Downloading class files from the web
There are two types of linked documents on the class website:
- PDF instructional handouts and native files used in lab assignments. PDF files are recognized by most browsers and often displayed automatically through the browser or using Acrobat/Reader.
- Some labs require that you download files to complete the weekly assignment, such as a native InDesign template that needs to be modified, or graphic/text files that are placed into an InDesign document. Illustrator, InDesign, text and some graphic files are not recognized by browser plug-ins and require special procedures for downloading. Folders that contain native files and fonts will be available as a single compressed file and will need to be specially downloaded and then extracted (restored) to complete class work.
Accessing PDF files
All instructional handouts are creating using InDesign and then converted into PDF files. The PDF files can be viewed and printed at any computer using Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat. The PDF file does not require the InDesign program which created the document, special fonts or linked graphics to be installed. Your weekly lab handouts will be available in PDF format at the class web page.
Click on the link for the PDF file, which should automatically open the document using Adobe Reader or Acrobat from within your browser. Some browsers have their own private PDF viewing modes. If your browser is not configured for PDF files, you can save the file using the download method below and open it using Reader/Acrobat. Once opened, you can read, print, and save the PDF file.
Downloading a single graphic, text or InDesign file:
- Locate the link at the classwebsite.
- Mac: control + mouse click on the link (use the control key, not the apple/command key)
PC: right click on the link
- When a menu appears on the screen, choose the option to save the link to disk. Depending on your browser, this will be a menu option like Save Link Target As, Download Link to Disk, or Download Linked File As.
- Choose a location to save your InDesign document, such as your hard drive.
- Macintosh users using Safari may have to eliminate the bogus .txt extension that Safari adds to text and InDesign files, changing the extension at the end of the filename (such as .ai for Illustrator files, or .indd for InDesign files). This is done after the download, going to the desktop and clicking once on the filename.
- PC users may find that native Illustrator files (.ai) import as a PDF or with a .ps extension. They should import into InDesign with no problem, or you can open the .pdf or .ps file in Illustrator and File..Save As a native Illustrator document.
Start Adobe InDesign if you downloaded a native .indd or .indt file and File..Open the document. If you downloaded a graphic for use in InDesign, start a new InDesign document and File..Place(or Bridge drag-and-drop) to import the graphic. You do not need to open the graphic in Illustrator or Photoshop.
Downloading and opening a folder of an InDesign package or a folder of graphics:
An InDesign package can take up quite a lot of filespace, as it includes the InDesign document, fonts, and imported graphics. There are also occasions when your instructor will have a folder of high resolution graphics for use in a lab. To avoid clogging up the SRJC server with these large files, these folders are zipped (compressed into a single file) and then stored at Cyndi's acrobat.com account. To download and access the zipped folder:
- Follow the link at the class website to the acrobat.com website. Follow the instructions to download the zipped file to your desktop.
- Unzip (decompress) the zipped file to restore the folder contents. Mac users will double-click on the zip file and a separate folder will then be created at the desktop. Windows users will double-click on the zip file and then choose the option to extract all.
Buying software | Taking a class from Cyndi | Downloading files | Using the computer labs | Important dates |
