Link to a Download

[Ascendancy]

If I have a link that leads to a video file, how can I force it to download the file and not open in a movie player window?

[redhatlook]

This depends on user's OS settings, if user has associated video file for example mpg with e.g. Quicktime player, video file is automatically played in the browser when user clicks the link.

[kiwibrit]

Could zip the file - I suppose.

[Lavarinth]

You could also try a different file type if you have that ability, AVIs download before viewing, while MPGs, WMVs, or MOVs buffer and view online. Also, you could direct viewers and suggest to them to Right Click and Save File.

[Major Payne]

Best to give both options: Download and/or view.

Ron

[Eternal.hazard]

Try changing the extension into smth like .ASk , or .rar , or u could tighten the circle too much by changing it into( .txt ) or (.c) or (.php) , that would prevent most players from buffering the file , & u could put a little Notice for z users to change the extension after the Download is complete ... i hope that works For You ,:cool:

E.H

[Ascendancy]

Well I didn't want to make things too complicated, but I just wanted to make it so that everybody could watch it, regardless of if they had the plug-in available. I am thinking of converting them all to flash videos, though, because most people have Flash installed.

[volking]

You can also use BlindFile.com
When downloading a file it automatically asks: Open or Save

[Robert Wellock]

Within Apache to force a document to begin downloading rather than open; set a Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) type to application/octet-stream within; .htaccess and that immediately prompts you for the download.

AddType application/octet-stream mov

[Ascendancy]

That will only work if the file is running on that server though, correct?