Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Create a folder for your downloaded files
Step 2:
Download the file
Step 3:
Decompress the file
Step 4:
Install the software (optional)

2torial #0804:
Learn2 Download Files

It's a small web after all

If the best things in life are free, the Internet might be the biggest source of bliss yet. Videos, music, software, the list goes on. The only question is: How do you get these items off that World Wide Web and onto your little computer? The answer: It's all about downloading. How do you download? It's easier than you think.

Downloading is all about taking a file from someone else's computer and putting it on your own. A file can be anything from a pretty picture to the entire text of the Declaration of Independence. Larger files, like video or music clips, can take longer to download than smaller, text-only ones. After a while, you'll recognize which will take two minutes and which will take two hours.

Note: Some types of files can be harmful to your computer. If you mistakenly download something with a hidden virus, it can wreak havoc. Be careful about where you download from, and be especially careful about downloading any file with an ".exe" on the end of its name. These can install themselves onto your hard drive and make changes to your computer (such as deleting or corrupting files) without your consent, and have the most potential for trouble. To stay on the safe side, buy some virus-protection software, update it regularly, and set it to check the files you download. It's a small investment that's well worth the cost.

Create a folder for your downloaded files

When you download a file, you'll need to put it into a folder on your desktop. Putting these files into the same folder (or into category folders, like "videos" or "music") will help you easily find and use them.

To create a folder using Windows:

• Right-click anywhere on the desktop.

• A pop-up menu will appear. Highlight New, then select Folder.

• Type a word such as "Downloads" into the dialog box, and press Enter on your keyboard. The new folder will appear on your desktop.

To create a folder using a Macintosh:

• From the Apple menu at the top-left corner of the screen, choose Control Panels, then choose Internet.

• A dialog box will appear. Click on the Web preferences tab.

• Click on the Select button.

• Another box will appear, which will contain a list of your available drives. Choose your hard drive and click Open.

• Click the Create New Folder button and give it a name such as "Downloads."

• Click the Create button and then close the dialog boxes by clicking the box at the top-left of each window.

Note: If you're using a system prior to MacOS 8.0, create a folder by double-clicking on your hard drive, then selecting New Folder from the File menu at the top-left corner of your screen. An untitled folder will be created. Highlight its name by clicking on it once, then change the name by typing in a new one.

Download the file

Not all files on the Internet are available for download. But the ones that are will usually be clearly marked by a button or a group of underlined words. Buttons will be titled "Download," "Get file," or a similar, easily understood command. Groups of underlined words will often be contained in a paragraph describing the file. They may read "Get file" or even double as the file name itself. You can find files to download almost anywhere, but a sure bet would be to do a search for "shareware" (free software).

When you click on the button or group of words, a dialog box will (usually) appear, giving you an opportunity to download the file. Use the pull-down menu in the dialog box to navigate to your Downloads folder, and click OK or press Enter on your keyboard. The dialog box will disappear, and a horizontal progress bar will take its place. The bar will move to the right until downloading is completed, then it will disappear.

Note: If you get a message that tells you the file is of an unknown type, and asks you if it should be saved anyway, click Yes and continue until you save the file in the folder on your desktop. The message means your browser isn't recognizing the file, which means the file needs to be decompressed.

Decompress the file

Almost every file you'll download will be compressed. This is because compressed files are smaller and faster to download. A compressed file also lets you download any necessary information along with the file itself in one easy step.

To decompress files, you'll use software such as WinZip (for Windows), or StuffIt Expander (for Macintosh). Once it's installed on your computer, you can double-click on the compressed file, and it will automatically launch the appropriate software. But different types of files behave in different ways. You can tell what type of file it is by its name (its last few letters will contain the file type), or the site you're downloading from will indicate what type of files are offered. Here's what to expect from the most common types.

The following types of files are available for use on Windows machines only. They will not run on a Macintosh:

EXE files are self-extracting (they will decompress themselves without launching any decompression software). To open them, double-click on the file you downloaded into your Downloads folder. If it's a software file, it may offer to install itself on your computer as well. If this is the case, and you choose to let it install, you may skip Step 4. Just remember that these files are potentially harmful, so scan them with your virus software before opening them.

ARC, Z, or ZIP files must be extracted with software such as WinZip:

• Double-click on the file. WinZip will automatically launch and a dialog box will appear. Inside the dialog box, you'll see any individual files that were contained inside the single, compressed file.

• Click on the Extract button. A dialog box will appear, asking you where you want to put the extracted files. Use the pull-down menus to navigate to the appropriate folder on your desktop, and then click on the Extract button again.

The following types of files are Macintosh-exclusive, and will not run on Windows machines:

SEA files, like EXE files, are self-extracting. To open them, double-click on the file. A dialog box may come up, requiring you to press Continue. Then another dialog box will appear asking you where you want to put the extracted files. Use the pull-down menus to navigate to an appropriate folder on your desktop.

HQX or SIT files must be extracted using software such as StuffIt Expander.

• Double-click on the file. If you're lucky, StuffIt Expander will automatically launch, and present you with that same dialog box, asking where you want to put the extracted file(s). Navigate to an appropriate folder and click Save.

• If the file won't open when you double-click on it, drag it onto the StuffIt application icon to launch StuffIt, then just follow the above directions.

When you're finished downloading a file, and you've determined it's working properly, you can drag the compressed file (which is now just taking up space) to the Trash or Recycle Bin icon on your desktop (and empty it when you're done). Or, if you want to save the compressed file so you don't have to download it again if it gets lost or moved, save it onto a disk or similar back-up system. After that, it's up to you to make use of (and enjoy) your newly downloaded stuff.

Install the downloaded software (optional)

If the type of file you downloaded is a piece of software, chances are you'll need to install it before you can put it to use. If you're using Windows, double-click on the Read Me file (or something similarly named) that came with the download. This will open specific instructions for installing the software.

If you're using a Macintosh, extracting the file usually places the software on your computer without the need to perform any additional installations. A Read Me file (or something similarly named) will contain any additional instructions for installing the software.

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