[whatwg] "Content-Disposition" property for <a> tags

[Roger Hågensen]

On 2010-07-31 04:17, Boris Zbarsky wrote:
> On 7/30/10 9:57 PM, Roger Hågensen wrote:
>> <a href="stuff.zip" download>This defaults to application/octet-stream
>> and clicking the link will behave as if the user selected Save As from
>> UI context menu!</a>
>
> I would object to implementing this.  I have no problem putting up a 
> dialog asking the user whether to save or open in a helper app, but I 
> see no reason why I should force saving on the user, as a browser 
> developer.  If the user wants to open your zip in a zip reader, why 
> shouldn't he?
>
> -Boris
>

When I say the "Save As" UI I mean the one you get currently, which 
varies, some browsers only provide a Save As and Cancel, while others 
provide Save As with Open and Cancel.
So based on your remarks, maybe the spec could state that if a browser 
believe it can handle the file type then it should present a Open + Save 
As UI,
but if it can not handle the filetype (aka handling un-configured or the 
user set the browser's settings this way) then it should just present 
Save As without Open.

So thanks for pointing that out, as I actually have been annoyed in the 
past with how different browsers do downloads UIs, and this time we can 
actually establish expected default UI behavior from the ground up 
(however the user should still be able to alter settings to change the 
default behavior, and ther is nothing preventing a Browser maker from 
enhancing the UI even further.).


-- 
Roger "Rescator" Hågensen.
Freelancer - http://EmSai.net/