How to create a Download Link

Image by Happidog: Fannette Island in Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe,California" Download File Creation - For Long Term Relevant Information

Image by Happidog: Fannette Island in Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe,California

Here’s a tutorial which demonstrates how to create a download link to download (or cancel) a file, such as a word or adobe document (pdf) to open and then save. You might want visitors to download such a file in your web site/blog, or a forum, profile in a social site, etc, to present information. Also it’s useful, if it’s a relatively large file, for future reference to share with family and friends, rather than e-mailing (or re-e-mailing later on) a large file.

You can upload and keep it on a free server or site such as Google Pages and e-mail the link to your recipients to download, open, and then save on their computer if they want to. Once the file is uploaded to a online server or a personal web server (e.g. within your own site), simply copy the url (web address in the browser bar), then insert it as a link to your text (anchor text) or insert in web based codes as described below:

Example to create a download link - Using the free Google Pages:

This is using the code scripts in a particular computer forum (vb script)

1. Download My Freeware Links in [url=http://internetonlinecash.googlepages.com/FreewareLinks.doc]Word (39 kb)[/url].

But generally you would use html code:

2. Download My Freeware Links in<a href="http://internetonlinecash.googlepages.com/FreewareLinks.doc">Word (39 kb)</a>

Which for both codes above would in reality, display this: Download My Freeware Links in Word (39 kb)

The visitor clicks on the active link - Word (39 kb) - to download or cancel the document...

You can also upload photo’s, maybe wav and mp3 files (server and policy dependent), using this method, for your recipients or visitors to download. Most people should have the required programs to open the files when downloaded or perhaps mention the format in the link description. Also note the file size - 50 kb or 20 MB? Could make a difference for those on dial up or entry level broadband to download.

Some bloggers, marketing sites, education facilities, and government agency sites, offer an e-book or electronic book (often in pdf) using this method. Often the e-book might be a tutorial, database, manual, research/marketing results, product descriptions, and so on. Document files in pdf is preferable, because in part due to its easy integration with the Internet, and the many options once it’s downloaded, such as searching (I once easily searched up to 10, 000 of names in a database e-book), text selection, book marking pages, multiple page display, and other useful options.

Remember to update your file if required, then re - upload to the server, and perhaps add a update date to file documents. You might also need to check the server's url periodically, to see if it has not moved or even removed, which might happen for small free servers. There also might be file size limits, a certain time period, activity limits, etc, for your file to remain on your selected server. But once files are housed, hopefully it should be useful not only to you, but others that you want to share with by simply clicking...

pcsourcepoint - Freeware, Internet News and NZ links

Internet Online Cash - Blog ideas and online income revenue

Download Freeware Software Links (Word - 39 kb)

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How to create a Download Link

Google's Page Creator...Nice Touch

GPC...Nice Change...
I have just created a few pages within one site using Google's Page Creator. It's a nice simple platform that would suit beginners for creating a web site. You can add html codes, css, and javascript using a text editor and then upload the files to GPC. Also google videos, gadgets, maps, and adsense can be added. You may get some issues in terms of placement, realignment, etc depending on your layout, particularly for the 3 table setup. So experimentation or change of layout for a more open space may be required. I sometimes add tables, and place html codes and other components into them to help achieve correct placement.

You get 100 MB space, 10 MB file size maximum and no file type restrictions, and without ads. Apparently there is no bandwidth limit, but it's unclear if there is one. You can create, I think up to 5 sites, which can be linked together. Generally it's a simple interface to interact with, as it is a wysiwig platform, but you need html/javascript knowledge to enhance your site. Or you can visit tutorial and forum web/blog sites to get additional help and codes to append embed in your pages's site. One such site is jvanbaelen. Here you find plenty of tutorials and tips to add codes and features to enhance your site. I found GPC a nice simple approach - just to basically "drop" text in, and because of that, a change from heavily editing and coding standard web sites.

Google's Page Creator...Nice Touch

Free Web Site Hosts - There are Many...

Free Host - Netfirms...

After reviewing several free hosts I chose Netfirms in the USA, which include free software for creating a web page. You can get a free sub domain name - but of course your URL could be a bit long: e.g. yourwebname.netfirms.com. One way to get a free domain name was to join a computer forum in and get awarded a domain name based on your quality and/or number of posts.

Like many free hosts you have to display their ad banner at the top, which is ok in my view. There are limitations with free hosts - bandwith and upload limits, server size, exclusion of videos and linked flash scripts, web code restrictions to use (Perl, PHP, CGI, etc), inactivity limits, etc... The most critical I have heard is the bandwidth - if it is exceeded i.e. thousands of hits - then your site may instantly shut down; Also free hosts can disappear...Netfirms host servers have been pretty stable, they have front-page server extensions, and allow your own ads (Google, Amazon, etc) .

With about 4.5 million users for their total (i.e. not just free plan) customer base was enough for me to use them, and they have been pretty reliable. They have quite a nice formal site with plenty of options. I started with this review list of over 300 USA free hosts...

Free Web Site Hosts - There are Many...

Free Web Editor

How about a nice simple web editor to quickly and easily create a web page? Perhaps try Namu6 to build, maintain and publish quickly your web site. I am trying this in an attempt to create just a simple information page, rather than my usual Frontpage/html mixture - So it's a break from trying to make a semi-advanced web page. Though their are other platforms like blog sites, google pages, and social networks like myspace, bebo, etc.

The commands are simple to use as it is to type in your text/picture content. The wizard also helps. It perhaps does not have advanced features, but the html code can be exported to another editor for advanced editing.

You can download if from here (Down under in New Zealand) and other sites. You just need a host and domain name to complete your web site...

Free Web Editor

Front Page Web Design - Plan Ahead...

If you use Microsoft's FrontPage 2000 it pays to plan the overall format, the amount of content, and how it is displayed. The format being the 2 or 3 column or otherwise, content being components such as text, photo's, widgets, addins, slide shows, videos, etc. How to display type being component & photo sizes, their frequency, amount of links and type (e.g. shared borders/manual links), tables, submission forms, java modules and so on.

These features should ideally be planned before designing with FrontPage. Perhaps by manually drawing (Yeah - The old fashioned way) your design on paper, particularly for multiple web pages with several external links nested in tables and rows (displayed above in picture). I found that if you decide to do major changes to an already featured or comprehensive site, you run the risk of corruption or messing up of the HTML codes, and of the FrontPage server extensions on your host server. Also the hassle (multiple cutting and pasting) of visually adding, modifying, and rearranging of the overall site in an attempt to streamline it for viewers to view it effectively.

I wanted to change my manually inserted navigation links by inserting the automatic shared borders along the top pages (A popular feature in FrontPage) to allow quick and simple links to the other pages. But it involved moving the container tables downwards, and then moving multiple tables with rows in the container tables, then shuffling around associated photos with tables and so on. Then to align all these and other components to make the pages look intact and relatively viewable to visitors. And if you don't know HTML to shortcut these rearrangements then redesign becomes more difficult. Doing all this took hours, which I believe would not have been so, if I had added the shared borders from the start.

Additionally, It's possible that if you add too much too late, and if you already have too many components, then the FrontPage server extensions on your host site may have difficultly trying to handle them consistently. This could affect how the pages are displayed when visitors view your site. So perhaps if you use FrontPage for your web site, plan it well and maybe keep it clean and lean....

Front Page Web Design - Plan Ahead...

How to Add a Slide Show for Your Blog and Website

Note: Thumbnail kindly allowed by virtualoceania (a photo site in New Zealand)

For my personal website and blog I was looking for a photo slide show to "drop in" and come across three choices: a fade in type at http://www.pixel2life.com/search/all/slideshow/1/ 2: another at http://www.barelyfitz.com/projects/slideshow/ and 3: which I currently use, from xat com. The No. 1 choice has several to choose from and is often is a embedded code, which you may need to do a bit of editing yourself, whereas No.'s 2 and 3 (as many others) employ a wizard approach: This allows ease of use, and customization - adding transitions, color backgrounds, borders, etc.

Using a simple slide screen with thumbnails of New Zealand photos, a slide show adds a bit of a professional touch, which hopefully will allow a visitor stay longer on your web site - just to have a look . You might be expected to include a link to the respective site...

How to Add a Slide Show for Your Blog and Website

Web Beginner

So much easier today to design to create and host a web page today. For years I was always hesitant, as only thought it was for the real web designers - but now with providers like myspace, yahoo geocities, hosting sites, free templates, editors (frontpage), internet tutorials, and so, it is now easier than ever.
This is good for many. Now one can reach (or hope to) the world with their own web space, blog, or site. Trouble is, your space can easily get buried with the masses.. I did a google search on some computer terms, and results are in their millions. But at least you are out there if you want to be found, and what you have to offer is the thing. Otherwise one's site could be just another thing, say like hidden page in a pile of magazines - but never mind there's always someone else's site or blog to browse through that may offer more. That's why I am at this blog site...It's refreshing to say the least...

Web Beginner