I am developing a web application which allows users to download some
files from the server. Can I specify a default folder in the
application so every time user clicks on "Save" button from the file
Open/Save popup window, the file browser window will always point to
the default folder, instead of last-used folder? If this isn't
possible from the server side, how can each user set their own default
download folder local in their browser?

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Request for Question Clarification by tlspiegel-ga on 23 Jul 2004 00:44 PDT

Hi jgolfer,

You asked: "how can each user set their own default download folder
local in their browser?"

To set default download folder in IE:

Create a Downloads folder (Revised from Introduction To The Internet)

The first step is to choose where you want the file stored.

Some people download files straight onto their desktop, which quickly
makes for a cluttered workspace.

Others let them lie where they land which means your browser gets to
save the file in its own cache directory, or the Windows directory, or
somewhere else altogether  and then worry about finding them later.

One easy way to get on top of all those downloads is to create a
separate folder called (for simplicity) downloads.

Open My Computer, then your hard drive, and from the File menu choose
New, Folder. When the folder appears, change its name to Downloads

 
Save your files into the Downloads folder

When you download a file from the Web, save it directly into your
Downloads folder. This keeps everything in one place no longer will
you have to go searching through your hard drive for that file you
grabbed just the other day.

When you click the file to be downloaded, a dialog box appears asking
if you'd like to open the file or save it to disk (unless you've
chosen to disable this screen by unclicking the 'Always ask' box in an
earlier Web session). Make sure the 'Save this file to disk' box is
ticked, then click OK.

The next dialog box you'll see is the familiar Save As screen, which
is used by most Windows programs. Change the Save In location to show
your Downloads folder.


Move files out of the Downloads folder

You've downloaded a file, you've copied it to Setup and installed it
on your PC. Now what?

The final step is to move the original file out of your Downloads
folder. This isn't a must do, but a matter of good housekeeping for
your hard drive.

You could create a folder called Archive or Software and make this the
final resting place of your downloads.


Creating new folders on the fly

Sometimes you may want to save the file straight into a folder other
than Downloads. You can create a new folder from inside the file
download dialog box by clicking the New Folder button, which is the
third button from the right along the top row of the box.

You can also Right Click on your desktop, Select New from the drop
down menu, Select Folder.  There will be a folder placed on the
desktop.

The folder can be renamed from New Folder by Right Clicking on the
folder and select Rename from the drop down menu.

=================================================

If you feel this explanation answers the question to your
satisfaction, please post a Clarification Request asking me to place
this information in the answer box.

Best regards,
tlspiegel

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Clarification of Question by jgolfer-ga on 23 Jul 2004 08:40 PDT

tlspiegel-ga,

I'm not sure you have understood my question correctly. I was asking
if there is a way to make the Windows file save popup box ALWAYS point
to a (user specified) default folder, rather than the one that was
last used.

For instance, I have a folder C:\myfolder that I want it be the
default folder each time I save a download file. And, if I prefer to
save the file elsewhere, say to Desktop, I can select Desktop from the
file save box and change the folder ONLY for this time. Next time when
I do a file download->save, the file save box should automatically go
back to C:\myfoler. But instead, Windows seems remeber the "Desktop"
as the last used folder and open that up as the default, which is not
what I wanted.

I tried modify REGEDIT with
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Download
Directory, it did not seem to work the way as I described above.

Specifying a default folder for downloads

After backing up your Registry, browse your way to this branch in Regedit:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

Right click the Download Directory value and choose Modify.
Enter the path for the folder you want to use as your default download folder.

Hi, corwin02-ga,

Thanks for your comments. I tried what you suggested and didn't seem
to work for me. First, I did not have Download Directory under
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer. I have only
Download, and it contains two items, (Default), with Type of REG_SZ
and no data(blank), and CheckExeSignatures, with Type of REG_SZ and
data of "no".

I tried to change the data of (Default) to C:\download, and restarted
my PC, the download folder still point to the last-used download
folder, in stead of C:\download. Any idea?

BTW, I have Window XP Professional.

If it is not there just add the Dword and fill in the directory

To set the default download directory for Internet Explorer:

Use a registry editing tool to navigate to the following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer

Insert a value with the following details:
Data Type: SZ
Value Name: Download Directory
Value: Full path of directory you wish to use.

Restart Internet Explorer for the changes to take effect.

Hi!!!

May this link help...

http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/IEFAQ.htm#Download_dir