simple link to DOWNLOAD a file???

[kalcotter]

I'm hoping this will be easy for someone to answer. I have a .wmv (or .avi, .mp4... ect... ) file that I want someone to be able to download to their computer by clicking a button. NOT open the file in a new window or tab... but actaully bring up a "save or open" window. Is there a simple way to do this? Here's the page I'm working with... very basic, but it helps you see what I'm trying to do... http://kalcotter.com/randell/trainingvids/

I'm working with CS3 using AS3.

Thanks for any input!!!

[5TonsOfFlax]

Use the download method of FileReference.

[kalcotter]

I'm not sure what that means. Does anyone have any example code that they used for this?

[5TonsOfFlax]

var fr:FileReference = new FileReference();
fr.download(new URLRequest("somefile.avi"));

[kalcotter]

Thanks a lot. I can play with this when I get home... but if it's easy for you to answer this, it would help a lot.. lets say my button instance is called avi .... where do I put the code you just sent?

[5TonsOfFlax]

avi.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, startDownload);

function startDownload(e:MouseEvent):void{
  var fr:FileReference = new FileReference();
  fr.download(new URLRequest("somefile.avi"));
}

[kalcotter]

You rock man. thanks a ton! So, if I had 5 or 6 of these I would have to change the event name or something right? Would it be like this?

avi.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, startDownload1);

function startDownload1(e:MouseEvent):void{
  var fr:FileReference = new FileReference();
  fr.download(new URLRequest("somefile.avi"));
}

wmv.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, startDownload2);

function startDownload2(e:MouseEvent):void{
  var fr:FileReference = new FileReference();
  fr.download(new URLRequest("somefile.avi"));
}

mp4.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, startDownload3);

function startDownload3(e:MouseEvent):void{
  var fr:FileReference = new FileReference();
  fr.download(new URLRequest("somefile.avi"));
}

[5TonsOfFlax]

You could do that (assuming you change the file to download, or there's no reason to use different functions). But what I'd do is set up a mapping between the buttons and the files and use a single handler function anyway.

You can set up that relationship with a Dictionary, or if your buttons are MovieClips, you can add the property dynamically.

MovieClip method:

var buttons:Array = [avi, wmv, mp4];
avi.link = "somefile.avi";
wmv.link = "somefile.wmv";
mp4.link = "somefile.mp4";

for (var i:int = 0; i < buttons.length; i++){
  buttons[i].addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, startDownload);
}

function startDownload(e:MouseEvent):void{
  var button:MovieClip = MovieClip(e.currentTarget);
  var fr:FileReference = new FileReference();
  fr.download(new URLRequest(button.link));
}

Dictionary method:

var buttons:Array = [avi, wmv, mp4];
var links:Dictionary = new Dictionary();
links[avi] = "somefile.avi";
links[wmv] = "somefile.wmv";
links[mp4] = "somefile.mp4";

for (var i:int = 0; i < buttons.length; i++){
  buttons[i].addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, startDownload);
}

function startDownload(e:MouseEvent):void{
  var fr:FileReference = new FileReference();
  fr.download(new URLRequest(links[e.currentTarget]));
}

[kalcotter]

cool man! your way might be over my head, but I'll play with it after work. You've helped me greatly!!! thanks again!

[kalcotter]

So, I'm home playing with this now. I used this code:

flv.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, startDownload1);
function startDownload1(e:MouseEvent):void{
  var fr:FileReference = new FileReference();
  fr.download(new URLRequest("crispease.flv"));
}

When I test movie and click the flv button, I'm getting this errror:

Error: Error #2039: Invalid remote URL protocol. The remote URL protocol must be HTTP or HTTPS.
at flash.net::FileReference/download()
at trainingvideos_fla::MainTimeline/startDownload1()



you can test it here: http://kalcotter.com/randell/trainingvids/

It opens the 'save as' window, but once you click save, nothing really happens.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[5TonsOfFlax]

In testing locally, the relative url generated by that code will be a file:// url and won't work. But I'm not sure what's going on with it online. I see the same behavior you described. It doesn't even appear to be making a request to the server.
You might try using an absolute url in the request.

[kalcotter]

I tried that... doesn't seem to help. I really have no idea, it's all kind of above my head. this is what I have now:

flv.addEventListener(MouseEvent.CLICK, startDownload1);
function startDownload1(e:MouseEvent):void{
var fr:FileReference = new FileReference();
fr.download(new URLRequest("http://www.kalcotter.com/randell/trainingvids/crispease.flv"));
}

but if you go straight to the link: http://kalcotter.com/randell/trainingvids/crispease.flv it does try to download it... proving that there is in fact a file on the server named that... I'm confused.

[5TonsOfFlax]

Well, now you have the page on kalcotter.com but you're requesting the file from www.kalcotter.com. That might cause crossdomain issues.

Look at the docs for FileReference.download
http://help.adobe.com/en_US/AS3LCR/F...download%28%29

Put in listeners for all the error events that might occur.