Can I put a file on the web even if it can't be displayed or handled by a web browser?

Web browsers are capable of displaying certain file types and image formats. Many browsers also have plug-ins that extend the number of file types that they can handle. If you want to make a file available that cannot be displayed by a stand-alone web browser, look for a plug-in that will work with your file. If you find one that will allow a web browser to handle your file type, tell visitors to your web site which plug-in to use and how to get it. For more information about available plug-ins, see Plugin.com's web browser plug-in page or the Web Developer's Virtual Library's list of browser plug-ins.

If no browsers or plug-ins will display your file, you can still publish it on the web. Make a link to it, just as you would an image or HTML document. When users follow the link, the browser will download the file to their computer's hard drive, where they can execute or open the file in a program that can handle it.

For example, if you have a file called picture.fof, created in the mythical FooDraw format, you could put the file in your web directory and make a link to it with the following syntax:

Also see:

• What are plug-ins?
• What is the difference between an absolute and a relative URL?
• What is HTML, and where can I find a guide for creating HTML documents?