You, hopefully, already know Opera Mini 4, which, currently, I recommend the most for all Windows Mobile users as the primary browser. It’s especially useful if you are on either a slow (say, GPRS) or expensive (non-flat rate) data plan and/or you also use Opera on the desktop and, therefore, can make use of the excellent, remote (!) favorite synchronization offered by Opera Link.
So far, it was impossible to quickly invoke Opera Mini from any mailer applications by just clicking / activating Web links in them. This was a major stumbling block for many, which is quite understandable. Yes, it’s a major pain in the back to having to rely on Internet Explorer (Opera Mobile, Netfront etc.) for displaying the given Web page - instead of the much faster / cheaper / prettier Opera Mini.
Of course, Pocket PC (using the new terminology, Windows Mobile 6 Professional / Classic) users have always had an escape route. They still could highlight the link and, then, copy it to the clipboard. After that, they could still invoke Opera Mini, go to Menu / Enter Address and paste the URL there. (Assuming, of course, they use a copy/paste-capable MIDlet Manager. The outdated and, unless you have specific needs or an old operating system, in no way recommended TAO isn’t one of them; the recommended Jbed is.) An example of highlighting a link and copying to the clipboard is depicted in the following screenshot:
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
This, however, resulted in multiple screen taps and has never been so simple as just clicking a link in the mail body and let the system invoke the browser and pass the link to it.
And, of course, the above-explained way of copying URL’s to Opera Mini doesn’t work with touchscreen-less MS Smartphone (in the new terminology, Windows Mobile 6 Standard) models. Not even with external Copy/Paste tools like VITO’s excellent, free CopyPaste.
Because of the acuteness of the problem, I’ve thought very hard on solving the problem and making Opera Mini (OM for short) a browser that doesn’t suffer from this problem. And, during a lengthy swimming & sauna session, it occurred to me how it can be solved. Yeah, it’s mostly during swimming that I get the best, most revolutionary ideas
First, the pros and the cons so that you can see what you can expect of my solution.
Pros
Fully Seamless integration into Messaging (or any other mailer app), Notes, Word Mobile, PDF readers, MobiPocket (or any other text processing / viewing app) etc under ALL Windows Mobile / Pocket PC operating systems before Windows Mobile 6, on both the Pocket PC and Smartphone platforms
While it’s not compatible with WM6 Smartphones (WM6 Standard devices), on WM6 Pocket PC’s, you can still pretty easily invoke OM and pass the given URL to it.
It’s free and pretty easy to set up
Cons
It isn’t compatible with WM6 Smartphones like the HTC Vox (s710) or the HTC Wings (s730). Sorry.
With WM6 Pocket PC’s (unlike previous OS version), some additional manual work is needed, compared to the pre-WM6 cases. That is, just clicking the link won’t suffice.
It will NOT work on local HTM(L) files on your device – that is, not external links. That is, you won’t be able to render a local HTML file if you click it from File Explorer. However, as it’s mostly remote links that you’ll want to view, not local files, this isn’t that big a problem.
Again, let’s emphasize it again:
with WM6 PPC’s (unlike with pre-WM6 ones), you must copy the URL to the clipboard and only after this click the link!
It does NOT work with touchscreen-less WM6 Smartphones (WM6 Standard devices)! That’s because of the operating system’s inability for any kind of copy/paste operation.
Installation, usage
download and install MortScript if you haven’t already done so. Make sure you install it in the main memory (unless you’re ready to modify the scripts I’ve provided).
download THIS file
depending on your operating system version, go to either the WM5 or WM6 directory of the ZIP file downloaded in the previous step. Note that if you’re still using a pre-WM5 operating system, you’ll need the WM5 version.
transfer OMInvokeAndPasteScript.mscr to \Program Files\MortScript on your device
import the registry file into the Registry (WM5: OMInvokeAndPaste.reg; WM6: OMWM6DefBrowser.reg). if you do this on a MS Smartphone, make sure it is application unlocked. I’ve published several articles on (the absolutely legal) app unlock; see for example THIS
If you absolutely don’t know how the Registry import file needs to be imported, do either of the following:
either get (and, even better, purchase - they DO deserve it as it’s a REALLY excellent app) SOTI’s Pocket Controller. Install it, connect to your device, click the Registry icon. Then, select Edit / Import in the new remote Registry Editor window. Search for the registry file and import it.
or, get Resco Explorer. Install it on your mobile device; make sure you don’t disable the Registry editor install. Start the latter and, then, just exit it – this makes sure .REG files become associated with the Registry editor. Now, after you’ve transferred the REG file to your handset, just click it from inside File Explorer. Voila: it gets imported into the local Registry.
That’s all – from now on, clicking links in mails, documents etc. should fire up OM and pass the URL.
How you can (and when you must) modify OMInvokeAndPasteScript.mscr ?
The majority of the application logic is, in both the WM5 and WM6 versions, in OMInvokeAndPasteScript.mscr. Therefore, you’ll need to modify it in the following cases:
first, the most important instruction you’ll need to modify is the second row Run("\Windows\jbed.exe", "-run sX_"), where X is either 0 or 1 (I’ve set it to 0 in the WM5 and to 1 in the WM6 script).
As is explained in my earlier Opera Mini & Jbed-tutorial and posts (see for example THIS) , along with other people (see for example THIS), X stands for as how manieth OM was deployed under Jbed.
also note that, if you have to use a pre-WM5 operating system, it’s here that you need to define your TAO / IMB J9 links. Please consult the related section in the MIDlet Bible for more info on how these links need to be created.
Just remember the following: the Run() function requires two parameters, both enclosed in “’s. First is the executable; the second is the passed parameters. The latter string, of course, can (and with both IBM J9 and TAO, will) consist of several parameters.
the script is geared towards Opera Mini 4 users. Under Opera Mini 3 (or previous versions), the initial two SendLeftSoft calls will NOT result in the “Enter address” dialog coming up. With Opera Mini 3, therefore, you will need to change the second SendLeftSoft to SendCR as follows:
#SetClipText(url)
Run("\Windows\jbed.exe", "-run s0_")
Sleep(6000)
SendLeftSoft
Sleep(400)
SendCR
Note that the above code snippet has SetClipText(url) commented out (note the # at the beginning of the row). This is only needed under WM6; under previous operating systems, you MUST NOT comment it out.
finally, you can fine-tune the parameters of Sleep() in the code so that OM is still reliably invoked. With the code above, for example, I let MortScript wait for 6 seconds (6000 milliseconds) before starting to emulating left softkey presses.
Quick explanation for the different behavior under WM6 (only for geeks / hackers / programmers!)
Under WM6, invoking the default Web browser isn’t any more done the same way as under previous operating systems. There, the contents of HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SOFTWARE\Microsoft\ Shell\Rai\ : DEFBROWSER\1 tell the system what to invoke. Here, unfortunately, it’s impossible to define additional command-line parameters. Parameters DO get passed (in the background), but you can’t name them. MortScript, however, relies on the latter – that is, named parameters referable under their name, NOT their index.
Under pre-WM6 operating systems, it was easy to name the parameters you passed to programs as can clearly be seen in the WM5-specific Registry import file, which just overwrites the old value of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ http\Shell\Open\ Command:
@="\"\\Program Files\\MortScript\\MortScript.exe\" \"\\Program Files\\MortScript\\OMInvokeAndPasteScript.mscr\" url=\"%1\""
Here, I’ve named the parameter “url”. This is why the first row in the MortScript file is as follows:
SetClipText(url)
This just instructs MortScript to copy the contents of the “var” variable (which, now, comes from the “outside” of the script) to the clipboard so that, later, it can be pasted back to the URL input field.
Feel free to quickly scrutinize the two, WM6- and pre-WM6-specific Registry import files so that you can see this for yourself.
Currently, I don’t know a way of naming parameters under WM6. Of course, when I come up with a solution, I let you all know.
UPDATE (11/29/2007): thanks to badbob001 on my blog, now, as opposed to the initial case, WM6 devices (both Pocket PC's and Smartphones) are FULLY supported!!!!!!!
This all means there is no longer a difference between how WM6 and pre-WM6 operating systems behave. You only need to make sure to get the right .MSCR and Registry import files from the already-updated ZIP file, depending on your operating system version. That is, for WM6, get the files from the WM6 subdirectory, for pre-WM6 operating systems, from the WM5 one. And, of course, modify the scripts if Opera Mini isn't deployed as the first app under Jbed, the, by default, supported (and highly recommended) MIDlet manager.
Again: Under WM6, manual link copying to the clipboard is no longer needed and, again, it works 100% on WM6 Smartphones as well!
(note that now that WM6 is fully supported, I haven’t edited the original article; its WM6-related parts are now outdated. Again, WM6 is fully supported now and there's no difference between the usability on pre-WM6 and the WM6 platforms any more.)
Undo
I hate to be a pain, but I am trying to view the registry file. Can you suggest a product to view the file? I followed the instructions and was having problems, so I am trying to undo the registry changes.
Thanks
Never mind. I found the registry entry.
Tnx for sharing this great idea ... always wanted one, at least until Opera Mobile 9 will be released.
I have HTC Artemis = WM6 Pro, Cloudyfa Jbed 20070802.2.1 on Storage Card and Opera Mini 4. This is the only midlet so far installed, none other present as of now.
Following is my experience:
1. When Opera Mini is not running, and has to be launched I always get a message "Could not find suite s0_", and then later Opera Mini does get launched but no address input happens. Simply the browser is launched in other words.
2. If Opera Mini is already running, everything works nicely ... no probs here.
3. I use this app, RSS Reader, Spb Insight (I think the best, beats NewsReader except that it has no podcast download support). When I click on the link address in the article (btw, I even cannot copy them in this app), PocketIE/Opera Mobile 8.65 is launched. How can this be resolved.
The script that I am using is that of badbob001, with small mod:
If (ProcExists("jbed.exe"))
Run("\Storage Card\Program Files\Jbed\jbed.exe", "-run s0_")
sleepmessage(3, "Please Wait...")
Else
Run("\Storage Card\Program Files\Jbed\jbed.exe", "-run s0_")
sleepmessage(6, "Please Wait...")
EndIf
SendLeftSoft
Sleep(100)
SendLeftSoft
Sleep(100)
SendEnd
SendHome( "",0,1 )
Sleep(100)
url = substr(url,2)
SetClipText(url)
SendCtrlKey( "V" )
Sleep(100)
SendLeftSoft
I have tried with the original one as well .... same results.
Ok, I got rid of s0_ error. After trying 0-10, I decided to delete the string all together and it launches now without any error. So the line now looks like:
newer --> Run("\Storage Card\Program Files\Jbed\jbed.exe")
older --> Run("\Storage Card\Program Files\Jbed\jbed.exe", "-run s1_")
So, why then we need this s0_ string anyway !!!
But then again, if Opera Mini is not running, after clicking on the link in e-mail, the midlet manager is launced and OM fired, and then no URL input happens. If OM is already running, then all is fine. And still haven't found how to resolve URL linking with Spb Insight application.
BTW, for my Artemis @260Mhz, sleep strings of "If= 2 and Else=4" seconds is perfect.
And, of course, the above-explained way of copying URL’s to Opera Mini doesn’t work with touchscreen-less MS Smartphone (in the new terminology, Windows Mobile 6 Standard) models. Not even with external Copy/Paste tools like VITO’s excellent, free CopyPaste.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it works for me. If I recieve link in email I just click Reply to be able to select and copy the link. Open Opera Mini and paste the link (using Vito CopyPaste). The copy & paste works in intent Midlet Manager (v10.1.7.559) fine.
EazyVG said:
Ok, I got rid of s0_ error. After trying 0-10, I decided to delete the string all together and it launches now without any error. So the line now looks like:
newer --> Run("\Storage Card\Program Files\Jbed\jbed.exe")
older --> Run("\Storage Card\Program Files\Jbed\jbed.exe", "-run s1_")
So, why then we need this s0_ string anyway !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is strange that just by running jbed.exe, opera mini is launched automatically or am I not understanding you?
EazyVG said:
But then again, if Opera Mini is not running, after clicking on the link in e-mail, the midlet manager is launced and OM fired, and then no URL input happens. If OM is already running, then all is fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Perhaps opera mini is taking longer than your script expects. In the original script with sleep(6000), it expects opera to run in 6 seconds. On my device, that is too short and I had to increase it to sleep(8000) or sleep(8500). Just launch opera and count how long it takes to get a rough idea.
Yes, you are right. I have deleted the string mentioning s0_ all together, and it does work without it. So, what you think.
Basically, here is what I tried:
Code:
If (ProcExists("jbed.exe"))
Run("\Storage Card\Program Files\Jbed\jbed.exe")
sleepmessage(2, "Please Wait...")
Else
Run("\Storage Card\Program Files\Jbed\jbed.exe")
sleepmessage(10, "Please Wait...")
EndIf
SendLeftSoft
Sleep(100)
SendLeftSoft
Sleep(100)
SendEnd
SendHome( "",0,1 )
Sleep(100)
url = substr(url,2)
SetClipText(url)
SendCtrlKey( "V" )
Sleep(100)
SendLeftSoft
What it does with that 10 seconds command is that, it launches Jbed, waits 10 seconds at the menu option (where there is a list of Midelets installed, in my case for now only Opera), and then only launches OM, and again there is no auto address input. So increasing seconds doesn;t give me anything. What can be the problem?
And what about handling of links in apps such as Spb Insight ... I haven't tried clicking links in any other 3rd party app, but perhaps the result will be same, i.e. not launching the OM but going straight to PocketIE.
MOVED our discussion .... as this one is for Smartphones. The link to your other General post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1707520#post1707520
I have problems with the url parameter on WM5 Smartphone.
If I have in the registry entry like this:
"\Storage Card\Program Files\MortScript\MortScript.exe" "\Storage Card\Program Files\MortScript\OMInvokeAndPasteScript.mscr" url="%1"
It says "There is no application associated with http://something.com. Run the applicaition first and open this file inside the application."
"\Storage Card\Program Files\MortScript\MortScript.exe" "\Storage Card\Program Files\MortScript\OMInvokeAndPasteScript.mscr"
This runs the script fine (except the address of course).
"\Storage Card\Program Files\MortScript\MortScript.exe" "\Storage Card\Program Files\MortScript\OMInvokeAndPasteScript.mscr" url=
This launches the script as well but it dosnt paste the url. I have moddified the script for my intent Midlet Manager but I still have "SetClipText(url)" and "SendCtrlKey( "V" )".
Any help?
I'm confused.
Here you say it worked...
EazyVG said:
Yes, you are right. I have deleted the string mentioning s0_ all together, and it does work without it. So, what you think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But here you say a list of midlets comes up.
EazyVG said:
What it does with that 10 seconds command is that, it launches Jbed, waits 10 seconds at the menu option (where there is a list of Midelets installed, in my case for now only Opera), and then only launches OM, and again there is no auto address input. So increasing seconds doesn;t give me anything. What can be the problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you see a list of midlets come up, IT DID NOT WORK. The point of all this "-run s?_" business to so that the midlet list is bypassed and the midlet is run directly. If you can't get this direct launch method to work, then you will need to modify the script to press enter at the midlist list to launch opera for you. You may think the script is working because a command in script 'accidentally' launches om for you but the script expects om to be already started.
You should study this page:
http://pdaphonehome.com/forums/ppc-...ed-includes-info-new-java-midlet-manager.html
EazyVG said:
And what about handling of links in apps such as Spb Insight ... I haven't tried clicking links in any other 3rd party app, but perhaps the result will be same, i.e. not launching the OM but going straight to PocketIE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is possible that applications ignore the system settings and launch links by invoking pocket ie. Did you even run a windows application and click on a link in help > about and internet explorer opens instead of your default browser like firefox. That application, instead of passing the url to the os to take care of, is running 'iexplore <url>'.
But here you say a list of midlets comes up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, what I meant is where the list of midlets is showed, in my case, for now there is only Opera Mini, otherwise I am also gonna have few games, apps and Gmail.
It is possible that applications ignore the system settings and launch links by invoking pocket ie. Did you even run a windows application and click on a link in help > about and internet explorer opens instead of your default browser like firefox. That application, instead of passing the url to the os to take care of, is running 'iexplore <url>'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course I tried, such as with links embedded in e-mails. So as I undersstand, not all apps follow what is known as Global Rules.
then you will need to modify the script to press enter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please tell me how this script should look like, kinda never don this before on my own.
BTW, it does bypass the midlet list section, only when OM is already running in the background. I'll check the link you have given me ... hope it will shed some light.
EazyVG said:
BTW, it does bypass the midlet list section, only when OM is already running in the background.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It bypasses the midlet list because you already have a java application running. You can't go back to the midlet list until you quit the existing midlet application because you can only have one midlet running at a time. You'll just need to read the reference web pages to figure out what s?_ value to use to invoke om directly. If you already have other midlets installed, then you must have invoked another installed midlet by chance. If you had tried s0_ up to say s20_ (don't know how many midlets had you installed), then perhaps you jvm doesn't support direct run.
Is it possible that you have jbed installed on both the storage card and main memory and somehow it's looking for your midlets in the wrong storage location? Just a guess since I've just learned enough just to get om working and I don't have jbed on a storage card. According to the link, you should look in \windows\appdb and find the .jar for opera. Each midlet application should have a jar named s?_suite.jar where ? is a number. Once you know the value of ?, then you know what to put in your script. If you have your jars on the storage card instead, then you will need to research if you need to change anything to get direct launching working.
So for now, your problem is getting a midlet to directly run and has yet to even involve the link-copy-paste idea of the original post.
So far I have tried s0 to s10, and had maximum, prior to deleting the rest apart from OM, somewhere abound 6. I guess this has to do something with my Jbed being present in ROM (as it came with coocked ROM and I can't delete it) and one on storage, but am quite sure that the one from storage card is being run, as per registry inputs. I'll try to leave one just on main memory and reinstall the OM.
But still, the main question for me remains the one with 3rt party apps and embedded links in them, such as Spb Insight, which I use on daily basis. I hope soon one or the other solution will be found. Perhaps some tweak to be done in the registry itself for Spb and other apps to launch the Jbed/OM combo!
Tnx for the tip.
EazyVG said:
So far I have tried s0 to s10, and had maximum, prior to deleting the rest apart from OM, somewhere abound 6. I guess this has to do something with my Jbed being present in ROM (as it came with coocked ROM and I can't delete it) and one on storage, but am quite sure that the one from storage card is being run, as per registry inputs. I'll try to leave one just on main memory and reinstall the OM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you look in the \Windows\appdb\ folder? Opera for me is installed as s0_suite.jar and has a size of 97.7KB (100,056 bytes). I had also applied a hack to the selector.utf file so that I'm not prompted for permission when opera wants to access the network. Do you get a prompt when opera starts? That *may* be related.
EazyVG said:
But still, the main question for me remains the one with 3rt party apps and embedded links in them, such as Spb Insight, which I use on daily basis. I hope soon one or the other solution will be found. Perhaps some tweak to be done in the registry itself for Spb and other apps to launch the Jbed/OM combo!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may be answered here, starting at post #24.
http://www.howardforums.com/showthread.php?t=1283853&page=2
It looks like even on wm6, some applications still use the wm5 registry settings so you may need to apply the registry changes for both wm5 and wm6.
UPDATE (12/04/2007): Major WM6-related updates have taken place in the meantime.
In the meantime, my blog reader badbob001 has refined the script. Now, if you click a link, you’ll be presented a choice list, where you can select whether to pass the given URL to Internet Explorer Mobile, Opera Mini, just copy to the clipboard or just cancel the operation. This will help you in selecting the right browser if you (still) plan to use IEM (or other native Web browsers like Opera Mobile, Netfront or Minimo).
Cool, eh?
Remember that you don’t need to deploy this script if you don’t need this kind of functionality but always want to be redirected right to Opera Mini. Therefore, I’ve also included the older version of this script in the ZIP file. It’s in the NoBrowserSelectionDialog subfolder. Note that this script has also been updated a bit: it checks for Jbed already running; if it is, then, it doesn’t wait that much. Again, thanks for badbob001 for refining and performance-tuning my initial script.
Note that the usual stuff applies: if the script doesn’t invoke Opera Mini but invokes something else, edit both occurrences of s0 and appropriately change 0 to a greater number.
Finally, note that, these updates & bugfixs being all WM6-related, I haven't edited the old, WM5-related, working MortScript file. If you need some speedup and/or dynamic, runtime selection of the browser you'd like to use, you'll want to copy either of the two new MortScript files - it'll work.
2. Upon HowardForums forum member volwrath’s bug report, I’ve enhanced the Registry import file to support invoking Opera Mini from all applications, not only Messaging and Notes. I wouldn't have thought WM6 is so half-baked (that is, half of the apps still depend on the pre-WM6 (that is, the HKCR/http/Open/Command) way of invocation). That is, the WM6 Registry import script has also been enhanced (basically, I've just added the contents of the old WM5-related Registry import file to it), not only the MortScript file.
Note that reading local files will still default to the system-level browser as I haven’t redefined the default application for opening .htm(l) files. That is, by default, Internet Explorer Mobile will open these.
Again and again, it can’t be stressed enough how much these hacks enhance the usability of Opera Mini under Windows Mobile! I really recommend giving Opera Mini a try – you certainly won’t regret it!
Thanks Menneisyys and badbob001 ..... you the king of the hill.
On my HTC P3300 running WM6, Claudyfs Jbed 1.2, now all is working exceptionally well. Now with the updated script and reg tweak even the links embedded in 3rd party apps (such as the one I mentioned, Spb Insight) the OM get's launched and the browser shows the web site without any delays. The only thing I changed was the Sleep string from 6 to 4.
I can't thank you guys enough ... definitely MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH
UPDATE (12/12/2007): upon the problem reports of several Smartphone users (see the posts for example HERE), I’ve released a slightly modified version of the script that, instead of pasting, uses keyboard emulation. This makes it possible to use the script on some Smartphones that are incompatible with pasting.
The script is available HERE. Remember to remove the SP.2 extension before deploying it. Note that, again, it's ONLY meant for Smartphone users that previous script versions didn't work with!!!
Note that while it works on for example the I3 Beta of WM6 of the Samsung BJ, it doesn’t do the same on the (original) WM5 version of the same device or the HTC Vox (s710). It seems it’s impossible to support these devices with the current MortScript version. I'll also try to reimplement the script in nScriptm (another, less widely used scripting language / interpreter) - hope it is able to paste / send characters to these, still incompatible MS Smartphone models.
UPDATE (12/13/2007): I’ve also made available the Registry import file you’ll need to use when reverting to the original, Internet Explorer-only associations. It’s HERE.
UPDATE (12/15/2007): XDA-Devs forum member shlomki has just released the different hacks in CAB format so that they’re very easy to install. They’re available HERE. Comments are welcome. (Note that, due to lack of time, I haven’t checked them.)
What is the proper format for html hyperlink code that will cause a file to download to the phone and not have the browser try to open it? I have files that are text, they are GPS files, but they don't have a TXT extension and IE keeps opening the files as text.
If it matters (but I don't think so) I'm running a reasonably stock HTC WM 6.0 ROM on a Hermes.
Regards,
GPSGary
You want to do this server-side? Or client-side?
FTP download code
I'm trying to write html code that will cause a file on my web site to download directly to the phone file directory without the browser trying to open it. It would be extra useful if I could make it download to a specific existing directory.
Regards,
GPSGary
Well, I hate to say this but you can't. That's the simple answer.
The complicated answer is that you need to set up some sort of server-side script to place the headers manually, or you need to modify some of the settings for your server's remote access handler. On Apache servers, this can be done via a file called .htaccess.
If you have a .htaccess file that you can modify, just enter this at the top of it:
Code:
RewriteEngine on
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_URI} \.(gps|cab)$
RewriteRule .* - [T=application/octet-stream,L]
Note that I didn't know the extension you're talking about so I put "gps" up there. I also added "cab" because many servers have a tendency to not send the proper headers for cab files. Feel free to add other extensions using this same method.
Again, this is assuming you have an Apache server, and you have the privileges to modify a .htaccess file.
Forcing ftp type download
No Apache server so isn't there some other way?
Anyone got a good Java script?
Regards,
GPSGary
Hi there,
as far as I know, you don't need java:
ftp-links are always proposed to "Save File", so your link should be ftp://www.domain.com/folder/filename.txt
This will cause any browser to download the file instead of opening it.
In that case, you definitely need an real ftp access to your file ... (ftp = FIleTransferProtocol).
Best regards,
I've encountered this before and resorted to zipping the file. You can also spoof the system by renaming the file to *.AAA The user, of course, will have to rename the file on their end. I have better luck with .zip unless it's for my own use. Any file which is recognized natively by the browser will open within the browser. This includes .txt, .htm, .html, and any other file associations you've successfully loaded.
gepp said:
No Apache server so isn't there some other way?
Anyone got a good Java script?
Regards,
GPSGary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I'm tellin' ya. It's IMPOSSIBLE to do this with client-side scripting, i.e., Javascript.
I'd like to help you get this resolved. Can you clarify some things for me?
Are you using Geocities, Fortunecity, Google Pages, or one of the other free site services out there?
Do you understand the distinction I'm making between client-side and server-side scripting?
What server software are you using, if not Apache?
Are you able to utilize a PHP or Perl engine? (I can tell you how to send the file headers manually through either of those.)
I promise I'm not trying to be rude or anything. I just want to make sure we're both on the same page here. I can tell you the best way of getting this resolved, but I need to know where you stand, and I need to know the extent of your web development knowledge.
PHP or Perl will work
I'm on a Yahoo small business server. I've used PHP so that will work on my site and I know enough to fiddle with it if need be. Less proficient with Perl but have some exposure.
Regards,
GPSGary
Awesome. That works. Here is what you will basically be doing with PHP then.
PHP:
ob_start()
$GPSFile = '/path/to/file.gps'; //This is where the file is located on your Yahoo Business server
$DownloadName = "File.gps"; //This is the name that pops up when you're prompted to download the file (it can be different than the name above).
$TypeOfFile = 'text/plain'; //If you still have issues, change this to 'application/octet-stream'
header("Cache-Control: public, must-revalidate");
header("Pragma: hack");
header("Content-Type: " . $TypeOfFile);
header("Content-Length: " .(string)(filesize($GPSFile)) );
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=' . $DownloadName);
header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary\n");
od_end_clean();
readfile($GPSFile);