Download/Viewer Instructions
RDL Download/Viewer Instructions
General:
The RDL provides documents in several popular formats that can be downloaded for use on a localcomputer. Not all documents have an available download version. The Download Instructions Icon onlyappears for those documents that have an available download version. Once a file is downloaded, asoftware application is needed to view or manipulate the document. These instructions only provide ageneral overview of the download process. If after reading them you still have questions, we recommendyou consult local technical resources to help you with your particular configuration.
Download:
Downloading is not difficult. The process varies, depending on the type of computer you use, whichoperating system it runs, what software you use to access the World Wide Web, and how the downloaditself is packaged. But overall, it's pretty straightforward. Follow the steps below:
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Make a Download Directory:
Downloading can get messy. Unless you neatly fileaway new publications, you'll be buried under a cluttered desktop, lost files, andoverflowing folders. To keep track of downloaded publication files, you shouldsave them in a special download folder or directory that you can use over and over.Once you create this folder and call it something obvious, say, Downloads, you'llalways know where to find your new downloaded files.
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Start the Download:
Some documents have more than one file type for download,to include compressed files that are faster to download. Click on the downloadformat you want to start the download. After you've started a download, your Webbrowser determines what happens next. The document opens in the appropriateformat or you get a dialog box that confirms where to save your download. Beforeyou click OK, make sure you've picked the Download folder you created. This isimportant, to ensure you know of where your download file is on your computerhard drive.
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Decompress Your Download:
Compressed files are useful for bundling a groupof files together and reducing the file size of a download. If you selected acompressed file for download from the RDL, you will need to decompress it beforeyou can use it. Compressed files in the RDL end in a file extension of .exe, whichidentifies them as self extracting files. Simply double click on the file and it willautomatically decompress. During the process, you will be prompted to pick alocation of where the decompressed files should be written. Pay attention to thisand be mindful of what you select or you will have difficulty finding the files oncethey have been decompressed.
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View/Manipulate the Document:
Once a file is decompressed, it can be viewed
http://www.adtdl.army.mil/help/download.htm (1 of 2) [2/16/2004 8:53:05 PM]
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