Download Tips

It must be stressed that the procedures outlined below are intended only as simple guidelines for the relatively uninitiated and may not necessarily apply exactly to your particular operating system and browser. Also, they assume that your mouse is configured for right-handed use. They work pretty well with most versions of Windows combined with Internet Explorer 6, Netscape 6 or Opera 6. But in any event the general approach should be similar. As with many other aspects of computer use, you need to be prepared to read the screen and experiment - nothing is likely to explode, so there is little real personal danger - except perhaps to your sanity. When downloading files from the Internet be aware that you may be infringing someone's copyright. Just because it's on the Internet doesn't necessarily mean its freely available for anyone to use.

There are three kinds of download that you are likely to want to perform. File downloads (such as the MS Word Viewer above), image downloads and web page downloads.

For file downloads, if no other instructions are given, just right click on the file name or whatever seems appropriate and then "Save as" or "Download" to initiate the download process. Depending upon your operating system and browser you may then have an opportunity to specify where on your own disk you want to store the file (in any event, make a note of both its name and where you put it, otherwise you'll spend the next three weeks looking for the damn thing). Sometimes you may be able to choose between downloading the file in question or simply opening (using) it without downloading it. You will have to decide which you want to do - usually you would want to download it so that you have your own permanent copy for use at any time - not just when you are connected to the Internet.

For image downloads, the process is a little different. Depending upon your browser, you should be able to just point at the image you want (in fact, at almost any image on any web site), then RIGHT click and select "Save Image" or "Save Picture As". Again, decide where you want to save the image (not forgetting to note both the file name and its location), click on "Save" or "OK" (or whatever your browser gives you), and that's it. If you want, you can usually change the name as well, but be careful not to change any file name extensions (the file or image is then likely to become unusable). Why nor have a trial run with the Rotary Wheel at the top of this page (it originally came from Tord Elfwendahl's Rotary Graphics).

For web page downloads, click on the "File" menu item - usually to be found at the left of your browser menu bar. Then select "Save As" or something similar. Again, you will then be able to specify where you want to save the web page on your own disk. This process is especially useful for storing web pages for future reference without having to be connected to the Internet each time you wish to refer to them. Depending upon the nature of the web page, and your browser, you may not always get exactly what you think you're going to get (especially if there are images on the page), so some testing and experimentation may be necessary - this is just one of the many little delights of using the Internet! Why not have a go with this page?