How to have pdf download link

[perthguy]

Howdy folks
How do I create a pdf brochure link for my visitors to download off the website? What sort of programing is this made in?

[Stryker]

Hiya perthguy,

PDF links are done just like any other web/HTML link, just with the .pdf extension instead of .htm, .asp, etc...

Here's the code (may vary slightly depending on where you're inserting it):

<a href="http://www.domain.com/folders/filename.pdf">Text to Display</a>

Or... to open in a new window:
<a href="http://www.domain.com/folders/filename.pdf" target="_blank">Text to Display</a>

Hope this helps, but post back if you have trouble.
Stryker

[perthguy]

Thanks Stryker but I want my visitors to download it onto their desktop to open later. I assume your link opens a pdf file in the browser. Or is it all up to how the browser is configured whether or not the file is (a) opened or (b) downloaded onto the desktop?

[Stryker]

Dependant upon the browser configuration, but if the visitor "right-clicks" on the link there is always an option to "save the target/link as...". This will allow the visitor to save the target .pdf file regardless of their browser configuration.

You could always have a small text note under the link reading "To save this brochure, please right click and save as...".

[mairving]

You can't make it download instead of open unless you maybe zipped it and had them download the zip file but this creates an extra step.

[perthguy]

so if it's zipped it downloads automatically?

[Stryker]

Originally Posted by perthguy so if it's zipped it downloads automatically?

Generally, it will prompt the user to "Open" or "Save" a .zip file. The user just clicks the option they want.

[mairving]

Originally Posted by Stryker Generally, it will prompt the user to "Open" or "Save" a .zip file. The user just clicks the option they want.

Yeah, but it does depend on the OS. XP does this but other versions of Windows don't.

[catacon]

Windows 98 will prompt the user giving the options "Save" or "Open".