DOWNLOAD: GENERAL QUESTIONS

1. How do I know what file format to choose for download?

This depends on what the media's going to be used for, and who the media's target audience.

You might want to break them into groups such as Print and Web users. Print users are only going to need text and images so down- load the text in any format you like. For images, get the highest quality available so when they publish or print the media it will translate well to paper.

If you're distributing to web users it's probably best to download lower quality files since many web users have slow internet connections. A high quality movie file, for example, could take the user up to an hour to download. Lower quality files download faster.

It might also be necessary to break web users into the subgroups, Mac and PC. Multimedia files will need to be distributed to Mac users in Quicktime format (file types: .qt, .mov, .qtx). Although some Mac software does support other formats, it's safer to assume Mac users are only going to have the Quicktime Movie player available.

PC users will most likely need formats supported by Windows Media Player, which like Quicktime on a Mac, is pre-installed with most Windows systems. Windows media formats include the following: .avi, .mpg, .asf, .mpg, .wmv .wmf.

If you are distributing audio media the highest quality format is the MP3 format. Both Windows and Macintosh media players support MP3.

2. How can I tell what my connection speed is?

If you need to connect to the internet manually, e.g.(Your computer dialed a phone number and you hear modem sounds before you connected to the internet) you're most likely on a low speed or dial-up internet connection.

If you are connecting from work or you didn't hear a dialing or modem sound when you connected to the internet you're most likely on a high speed, Cable/DSL or LAN internet connection.

If you are still having troubles, please try running our HELP DIAGNOSTIC.

3. What is a zip file?

A zip file is a compressed file or group of files saved together as one file ,or "archive" denoted by a ".zip" file extension (not to be confused with a "ZIP disk"). PC users can download Winzip. Mac users can use newer versions of Stuffit to view zip archives.

4. What's the difference between High and Low quality in media files?

Playing a high quality media file yields better results with high-speed internet connections (DSL, T1.) The file has more information in it, making a larger image for video and a better quality sound for audio. If you play this kind of file when you have a low-speed connection, you will experience faulty playback such as skipping because it's taking longer to down- load the media than it is to play it. If you have a low-speed connection (dial-up modem) you will have better results playing the low quality files. If the lower quality file is unacceptable to you then download the file using the "download" option (if available) and view the media from your desktop. In this case your computer's connection speed isn't a factor in the playback of the media.

5. Why isn't Download always available?

Sometimes "Download" is not available be- cause the owner of the materials has requested it be available for listening/ reading/viewing only, and not for download.