ayahsaba76.blogspot.com
 | So, you want to make a Web Page! Lesson 14 |
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FAQ: How do I link to a _____ file so people can download it?
A: Simple, just link to it. Let's suppose you have a few Microsoft Word documents that you would like to offer. Just link to them... <a href="myresume.doc">Download my resume</a><br> <a href="mybio.doc">Download my autobiography</a>
You may wonder how to be sure the file gets saved to
disk rather than being displayed or loaded or whatever. In short you
have little control over what happens when a user downloads a file. Most
people know how to right click and Save To Disk. Others may have a
plugin to handle the file. Just let people manage that part by
themselves. Your job is simply to offer it for download.
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FAQ: How do I make a link open in a new browser window?
A: Well, first of all, this can be done easily by your visitor if he wishes. All he has to do is right click on the link and choose "Open In New Window". If we figure that you want to force this action for whatever reason, you can add target="_blank" to the link... Go to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/" target="_blank">CNN</a>
There's more on targets in Frames Tutor.
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One more note about links... It is perfectly
acceptable to link to someone's web page(s) without asking. Links are
what makes the Web the Web. Again, because this is a very common
newbie misconception... if you want to link to another web page... just
link to it. You don't have to ask permission, even if you really really
feel like asking would just be the polite thing to do... it's just not
necessary. Now, that said, it's NOT a good idea to link to someone
else's media... such as images, movies or sounds.
Now that you've learned how to make links, I'm going
to tell you about one of my pet peeves. I hate searching for information
on widgets and all I get are pages with 14 dozen LINKS to widget sites
and nothing else. I follow some of those links and I get MORE LINKS to
more widget link sites... but never any friggin widgets! 
If you're making a web site, of course include links
if you think it adds value, but try to refrain from having a site that
consists of nothing more than a bunch of links... especially links that
link to even more links!
