left click used to work before. IE users have no problems.

Help!

Bob,
http//www.bullseyecrosshairs.com

[Charles Capps]

What DOES happen when they left-click?[nbsp][nbsp]What sort of files are they trying to save?

[bullseye]

There are various file types -- pcx, zip, spr, tga, pak, pk3(a form of zip).[nbsp][nbsp]When you left click, it appears that Netscape tries to display the file rather than download it.[nbsp][nbsp]Here's a typical display upon left clicking:

[nbsp][nbsp]PK
ÿÿÿcÿÿÿTÿÿÿpÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ

There's no error message.

Bob

[Charles Capps]

PCX!?[nbsp][nbsp]Wow, those are still in use?[nbsp][nbsp];)

What you might have to do is use an .htaccess file to give each of those file extensions the same type as a .zip file....[nbsp][nbsp]
Going about doing that is beyond my expertise at the moment.[nbsp][nbsp]:)

[Justin]

I would not recommend setting the type to zip (or any other unrelated file type). Suppose the user has some zip software that automatically handles zip files and extracts them?

MIME types (and file associations in MS speak) should be set correctly or not at all. I think there are generic Content-type headers you can send which will simply tell the browser to download as a binary file (as well for text)... What exactly that header would be is beyond me at the moment, but it should be something like "Application/x-octet-stream" or similar...

Hope this helps.

------------------
Justin Nelson
FutureQuest (http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.php) Support

[bullseye]

Sorry, Justin but you've lost me there.

Most files available for downlodd on the Net are zip or self extracting exe.[nbsp][nbsp]Why would you recommend against using that format?[nbsp][nbsp]

The problem seems to be that the browser(Netscape) isn't downloading at all, but attempting to open the file instead upon left click.[nbsp][nbsp]I was under the impression that if a file wasn't a type that could be displayed or played in a browser(html, gif, jpg, png, au, mid, wav, etc.)the browser would automatically try to download it.

Bob

[bullseye]

Justin,

[bullseye]

Sorry about that last one.

I have been told by others more knowledgable than myself that "your host does not have the file type set up properly...contact them about adding a new "mime" type for those file types".

Today, the zip files seem to be downloading ok with a left click in Netscape, so that leaves us with .pcx, .pak, .tga, and .pk3.[nbsp][nbsp]Am I being told correctly?[nbsp][nbsp]Is this now in your ballpark?[nbsp][nbsp]Or is there something I need to do.[nbsp][nbsp]If it's up to me, I would appreciate a step by step.

Bob

[Terra]

Sounds to me like your previous host was using 'mod_mime_magic' on their Apache server...[nbsp][nbsp]We do not run this module as it is extremely expensive performance wise...[nbsp][nbsp]We rely on the hard coded 'mime.types' file, which can be viewed by downloading the latest Apache source code or binary and pulling it out from there...

Anytime you have something you want downloadable, always zip it up or tell your visitors explicitly to 'Right-Click' and download the files via 'save as'...[nbsp][nbsp]Also, don't forget the 'shift-leftclick' method as well... ;)

The extensions you are noting below are pretty much esoteric and I seriously doubt will make it into the mainstream mime.types file...

The extra bit of education on doing things 'the right way' far outweighs the serious performance hit 'mod_mime_magic' (boat anchor) incurrs...[nbsp][nbsp]If you doubt, take some time and read through it's source code and you will see that a vast majority of all requests must siphon through this module...

In short: mod_mime_magic was a good idea, but badly implemented resulting in a noticeable performance hit...

--
Terra
--If we were like everyone else, then why would you be here?--
FutureQuest

<Edit: almost forgot about 'shift-leftclick'>
[This message has been edited by ccTech (edited 05-14-00@5:06 pm)]

[bullseye]

ccTech,

[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp] You're saying there is no other way?[nbsp][nbsp]These file types can't be manually added to the hard code?[nbsp][nbsp]pcx and tga are fairly common file types.[nbsp][nbsp]pak and pk3 are the primary file types for several of the most popular online multiplayer games being played today.[nbsp][nbsp]There are hundreds and maybe even thousands of web sites that have these types of files for download.

Some of my files are zipped, but they are all so small it didn't seem worth the trouble.[nbsp][nbsp]And since the pk3 is actaully a zip with another name there was no point.[nbsp][nbsp]Most of my files average between 2k and 5k in size. If Netscape users have to do a little extra work to get their download, I guess it's no big deal, but there must be a lot of web hosts accomodating these file types somehow wihtout taking the performance hit you mention.

Bob

[bullseye]

ccTech,

[nbsp][nbsp][nbsp][nbsp] You're saying there is no other way?[nbsp][nbsp]These file types can't be manually added to the hard code?[nbsp][nbsp]pcx and tga are fairly common file types.[nbsp][nbsp]pak and pk3 are the primary file types for several of the most popular online multiplayer games being played today.[nbsp][nbsp]There are hundreds and maybe even thousands of web sites that have these types of files for download.

Some of my files are zipped, but they are all so small it didn't seem worth the trouble.[nbsp][nbsp]And since the pk3 is actaully a zip with another name there was no point.[nbsp][nbsp]Most of my files average between 2k and 5k in size. If Netscape users have to do a little extra work to get their download, I guess it's no big deal, but there must be a lot of web hosts accomodating these file types somehow wihtout taking the performance hit you mention.

Bob

[Deb]

Search the Service Desk (http://service.futurequest.net/) for &quot;MIME Types&quot; and you'll find directions for adding the Mime Types manually.

The Service Desk is at http://service.futurequest.net/

Deb
[nbsp]-
[nbsp][nbsp]There's always a way.

[Justin]

Let me bring up a few points:

First, as Deb notes, you can set up your *own* MIME types for your domain - I believe someone else noted this as well and recommended disguising the file as being a ZIP file.

I recommend against trying to tell the browser that it is a ZIP file if it is not actually a ZIP file. The reason for this is because browsers handle file types by file association (on Windows platforms). With file associations, you have a default &quot;Open&quot; and a default &quot;Download&quot; action. For example, .GIF might display in your image viewer, or open in an editor, when you double click on it (which calls the &quot;Open&quot; action). However, when you click on it within your browser (which calls the &quot;Download&quot; option), GIF is associated for display in the web browser.

Media files, on the other hand, may open your default player instead when clicked on.

While it is true that the majority of people will have no default Download action for ZIP files (which causes it to ask the user what to do with it), this is not guaranteed. There are ZIP programs available that handle your ZIP downloads for you by, for example, automatically unzipping them into a specific folder. There are also download helpers (such as GetRight) that you can associate with various file types.

You should set a MIME type for the correct format, and the user's browser will handle those file types properly, without relying on them having left ZIP files alone.

Oh, there's also the rare case where the user doesn't have a ZIP program installed...

Hope this clears the confusion. If not I recommend hitting www.microsoft.com (http://www.microsoft.com) and searching for &quot;file associations&quot; and/or &quot;default actions&quot;, or something along those lines...

PS - please try to watch the double posts - click submit only once when submitting a reply...

------------------
Justin Nelson
FutureQuest (http://www.FutureQuest.net/index.php) Support
[This message has been edited by Justin (edited 05-14-00@6:52 pm)]

[bullseye]

Deb - thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

Justin[nbsp][nbsp]- thanks for clarifying.

Sorry about the double post.[nbsp][nbsp]Mouse hiccupped.

Bob

[bullseye]

Deb - thanks once again.

Figured out the proper command and file type syntax from the FAQ and the file association dialog in Win 98. Created the htaccess file. All is well.[nbsp][nbsp]Netscape is behaving properly.

What seemed like a complicated problem at first turned out to have a very simple solution.

Sometimes you have to lead me by the hand, but I'm a quick learner.

Bob