A Simple Document Download Area Using Native Joomla 1.5

You can use the Web Links feature within Joomla to act as an effective download manager for users and the public. This method should not be used for the delivery of secure/private documents as knowing the URL to the document makes it available to anyone. Make sure to set the directory so the contents can't be listed as that will keep search engines from indexing the documents.

In this example, we will assume that clients are to be given access to the download area. To accomplish this, a client will be any Joomla user that is user type Author. (If you grant access higher than that, clients will be able to edit your website)

To configure this, add a Web Links Category and then a Menu Item. To create a downloadable item, upload it via the Media Manager, then create a new Web Link. Pretty simple.

Step 1 - Add a Web Links Category


Step 2 - Create some download area directories


Maybe something like this...


Tip: Write this down as you will need it when you publish docs


Step 3 - Add a menu item for the download area


How it might appear to users


Making a menu item visible doesn't mean visitors can get to that area. If you set the Access Level to Special in step 1, users will need to be logged in with user type of Author or above.

Step 4 - Upload the document(s)


Step 5 - To "publish" the document you will use Web Link Items


Make a new link...


Complete these fields, then save it


(You need the full URL which includes the domain name)

Avoiding 403 errors


This is what you will get if you have a menu item that's visible to the public but requires a login to get to the area. It's not very pretty because it takes the user "outside" of the website with no explanation. To improve this, do this:

Make an article within your site called "Documents For Download" (or whatever) and make it visible to everyone. The page should explain what's in the download area and how they can obtain access to it.

Then point the menu item (Download area) to that explanation page and include the links there to the download area(s). If someone clicks "Client Download Area" from that page (when they are not a client or logged in) then it will make sense why they are getting the ugly 403.

PS: To update the contents of the ugly 403, edit en-GB.ini

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