Re: [WSG] Usability for downloading documents

[David Dorward]

On 28 Jan 2008, at 18:04, Rochester oliveira wrote:


Doesn't have a way to force the "don't" download?


It is difficult to make a PDF open in a plugin if the user doesn't  
have that plugin installed.



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David Dorward
http://dorward.me.uk/
http://blog.dorward.me.uk/




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Re: [WSG] Usability for downloading documents

[Chris Knowles]

Tony wrote:


Should we be making this decision for the user though? If, by default, 
PDFs open within the browser, then won't we be changing their user 
experience by forcing them to open/save?




Yes, I think we should make this decision. It's in the users best 
interests IMO. And by doing this maybe we can make that the new default 
(if there is one as others suggest).


By not directly opening a resource in the browser, you delegate the 
downloading to the application assigned to it by the OS, which is 
separate to the browser. That way you avoid freezing your browser if 
it's a large resource and takes a while to download or if it's a slow 
connection, or potentially crashing your browser if it freezes and you 
start hitting the back button etc in an attempt to undo your action.



--
Chris Knowles


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Re: [WSG] Usability for downloading documents

[James Ellis]

Hi Tony

On Tue, 29 Jan 2008 12:07:06 am Tony wrote:
> Hello,
>
> If, by default,
> PDFs open within the browser, then won't we be changing their user
> experience by forcing them to open/save?
>
> Regards,
>
> Tony

Not really, the current position of "inline" PDF and other documents in 
probably due to the way the browser ships. I know a lot of people who dislike 
the inline thing and change it straight away, especially PDF's as it can slow 
or crash certain browsers (especially those beginning with F and ending in 
x).

The other thing to consider is that people will generally save a document 
presented inline any way (it won't stay in their cache forever) and that 
a "Save As..." dialogue box will generally have an "open" option.

So, the best "usability" is to allow the user to define what they want to do 
(either by allowing the user to select inline or downloadable files, or put 
it back in their hands and they can fiddle with their browser settings).

To force download certain types of files (content-disposition: attachment), 
changes can be made at the web server level or in the middleware (PHP etc). 
How to do this is off topic for the list but I would quickly mention two 
gotchas that are:
 * only allow downloads from a certain directory lest you end up with 
downloader.php?file=/etc/passwd or even 
downloader.php?file=/path/to/databaseconnection.config
 * define the mime type properly when downloading as a lot of browsers use it 
to determine how to open a file.


HTH
James


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Re: [WSG] Usability for downloading documents

[Rochester oliveira]

Doesn't have a way to force the "don't" download? Or you may force download
as pdf and make a jpg() for the "preview" :)
2 buttons for the same action will be a problem for sure.

2008/1/28, Christian Snodgrass <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
>
> Wording that would be really tricky, because if they're default action
> is to download it, when they hit "Read" they'd expect it to just open,
> not offer them a download prompt. There are a lot of people that would
> be agitated that both buttons do the same thing.
>
> Rochester oliveira wrote:
> > I think that you should make 2 buttons. The user will choice for
> > download or just read the documment
> > []'s
> >
> > -
> > Rochester Oliveira
> > http://webbemfeita.com/
> > "Viva a Web-Bem-Feita"
> > Web Designer
> > Curitiba - PR - Brasil
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>
> Christian Snodgrass
> Azure Ronin Web Design
> http://www.arwebdesign.net/ 
> Phone: 859.816.7955
>
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-- 
[]'s

-
Rochester Oliveira
http://webbemfeita.com/
"Viva a Web-Bem-Feita"
Web Designer
Curitiba - PR - Brasil


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Re: [WSG] Usability for downloading documents

[Christian Snodgrass]

Wording that would be really tricky, because if they're default action 
is to download it, when they hit "Read" they'd expect it to just open, 
not offer them a download prompt. There are a lot of people that would 
be agitated that both buttons do the same thing.


Rochester oliveira wrote:
I think that you should make 2 buttons. The user will choice for 
download or just read the documment

[]'s

-
Rochester Oliveira
http://webbemfeita.com/
"Viva a Web-Bem-Feita"
Web Designer
Curitiba - PR - Brasil
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--

Christian Snodgrass
Azure Ronin Web Design
http://www.arwebdesign.net/ 
Phone: 859.816.7955



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Re: [WSG] Usability for downloading documents

[Rochester oliveira]

I think that you should make 2 buttons. The user will choice for download or
just read the documment
[]'s

-
Rochester Oliveira
http://webbemfeita.com/
"Viva a Web-Bem-Feita"
Web Designer
Curitiba - PR - Brasil


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RE: [WSG] Usability for downloading documents

[Patrick Lauke]

> Should we be making this decision for the user though? If, by 
> default, 
> PDFs open within the browser, then won't we be changing their user 
> experience by forcing them to open/save?

In principle yes, but because so many other sites have "worked around" this 
issue (usually by opening new windows, or forcing download), there is no real 
"default" that users are accustomed to. I've resorted to forcing download (yes, 
thus perpetuating the erosion of "default" myself...a vicious circle).

P

Patrick H. Lauke
Web Editor
Enterprise & Development
University of Salford
Room 113, Faraday House
Salford, Greater Manchester
M5 4WT
UK

T +44 (0) 161 295 4779
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

www.salford.ac.uk

A GREATER MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY  


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