RapidWeaver FAQ - Downloads





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I would like to add a .pdf (or any other file or folder) for visitors to download if they would like. How can I do this?



Depending on the content and other things you may consider taking a screen shot of the file and embed the pictures to your website. If that’s not a solution then go on reading...

CHAPTER 1: Using RapidWeaver’s download page
CHAPTER 2: Adding downloads to other pages


CHAPTER 1: Using RapidWeaver’s download page

Go to Add => File Sharing

Hit “+” at the bottom of the page to add a new download.

Source type => File

Double-click the empty space under “Source” and choose the File you want to have available for download.

Write a title and a description for it.


CHAPTER 2: Adding downloads to other pages

If you want the download to start automatically when people click on a text link or an image link then you will have to make a zip file. You could also link directly to the pdf file without zipping it (using normal link). Then the pdf would open in the browser and not start downloading. People could then right-click on the link and then "Download linked file as".
So you have to choose whether you want the download starting automatically (zip) or not (no zip).

1. Put the file or folder you want to make a zip of on your Desktop
2. Select that file or folder and in the upper menu (or finder bar) go to File and then select "Create Archive
3. On your desktop a new file will appear named yourfileorfoldername.zip
4. Make a new folder and call it Downloads or Media or something
5. Put your .zip file into this folder
6. Take the Downloads or Media folder
- For MobileMe go to the Finder menu and select Go/iDisk/My iDisk/ or hit Schift+Command(Apple)+i and then go to /Web/Sites/. Drop your folder created in point 4 into the "Sites" folder.
- If you publish to a server other than MobileMe’s upload the folder to the root destination of your server using an FTP application like Cyberduck.
7. Go to RapidWeaver and make a link to the file. The URL will be...

http://yoururl.com/Downloads/yourfileorfoldername.zip

where...

yoururl is web.me.com/username/ if publishing to MobileMe
/Downloads/ is the name of the folder we created in point 4 in which you put the downloadable files
yourfileorfoldername.zip is the name of the downloadable file

8. When people click on the link the download will start automatically (unless you don’t zip it).


CHAPTER 3: Another way to add Microsoft Office files to your website

You may want to have a look at Google Docs.
And iPaper.


CHAPTER 4: Another way to add PDF files to your website

For PDF files there’s a fantastic way of integrating it into your website without needing the people to have the above mentioned plugin in their Browsers.

iPaper.
and issuu which is the one I like the most.

Here an example using issuu and an iFrame:




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