Firefox download glitch

English Applications
1

As part of my job, I have to read numerous newspapers from around the world and download certain news stories onto either an external hard drive or USB stick.

I have been doing this for years without any problems, using various versions of Suse. However, several months ago, whilst using Suse 11.4 (Gnome desktop), one web site began giving me problems; whenever I attempted to download articles from this site, my computer would flash up that “an unknown error occurred” and suggested I try “saving the article to a different location”.

The odd thing was that, if I double clicked on the file I was attempting to download on the “download” box - where it was flagged up as a “failed” download - the file would then download! Bizarrely, bit by bit, this problem extended to around half the newspapers that I monitored.

The stored files were all odd though, since the Folder and the HTML page appeared not to be linked, with the actually file being text only, excluding ads and graphics.

I have subsequently upgraded to Suse 12.3, whilst at the same time purchasing a new computer on which to run it. Initially, things went fine, especially since I began downloading onto a Sony USB stick, rather than the previous Verbatim external hard drive. Then the problem started again and is back to the previous level of difficulty, with half of all files now refusing the download first time!

When this happens, a pop up suggests I download to a different location, so I do; the file will download into the Documents section of the computer under the original name, or onto the USB stick if I change the name of the file!!!

I live in the UK, where I get BT Infinity 2 broadband and use Firefox, but, as a test, I took a laptop running Windows 7 and Sea Monkey to Belgium and plugged it into a Belgacom broadband link there and was able to download files without any problems whatsoever…

I can’t identify the common thread here. Can any of you guys help?

What I want to do is download articles as “Web Page Complete” onto an external device as I always once was able to do.

2

Pass on why you are having this particular problem unless it’s some bizarre aspect of digital rights.

I have had the same problems with saving web pages complete. I think it’s something to do with the way the graphics are stored on the server. Often but not always print to file - pdf gets round it. If the site uses frames in a certain fashion though it doesn’t always work and just the frame gets printed. At least this can be previewed so it’s possible to see what the results will be.

I have also used web archiving type software that re constructs web pages locally but as they chase down links on pages even those to other pages they can be difficult to set up.

John

3

try saving webpages as single file( MHT or MAFF) using addon https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/mozilla-archive-format/

4

Thank you both very much for your suggestions.

I had been entirely unaware of the “Print to File” option, which does partially solve the problem, although the “Print” screen, when it appears is too long for the page and has to be dragged to the centre so I can press “Save”. The pain is that you have to rename it; the existing name or document number doesn’t stay in place, so is no better than what I am doing at the moment, which is simply to rename the document and then save.

I also tried the Firefox extension, which is also good, but saves to either a zip file (which is a pain) or to a straight HTML. In this case, too, the original file name isn’t retained, which again, for archiving, means I am having to do double the work. But thanks again for the suggestion.

I still would love an explanation of why my usual way of saving files simply isn’t working and perhaps a more straightforward fix. Surely, if Sea Monkey working on Windows 7 will continue to save documents in the way that I want them, Suse 12.3 should be able to do it as well…

5

You can try SeaMonkey on openSUSE 12.3 too.