So you are wanting a file stored on the server to be downloaded via some arbitrary ExpressionEngine URL instead of a traditional link to the file?  If that is correct then I would look at the Downloader plugin or the Download File plugin.  The plugin in this thread is designed to output template content to a file, not to deliver files stored on the server, which both of the aforementioned plugins do.  Hope that helps!

Derek Jones - 11 November 2011 10:48 AM

So you are wanting a file stored on the server to be downloaded via some arbitrary ExpressionEngine URL instead of a traditional link to the file?  If that is correct then I would look at the Downloader plugin or the Download File plugin.  The plugin in this thread is designed to output template content to a file, not to deliver files stored on the server, which both of the aforementioned plugins do.  Hope that helps!

I will try them Derek.  I can easily link direct to the file myself, but the link will be in a navigation bar and my client will have a hard time finding the full file URL if they ever need to change it.  That is why I want to use a template so they can just update the channel entry.  Thanks for your advice.

Sounds like a great idea, bgarrant!  I think either one of those plugins should do fine.

Derek Jones - 11 November 2011 10:48 AM

So you are wanting a file stored on the server to be downloaded via some arbitrary ExpressionEngine URL instead of a traditional link to the file?  If that is correct then I would look at the Downloader plugin or the Download File plugin.  The plugin in this thread is designed to output template content to a file, not to deliver files stored on the server, which both of the aforementioned plugins do.  Hope that helps!

Downloader looks good but I can’t find a place to download it.  Is it just a Beta?

http://duktee.com/addons/downloader

Ah, looks like they’ve taken it down whilst working on it.  You might contact them directly, or just use Download File which is still active on GitHub.

Derek Jones - 11 November 2011 10:55 AM

Ah, looks like they’ve taken it down whilst working on it.  You might contact them directly, or just use Download File which is still active on GitHub.

I will have to wait for it I guess.  The Download File is just for forcing a non-broser opening.  Not for forcing a download of a file.  Do you know of any way for a client to easily see the full path of a file that was uploaded?  If I could display that for them it would be easy as they could copy/paste the URL to the file into NavEE Manual link.

Can you not just output the menu item with the channel entries tag?  That said, I think the Download File plugin can do what you want to, you’d use the :link tag in the menu, and the :serve in the template.

A very simple alternative to this that is also much more flexible is the HTTP Header plugin:
http://devot-ee.com/add-ons/http-header

Worked much better for me in that it does not terminate parsing.

J

The two add-ons do not have the same purpose, but I’m glad you found a solution that work for you, Jensa.