download, don't open

Goodshape

I need a link that forces the 'save as' dialog for a file which would usually load in the browser window. Anyone know how this is done?

subway

seems do able with asp
not with html

have a read of this,
lots of guides on google too

http://www.aspfaq.com/show.asp?id=2161

Goodshape

Cheers, though I should have specified I'd much prefer something in PHP.

I think the PHP header function might do the trick.

subway

found this to,
might make sense to you as you php -

<?php
header("Content-type: application/x-unknown");
header("Content-Disposition: attachment;
filename=proposedFileName.wav");
readfile('test.wav');
?>


"Content-type: application/x-unknown seems to be the imporatan but as it tells the browser that even though it recognises the extension, it doesnt know what to do with it

leeroybrown

As pointed out it's not possibly using HTML alone but it realatively easy to script a streamed download that will use header functions with 'Content-Type' and 'Content-Disposition'.

If you are dealing with a particularly large file be careful how you implement it as there can be a large memory overhead (and a delay) in providing streamed downloads where the entire file is read in first and then streamed out.

Rollo Tamasi

there was a thread on this in the programming forum a while back.

yeraulone

zip it.

Goodshape

yeraulone wrote:

zip it.

Not really on option I'm afraid.

leeroybrown wrote:

If you are dealing with a particularly large file be careful how you implement it as there can be a large memory overhead (and a delay) in providing streamed downloads where the entire file is read in first and then streamed out.

Hmm.. I've got potentially quite big files alright :-/

Cheers for all the replys anway.. should be able to sort something out.