Guide to Downloading Files from Web Sites

On many computers, Internet browsers are configured to automatically download and open files from web page links. For example, there are numerous forms in our Teacher Resources section, and when the user clicks on the link to a form, many computers will automatically open the form in Microsoft Word. The user can then edit the Word document in the normal fashion.

Computers in the student labs work a little differently, because they are configured so that all 1,000 or so users in the school can work on them without littering them with downloaded junk. You can easily download and open files, though, by following these simple steps:

  1. Control-click the link (hold down the Control key when while clicking the link).
  2. Save the file by clicking the "Save" button.

Below are illustrated instructions for Netscape Communicator and Internet Explorer.

Downloading files with Netscape Communicator:

  1. Control-click on the link to the file you want to download, and in the pop-up menu that appears, select "Save this link as . . ."
    Save link menu

  2. Verify that the "Format" pop-up menu is set to "Source," and click "Save" to save the form to your home directory Documents folder:
    Save file window

  3. Depending on how you have Netscape configured, the file will either open up automatically, or you will need to open your Documents folder and double-click on it to open it.

Downloading files with Internet Explorer:

  1. Control-click on the link to the file you want to download, and in the pop-up menu that appears, select "Download Link to Disk"
    Download link menu

  2. Click "Save" to save the form to your home directory Documents folder:
    Save file window

  3. Depending on how you have Internet Explorer configured, the file will either open up automatically, or you will need to open your Documents folder and double-click on it to open it.