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Uploading PPT files (6 posts)

  • Started 18 years ago by totheweb
  • Latest reply 18 years ago from Scott McGuire
  • totheweb Member

    Using Fetch 4.0.3, I uploaded a PowerPoint file to my server with Mode "Automatic" and Format "Automatic". When I try to link to the PPT file from a web page on my server my Mac Firefox browser (and Win IE browser) just show gibberish. I tried different Fetch upload settings but with no success, my browsers don't seem to recognize the PPT file and download it. Is there a specific upload setting in Fetch that I should be using? Thanks.

    Posted 18 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi,

    Could you please post the URL to the PPT file so we could take a look at see if we can figure out what's going on?

    Thanks,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 18 years ago #

  • totheweb Member

    Scott, thanks, I just uploaded it again to totheweb.com/VaST_homepage_wireframe1.ppt and tried it, and now it works! When I go to that URL, Firefox asks if I want to save the file. That's what's supposed to happen. But earlier, at a different URL, it wasn't working that way. How weird. I did not change my Fetch settings when I uploaded it to totheweb.com/VaST_homepage_wireframe1.ppt

    Earlier, I had uploaded it to a different URL in a password protected section of my site for a specific client to access. I just tried uploading the PPT file to that area and linking to it and had the same problem. Can I email you directly (privately) and give you the access info so you can try that link? If so, please email me at admin@totheweb.com. Thanks.

    Posted 18 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi,

    Based on what you've said I don't think we need to look at the file on the problem server after all; the fact that it works when you upload it to one server but not when you upload it to another confirms that it's a server configuration issue.

    The technical details: the server where it doesn't work as expected probably does not have a MIME type for .ppt files in its configuration. So when a web browser talks to that server, the server claims the file .ppt is a plain text file, and the browser tries to display it instead of downloading it.

    You need to talk to the folks who provide and maintain your server to fix this problem (there's nothing Fetch can do - it's uploading the file correctly, but the server is serving it incorrectly). You may be able to solve it by adding an .htaccess file to your directory (if the server is an Apache server), and they can tell you how to do that.

    Best,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 18 years ago #

  • totheweb Member

    Thanks Scott, but the URL where the file doesn't work after uploading (the password protected location) is on the same server as where the file does work (http://totheweb.com/VaST_homepage_wireframe1.ppt), they're both on totheweb.com. One is just in a deeper directory. I don't understand why it works in one location and not in another on the same server.

    Posted 18 years ago #

  • Scott McGuire Administrator

    Hi,

    Sorry, I misunderstood your previous post, I thought we were talking about two different servers. However, the MIME type information can be configured on a directory-by-directory basis, so it is possible for it to work in one directory but not another, even on the same server.

    For example, it could be that the directory where it works has a .htaccess file that contains the correct information, and the other doesn't. You could look to see if there is one, and if so, copy it to the directory where it doesn't work (be sure to copy, not just move it). However, .htaccess files are not the only way to set this sort of configuration - it depends on what software the server is running.

    Again, I'd check with the server maintainer and ask why it works in one directory and not another, and they should be able to either fix it or tell you how to fix it.

    Thanks,

    Scott McGuire
    Fetch Softworks

    Posted 18 years ago #

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