Compressed File Issues

[Arntonach]

When trying to download a compressed files (rar, 7z, ace, ect.), my browser will open the file as a text file instead of downloading it. If I try to save the file, the browser will assume it's a text file and try to save it as so. I really don't want to manually rename files every time I try to download a compressed file, so would anyone know how to fix this?

Edit: My apologies if there is a dedicated computer subforum, but I apparently didn't spot it. Sorry.

[Kagome]

Moved to the correct forum.

[Izzy]

What browser are you using? Does it just rename the .zip to a .txt but is still actually the compressed file you were trying to download?

[Arntonach]

I'm using firefox. When trying to download a compressed file other than .zip, it'll open it as a text file. I'll try to save the file, and the browser assumes I'm saving a .txt file. It's still the compressed file, I'd just have to rename the file extension.

[dAnceguy117]

That's not Firefox's default behavior for those file formats, is it? Have you always had this issue?

I'm not seeing anything in the way of associated behavior settings in Firefox's options menu. Maybe an add-on could be the culprit.

[sticklydude]

Does it do the same thing with a different browser?

[Izzy]

That's some weird behavior for firefox. The only thing I could suggest is disabling all addons and/or reinstalling firefox and see if that still happens.

There are definitely no options like that native to firefox, but there are some download addons that could potentially do weird things such as "downthemall".

[Arntonach]

Well, I found out it's the website I was downloading off of was having server problems and stored any non-mainstream compressed file as a text file. Well now I feel dumb and bad because I wasted people's time.

My apologies.

:(

[UserNameGoesHere]

Lol, I was like .. how old of a version of Firefox are you using? That bug again? Then it turned out to be specific to the site you were using.

(Seriously there was a bug just like this in Firefox YEARS ago which I reported to the maintainers and was quickly fixed within a release or two from there)

[dAnceguy117]

Well, I found out it's the website I was downloading off of was having server problems and stored any non-mainstream compressed file as a text file. Well now I feel dumb and bad because I wasted people's time.

No such thing as a waste of time! Now I know that a server issue like that could be a possibility in the future. Plus, I discovered a couple little things in Firefox's settings I had never noticed. Just remember to check with another browser when you encounter problems, like stickly said.

(Seriously there was a bug just like this in Firefox YEARS ago which I reported to the maintainers and was quickly fixed within a release or two from there)

Crazy coincidence. Good on ya for reporting it. Open-source software with active developers = win.

[UserNameGoesHere]

Crazy coincidence. Good on ya for reporting it. Open-source software with active developers = win.

Yep :) That's, in my opinion, one of the chief differences between open-source and closed-source software.

Open source is glad and even encourages you to find and report bugs (so they can fix them and make a better product).

Closed source hates when new bugs are found (more work for them) and sometimes you may even get in trouble for finding bugs and telling them about it (they'll claim you're trying to exploit their software or some such) because they care more about $$$ than about making good software. Not true of everything but seems to be true for the most part.

[dAnceguy117]

"No, version 1.0 has already been released. The product is perfect. If you have any problems, your own system or handling of the software must be to blame."

ugh