Files
Many web sites need to include non-HTML content such as PDFs, Microsoft Office and/or OpenOffice documents, CAD files, MP3s, ZIP archives, and so on. Plone's File content type lets you upload and manage any kind of file type on your site. Assuming that the appropriate supporting programs are installed on your server, Plone can automatically index and search the text in Word, PDF, and other document formats.
Adding a file
From the menu, select Add new… and then select File.
The Title field must be specified on the page that is displayed next, and optionally, a Description. It's again important to note that the better the title and the description, the better the visitor's experience is. Meaningful titles and descriptions will ensure that the visitor is getting the file he or she needs.
A file placed on a site may be there for a long time, and it's important to know if you're looking at 'newsletter-may-2008' or 'newsletter'. Be specific!
After clicking on the Browse… button, you are able to search your local drive (or network drives) to select the desired file. Once it's selected, click on Save.
After uploading the file to the site by clicking on Save, the file becomes available to the users of your site. There's no need to publish the file, as files do not use the standard publishing workflow.
Performing a LiveSearch on the word 'guide', for example, shows the dynamic results, and the document with the attached file that was just created.
Some important information that is displayed on the page pointing to the uploaded file is:
- Who put the file there
- The date on which it was uploaded
- The file type
Also note that the link states Click here to get the file. You may also just see a link to the file. Clicking on this link will download the file to your local machine.