Click Here If Your Download Doesn't Start Automatically

[larikang]

Why do so many websites do this for downloads? It seems to be some kind of web design standard but I could never figure out why.

Is there some technical reason for it? Why would the download not start automatically? And why do you have to wait 10 seconds for it to start when you can just click and download it immediately?

[Makuuta]

The first, in case you have don't have Javascript.

The second, to prevent flooding.

[ROBO_DONUT]

Lack of javascript would be the primary reason. I would also assume that many browsers block automatic redirects for security or usability reasons.

As for the ten-second delay -- I really don't know, the flood prevention argument really is a load of crap. If you make ten thousand simultaneous requests to a download that has a 10-second delay the web server is going to have exactly the same amount of traffic (actually probably more, as it has to display this extra intermediate page), just delayed by ten seconds.

[Darkimmortal]

Possibly something to do with spiders - fairly sure they don't follow Javascript / delayed HTTP redirects.

[Makuuta]

[QUOTE=ROBO_DONUT;23766551]As for the ten-second delay -- I really don't know, the flood prevention argument really is a load of crap. If you make ten thousand simultaneous requests to a download that has a 10-second delay the web server is going to have exactly the same amount of traffic (actually probably more, as it has to display this extra intermediate page), just delayed by ten seconds.[/QUOTE]

I'm just guessing for that too. Maybe you should ask this in the web design subforum?

[seanlaff]

Why do forums do it when you log in? Seems more unnecessary.

[Panda X]

[QUOTE=Sean C;23770291]Why do forums do it when you log in? Seems more unnecessary.[/QUOTE]

That "Click here if you don't wish to wait" shit? I swear only a moron thought of that being worth implementing. Who the fuck wants to wait?

[Tools]

<meta refresh src="the file">

It can be because;
a) The website needs to register a key, incase the website's running cooldowns bethween downloads, or premium accounts, or other, and so the delay is to give the server a little extra time to make that key on the remote host.
b) The website makes a popup, and rather than throwing the file at you, it announces "The file will (hopefully) start downloading in a few seconds" for those whose got "Automatically download files" enabled
c) The webmaster is a fucking idiot and thinks it's smart

[that guy]

IE blocks the website from downloading stuff to your computer, so they offer you a direct link.

[Itszutak]

I use it all the time because I use noscript and only unblock particular elements of pages when there' no way around it.

[R E D L I N E]

[QUOTE=Panda X;23770658]That "Click here if you don't wish to wait" shit? I swear only a moron thought of that being worth implementing. Who the fuck wants to wait?[/QUOTE]

This pisses me off to no end especially on a 3.5G connection where I pay for the amount of data recieved. It's not much, but still shouldn't be there