South Central College

Downloading Content from D2L Issues

Sometimes issues occur when downloading content (including PowerPoint, Word documents, etc) from D2L to your local computer. These are the four most common issues and solutions.

1. When I click on a document/file it opens in my browser, I do not have an option to download/save. Originally the File Download dialogue box should come up with a Open, Save and Cancel button. There is also a check box that is selected by default to "Always ask before opening this type of file." If this check box is unchecked the dialogue box no longer opens when you click on a file. To reset this:
   
   
   • Open My Computer 
   • Drop down the Tools menu and click on Folder Options
   • Click the File Types tab and scroll down the list of file types until you come to the appropriate file type extension (for instance, if trying to download a Word document you would look for DOC)
   • Click the file extension then click the Advanced button
   • Reset the File Download dialogue box original settings by checking the Confirm open after download checkbox
   
   
   
2. When I try to save a document/file it opens a "Open With" dialogue box. This is because you do not have the software needed to save this file. For instance, if you do not have Microsoft PowerPoint installed on your computer you will not be able to save a .ppt (PowerPoint) file on your computer. Some software offer free 'reader' downloads (such as Adobe, Word, PowerPoint). If no reader is available, you will need to purchase the appropriate software and install it on your computer if you wish to save this file.



3. When I click on a file to open it nothing happens. You more than likely have a pop-up blocker installed on your web browser. Most pop-up blockers block any window you attempt to open from a link.
   
   
   • To override this, hold down the Ctrl button while you click on the link. You can also adjust your blocker settings for Internet Explorer 6 SP2 or higher. Tools menu >> Pop-up blocker >> Pop-up Blocker Settings >> add the URL for D2L site to the allowed sites
   
   
   
   • Or, look below the web browser address bar, if you see a yellow bar that says To help protect your security..., close this bar by clicking on the black X in the upper right hand corner of the yellow bar
   
   
   • To permanently shut this setting off:
     • Open Internet Explorer
     • Click Tools 
     • Click Internet Options 
     • Click the Security tab
     • Click the Custom Level button
     • Scroll down until you see Downloads 
     • Under Automatic prompting for file downloads select Enable
     • Click the OK button
     • Click Yes 
     • Click OK 
     • Restart your browser (close the window and open a new window)
     
     
     
4. When I right-click, save as (save target as), I get an error message and it will not let me download the file. Links within a D2L course are java quicklinks and are not a link to the actual file. Instead of using the right click, save as, left click on the link (if the File Download window doesn't open when you left click then see #1 above)