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Using the Media Manager for File Downloads
 A. Introduction
You might be wondering, “How can I offer files to download off of my website?” WithJoomla!, it is possible to do this using an included feature called Media Manager. Files mightinclude PDFs, word documents, or just pictures.The nice part about storing your documents and files through the Media Manager isthat Joomla! takes care of uploading everything for you. This means that if you want to insertan image or a file link into one of your content pages, it doesn't require as much work asusing FTP (file transfer protocol) to put the files on your web server.
B. Joomla! Configuration
First off, you have to make sure that your Joomla! website is setup so that it can accept thefiles that you want to upload.1.Go to your Administrator page and log in. Then go to the menu bar, select 'Site' andthen press 'Global Configuration' from the list.2.Click on the 'System' tab. Then find the area titled 'Media Settings'. This is where all of the Media Manager settings are held.
Caution:
You might ask whythere needs to be such settings.The main reason is so thatunwanted files are not uploadedto your site which might bedangerous.
 
3.Figure out what files you'll need to upload, and then make sure that their file extensionis included in the 'Legal Extensions' list. Each file extension is separated by a comma.4.Make sure that each of the files you're planning toupload will be small enough to transfer to the webserver. The setting for 'Maximum Size' is set at 10Mb, a good size for most documents you mightneed to upload.5.The rest of the settings should generally not be touched.6.Press 'Save' on the toolbar at the top.
C. Uploading to the Media Manager 
We're now going to upload our file to our Website and create a folder for the files.1.Go back up to 'Site' on the menu bar and press 'Media Manager' from the list.2.You will see a page that lists all the different files that are already in the MediaManager.
Caution:
This setting is not alwaysapplicable, because the maximumfile size supported by PHP might belower than the one set in Joomla! For more information about how tochange the maximum file upload inPHP, gohere.
 
3.At the top of the area titled 'Files', there is a textbox for adding our own folder. Type ina name for your folder (mine will be named “documents”) and then press 'CreateFolder'.4.Now, click on the folder you just created in the center area. There should be nothing inthis folder.5.Go to the bottom of the 'Files' area, and press 'Browse Files'.6.A dialog box will appear. Navigate to the file on your computer that you want to upload(As an example, the file will be called 'test.pdf').
Caution:
The file name cannotcontain spaces, otherwise it will notupload. It is good practice to keepyour file names as descriptivelysimple as possible, so that theycan be used the next time youneed them.

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Freddo1234left a comment

I have the link to a docx file working, or at least coming up with the box asking "if you want to open it, or save it" it seems to be in a zip format. how can i stop that!

bmwmbleft a comment

Good job fervidfrogger, thank you. I believe that, when creating the link, the filename should not be preceded by "/"; it should start with "images/...".

mebitofascot@mac.comleft a comment

Great instructions as well, but I seem to have the similar problem of getting the yellow bar when I upload. I was able to create a new folder for uploading but it seems no matter what file I try to upload I get the upload error. No spaces and used several valid file types. I am working on a local host server on my Mac OS 10.5 machine.

acristinaleft a comment

I have my article published, containing a link to a pdf document. I'd like the visitors of the website who are reading that article, to be able to download it. It's linked to /images/documents/Doc.pdf, where Doc.pdf is the pdf file. The file is placed at that path, so everything should go fine and dandy, but when I push the link, it's giving me the 404 error.

jamiraeleft a comment

Check to see what type of document you are linking to. if you are clicking on a link from a menu item and the menu item is set to go to a specific article layout and that article is unpublished, then you will need to publish it. hard to know exactly what's going on without more information on the situation, but try that suggestion.