FROM: OSHA Website Support Team
--> HELP With Downloading Problems.
TOPICS: | Browsers | Large Files | I'm on a Modem -> Your server cut me off! | What Is This? | MORE...
DOWNLOADING NON-HTML AND LARGE FILES:
{Preferred Method = "Right-Click" to Save...}
- To save files directly to your local disk (to bypass any browser plug-ins you may have), you need to use the "Right-Click" method.
 Instead of using your left mouse button to click on the hypertext link, click ONCE on the hyperlink using your "RIGHT" mouse button. This will cause a menu to be displayed, from which you will select the appropriate save option:
* For Microsoft Internet Explorer® users, select "Save Target As"
* For Netscape Navigator® users, select "Save Link As"
Once you've selected the proper SAVE option for your browser, and have saved the file to your local system, go to your program menu and start the appropriate application for the file type. Locate the file you saved, and open it directly with the appropriate application.
SPECIFIC ISSUES:
- LARGE FILES: If you connect to the Internet via modem, you should always consider saving files (anything larger than 1 MB) directly to your local PC, rather than using your browser (plug-in) to view them online.
Why not allow the browser to load the file with an application "plug-in"?
Browser based application "plug-ins" load files into cache memory, and the browser may not be used for regular navigation during a download process. If you attempt to use the browser to view another page, the download will be interrupted. OR, once you resume your normal navigation (away from the target file after the download), your browser must repeat the entire download process each time you want to view the file.
There are some well known and well documented "bugs" with many browser/s and plug-ins. The most common problems result from downloading large files (larger than 1.5 MB) -- where the browser will frequently "freeze" or otherwise fail to complete the download. These situations can cause corruptions of your browser cache files and/or to the plug-ins themselves.
Bypassing the plug-ins and saving the files directly to your local disk, gives you the opportunity to view the file from your local system at any time, without the need to download it again, and takes both the browser viewer and the browser plug-ins out of the download process -- reducing the overall chances of errors.
- ON A MODEM CONNECTION, YOU MUST BE PATIENT: When connecting to any Internet website, use the following standard rule of thumb with respect to file downloads: When connecting on a 28.8 - 33.6 kbps modem, you will need to allow for at least 5-6 minutes per megabyte of material downloaded. 56K and other higher speed connections will require less time in general, but all timeframes will vary significantly depending upon the number of users connected to the host server, noise and other issues related to the physical connection, general traffic on your ISP network or LAN, or overall Internet traffic in your geographic location. Your own PC can slow you down, depending upon how many applications you may have running, how much memory your system has, etc.
- TIME-OUTS or DISCONNECTIONS DURING THE DOWNLOAD: If you are being disconnected, or the download is "timing out" before the download completes, this is a problem with your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and/or with the configuration of your Dial-Up Adapter/Software, and you should call your ISP's technical support team immediately.
NOTE: OSHA's web server cannot disconnect you from your ISP.
HOWEVER, your ISP or your Dial-Up Adapter Software may disconnect you if the network or the Dial-Up Adapter settings do not adequately detect activity for a set period of time. Unfortunately, when downloading with your browser, some ISP network systems and Dial-Up Adapters cannot adequately detect the ongoing activity, and this may result in disconnection.
[This problem is reported most frequently from users on AOL - America Online, but there is nothing that OSHA can do to resolve the problem. If you are being disconnected before the download completes, call your ISP.]
DISCONNECTIONS ARE LESS LIKELY TO OCCUR if you use the above noted "Right-Click" download method.
Again, if you are being disconnected during a download, you need to call your ISP. Please do not report these problems to the OSHA Website, as there is nothing our support team can do to assist you.
FOOTNOTE
*Microsoft Internet Explorer® and Netscape Navigator® are third party products, and the OSHA Website Support Team does not provide end user support for installation, configuration or usage of any third party product.
These products have many unique versions, features and configuration settings that can effect or change the way any one individual accesses information -- end users are responsible for their own individual settings, configurations and version upgrades.
The way in which you save, access or open the files you download, is NOT determined by OSHA's server or the host server from which you download, but rather, by your particular browser or system configuration. When you request a file, the server sends that file, but what happens from that point forward, is entirely up you (your local PC environment). If you need general assistance with these products, you must contact the specific manufacturer, or your local software support team.
FILE TYPES & VERSIONS: The application used to access a particular file type is dependant upon the file type and version format of the file. OSHA notes all files, or posts disclaimers regarding application or file versions with all non-HTML files available for downloading.
EX: If you are downloading a Microsoft PowerPoint® Presentation file, you need to make sure that you have the proper application version - you cannot open a PowerPoint® 97 file using PowerPoint 4 or 95. However in general, higher application versions are "backward" compatible with older versions, allowing you to open a PowerPoint® 4 or 95 file with PowerPoint® 97 or the Office 2000 version.
Certain file types may require that you have a special "Reader" application; such is the case with Adobe PDF (Portable Document Format). If you happen to own the full Adobe Acrobat® Application, you will not necessarily need the "Reader" application, as long as the versions are compatible with the file type. Most application Readers, like the Adobe Acrobat® Reader, are available for downloading directly for their manufacturers website at little or no cost, but these products must be installed by the end-user and are not supported by OSHA.
NOTE: Users should have a 3.0 or higher version of Acrobat® in order to access the PDF documents on the OSHA website.
Before you download any non-HTML file from the Internet, make sure that you have the proper applications and/or readers installed on your system beforehand, and make sure that the version you have will open the file version you are downloading.
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