Difficulties Downloading ebooks

klmmc13 · 10-09-2014, 02:33 PM

Greetings All

This is most likely simple Operator Error, but I'm stumped none-the-less.

I'm attempting to download some of the ebooks here on-site; mobi or epub. I will right-click or left-click, and instead of downloading the file listed, will end up with attachment.php. Which I have no earthly Idea how to open or use.

What am I doing wrong?

for those who want specific example pages:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=127575

Thanks in advance,
Kathy

doubleshuffle · 10-09-2014, 02:42 PM

Happens to me occasionally too. No idea why, but it isn't really a problem, because the attachment.php is actually the book file, so you can download it and simply rename it to title.epub or title.mobi.

Dr. Drib · 10-09-2014, 03:28 PM

I just now downloaded it.

No problem at all.

Now I'm going to read it.

doubleshuffle · 10-09-2014, 03:32 PM

Yeah, it has nothing to do with the books themselves. I'm not getting the error today either. Sometimes I have it only when I right-click, sometimes on both right- and left-click. But, as I said, it doesn't matter, because when this happens the attachment.php is the book file.

Probably a browser thing...

klmmc13 · 10-09-2014, 06:32 PM

I have been having this problem in in both Internet Explorer browser, and in the Google browser. It occurred in about half of the pages that I attempted to download the files from. The others I would get a readme.html file, and downloaded that, followed THAT link, and off-site downloaded the file. Lucky, I guess.

I've downloaded files from here before without any issues, so this has me stumped.
Thanks.

crich70 · 10-09-2014, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klmmc13

I have been having this problem in in both Internet Explorer browser, and in the Google browser. It occurred in about half of the pages that I attempted to download the files from. The others I would get a readme.html file, and downloaded that, followed THAT link, and off-site downloaded the file. Lucky, I guess.

I've downloaded files from here before without any issues, so this has me stumped.
Thanks.

The one's where you get the readme.html are likely for books that are stored on the U.S. server rather than the main server for MR. Some books are in PD in the U.S. but not where the main server for MR is located so they are stored at the U.S. server so as to comply with the law.

taustin · 10-09-2014, 06:53 PM

It's an issue with file types and how they're recognized in the browser. Which is to say, how the browser knows what to do with a file based on the file type. It knows to open a .html file within the browser, and if you have some kind of PDF handler installed, it knows to open that in the browser, and if not, to give you some kind of "open/save" dialog.

The problems are usually that the file type indicated in the HTML header is different from the file name's actual extension. If the download script tells your browser that it's a .php file when it's actually a .epub, the browser will treat it like a .php file (which it doesn't know what to do with), and may or may not give you a "Save As" dialog, depending on the browser. If the headers do that, and don't give a suggested file name, the browser will give it the name of the URL it's downloading.

In short, it's some sloppiness somewhere in the forum code, but don't blame MR, because getting this stuff right is actually fairly difficult, given how complicated it is.

icallaci · 10-09-2014, 10:56 PM

It always happens when I download stuff from MR using Internet Explorer on Windows 7. I just rename the file, and it's fine.

klmmc13 · 10-09-2014, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icallaci

It always happens when I download stuff from MR using Internet Explorer on Windows 7. I just rename the file, and it's fine.

I think you got the issue solved for me as well...... Windows 7.... I hadn't realized that I had changed computers/software since the last time I downloaded files until i read your post. Ah well, Murphy strikes again. It figures.

doubleshuffle · 10-09-2014, 11:55 PM

Well, I'm on Windows 7 too and only have the problem occasionally.

(And it seems you didn't read my post #2 in this thread, which solved the practical aspect of your issue nine minutes after you brought it up... Just sayin'

)

JSWolf · 10-10-2014, 12:00 AM

Use Firefox. It works.

doubleshuffle · 10-10-2014, 12:14 AM

I'm on Firefox...

Anyway, as can't be said often enough, it isn't really a problem. Since it comes up again and again - couldn't one put a sticky at the top of the library section titled "First Aid if you see attachment.php when trying to download a book"?
One post saying: "Don't worry, just download the attachment.php and rename it title.properfileextension". Then lock the thing.

HarryT · 10-10-2014, 04:11 AM

The easiest thing to do is to right click on the download link, and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As", or whatever your browser calls it) from the pop-up menu. That way you can give whatever name you wish to the download.

ShellShock · 10-10-2014, 04:36 AM

Isn't the real issue that there is obviously an intermitent bug in the mobileread web site code that causes this problem to happen? Is there any support process to get bugs fixed?

HarryT · 10-10-2014, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShellShock

Isn't the real issue that there is obviously an intermitent bug in the mobileread web site code that causes this problem to happen? Is there any support process to get bugs fixed?

The process is to report it in the "Feedback" forum.

10-09-2014, 02:33 PM	#1
klmmc13 formatting student Posts: 47 Karma: 38268 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: South Arkansas, US Device: several models of Kindle; Several Android tablets & 3 Android phones.	Difficulties Downloading ebooks Greetings All This is most likely simple Operator Error, but I'm stumped none-the-less. I'm attempting to download some of the ebooks here on-site; mobi or epub. I will right-click or left-click, and instead of downloading the file listed, will end up with attachment.php. Which I have no earthly Idea how to open or use. What am I doing wrong? for those who want specific example pages: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=127575 Thanks in advance, Kathy

10-10-2014, 12:14 AM	#12
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	I'm on Firefox... Anyway, as can't be said often enough, it isn't really a problem. Since it comes up again and again - couldn't one put a sticky at the top of the library section titled "First Aid if you see attachment.php when trying to download a book"? One post saying: "Don't worry, just download the attachment.php and rename it title.properfileextension". Then lock the thing. Last edited by doubleshuffle; 10-13-2014 at 12:26 AM.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Help needed with downloading ebooks	peglistens	General Discussions	2	02-17-2014 06:12 AM
Mini Downloading ebooks from Kobo	Slone	Kobo Reader	2	10-27-2012 10:54 AM
Downloading eBooks from Amazon in other countries?	danii26	Amazon Kindle	6	02-24-2011 09:57 AM
Downloading ebooks from the library....	The Joker	Barnes & Noble NOOK	3	12-22-2010 09:40 AM
HELP-Downloading ebooks?	allawler	Sony Reader	3	12-26-2009 09:46 PM

10-09-2014, 02:42 PM	#2
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	Happens to me occasionally too. No idea why, but it isn't really a problem, because the attachment.php is actually the book file, so you can download it and simply rename it to title.epub or title.mobi.

10-09-2014, 03:28 PM	#3
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,442 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I just now downloaded it. No problem at all. Now I'm going to read it.

10-09-2014, 03:32 PM	#4
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	Yeah, it has nothing to do with the books themselves. I'm not getting the error today either. Sometimes I have it only when I right-click, sometimes on both right- and left-click. But, as I said, it doesn't matter, because when this happens the attachment.php is the book file. Probably a browser thing...

10-09-2014, 06:32 PM	#5
klmmc13 formatting student Posts: 47 Karma: 38268 Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: South Arkansas, US Device: several models of Kindle; Several Android tablets & 3 Android phones.	I have been having this problem in in both Internet Explorer browser, and in the Google browser. It occurred in about half of the pages that I attempted to download the files from. The others I would get a readme.html file, and downloaded that, followed THAT link, and off-site downloaded the file. Lucky, I guess. I've downloaded files from here before without any issues, so this has me stumped. Thanks.

10-09-2014, 06:53 PM	#7
taustin Wizard Posts: 1,358 Karma: 5766642 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: Nook	It's an issue with file types and how they're recognized in the browser. Which is to say, how the browser knows what to do with a file based on the file type. It knows to open a .html file within the browser, and if you have some kind of PDF handler installed, it knows to open that in the browser, and if not, to give you some kind of "open/save" dialog. The problems are usually that the file type indicated in the HTML header is different from the file name's actual extension. If the download script tells your browser that it's a .php file when it's actually a .epub, the browser will treat it like a .php file (which it doesn't know what to do with), and may or may not give you a "Save As" dialog, depending on the browser. If the headers do that, and don't give a suggested file name, the browser will give it the name of the URL it's downloading. In short, it's some sloppiness somewhere in the forum code, but don't blame MR, because getting this stuff right is actually fairly difficult, given how complicated it is.

10-09-2014, 10:56 PM	#8
icallaci Guru Posts: 817 Karma: 6528026 Join Date: Sep 2012 Device: Kobo Elipsa	It always happens when I download stuff from MR using Internet Explorer on Windows 7. I just rename the file, and it's fine.

10-09-2014, 11:55 PM	#10
doubleshuffle Unicycle Daredevil Posts: 13,944 Karma: 185432100 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Planet of the Pudding Brains Device: Aura HD (R.I.P. After six years the USB socket died.) tolino shine 3	Well, I'm on Windows 7 too and only have the problem occasionally. (And it seems you didn't read my post #2 in this thread, which solved the practical aspect of your issue nine minutes after you brought it up... Just sayin' )

10-10-2014, 12:00 AM	#11
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,758 Karma: 145864619 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	Use Firefox. It works.

10-10-2014, 04:11 AM	#13
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	The easiest thing to do is to right click on the download link, and select "Save Target As" (or "Save Link As", or whatever your browser calls it) from the pop-up menu. That way you can give whatever name you wish to the download.

10-10-2014, 04:36 AM	#14
ShellShock Wizard Posts: 1,178 Karma: 2431850 Join Date: Sep 2008 Device: IPad Mini 2 Retina	Isn't the real issue that there is obviously an intermitent bug in the mobileread web site code that causes this problem to happen? Is there any support process to get bugs fixed?

Advert

Advert