Download Actions - direct, via summary page, or via download details? -Jan2024

Introduction

Downloads from the front end may be initiated by either clicking on the Symbol, the Download Title or the Download Button as illustrated below.
download actions00
The exact sequence depends on the settings found in jDownloads V4 button jD control panel  then V4 button options button at top right - then V4 tab frontend tab and scroll down to the  section Download Sequence. This is described further in the section Actions Summary below.

Of the four setting involved, the first two 'Activate direct downloading?' and 'View Download detail page?' determine the type of link. 

The other two settings 'Use files title as download link?' and 'Use Link in Symbol' determine whether or not the the title or the symbol actually have a link or are inactive.
download actions01
When either the symbol or the title or both are inactive this allows jDownloads to be WCAG compliant.

Actions Summary

Activate direct
downloading?
View
Download
detail page?
Result of Clicking on
Title or Symbol
Result of Clicking on
Download Button
Yes Yes Show Detail View Download Occurs Directly
Yes No Download Occurs Directly Download Occurs Directly
No Yes Show Detail View Show Summary Page
No No Show Summary Page Show Summary Page
Note:There are important exceptions to the above.  If the user has to agree to a licence, complete a CAPTCHA, give a password, or similar then the Summary Page will always appear before the Download occurs so that the user may respond.

Notes

Content Plugin

If you use the jDownloads Content plugin then it is preferable to set the 'Use files title as download link? field to Yes.

User Points

Also if you are using Userpoints from Remositry then you need to set Activate Direct Downloading to No as it requires the Summary Page.

General

Both the Details View and the Summary Page View have their own Download buttons so that ultimately that is where the actual downloading will occur.

What happens at your device end is dependant on what has been setup in the browser.  This is not controllable by jDownloads.

Long File Names

If the file name is very long then the summary view will show a shortened file name.  To see the full filename hover the mouse, mouse indic2 ,over the name in the Summary view as illustrated below.
download actions03
ColinM November 2019, updated December 2021 & June 2023, January2024

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