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How will my browser handle different file types?

When your browser encounters a file other than an HTML page or images, it will normally do one of 3 things ...

  • View / handle with a browser plug-in (such as Flash or pdf etc). This means the download will appear or play in a browser window.
  • Launch an application. Typically this will happen when you download a Word document. Word will launch and open the file.
  • Save to disk. The file will be saved to your hard disc. Right click to do this.

Downloads

download iconWhen you see this icon ... ... you will be able to download a template, font or some other form of software. Downloads are usually in a compressed/archive format.

Compression formats

The downloads on this site are presented in 2 formats ...

  • Zip format for OSX Macs (.zip). This is now a standard format for OSX, which can create and unzip files/archives.
  • WinZip (.zip) for the PC. Requires WinZip to decompress/open.

Download file types

The following are descriptions of some of the various download file types used on this site.

Shockwave

Shockwave content (Director files prepared for the web) that will play in your browser window providing you have the Shockwave plug-in installed.

Director

2 types of Director file ...

  • Director created runtime application/utilities for the PC or Mac. No plug-ins are needed to run these, they are self standing applications (executable files).
  • Tutorial Director movie (.dir). These may open in a browser window if your "File Helper" preferences are set to handle .dir files with the Shockwave plug-in. If you prefer to save them to disk, in order to open them in Director, you will need to right click or re-configure your "File Helper" preferences for .dir files to "Download/Save To Disk".

Flash

Flash content (Flash only files) that will play in your browser window providing you have the Flash plug-in installed.

QuickTime

QuickTime (movie) content that will play in your browser window providing you have the QuickTime player installed.

Acrobat PDFs

Many of our articles are presented in Adobe's popular Portable Document Format. PDFs are self contained documents that retain all of their original formatting (layout, fonts, pictures etc), whether viewed on a PC or Mac.

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