ARRGGHH!!! HTML and ZIP files, please!

reapersaurus · 25th August 2002, 08:56 AM

I brought this up awhile back, and the need for adding these types of files in attachments has slapped me once again!

In a thread going on right now in General Discussion about half-orcs, I would love to attach a previous thread that I believe any poster in that thread would like to read (from 10 months ago).

So I zipped up the HTML threads and tried to post.
And of course it didn't work.
Now WHY again can't we add HTML files, but we can add macro-laden Word files?

I seem to remember what was mentioned previously was vague worries about disk useage and dangerous content that can be put in HTML files, and I don't understand either worry.

Could we please add those 2 (or just one would be fine) file types to the attachment list?
What do you guys think?
Any reason not to be able to attach previous threads to enhance a current discussion?

Psionicist · 25th August 2002, 05:51 PM

1) Rename file blah.zip to blah.txt
2) Upload file blah.txt
3) Write a note "rename blah.txt to blah.zip"
4) User downloads blah.txt, renames it to blah.zip
5) And there you have it.

reapersaurus · 27th August 2002, 08:23 AM

hmm... interesting idea, but a little sneaky for my preference.

It would work, but I'd rather have those 2 file types added if there's no real reason not to allow them.

Psionicist · 29th August 2002, 04:19 AM

With a little luck, some browsers might process normal txt files as html documents, so they are viewable from your browser. Lets try it.

CRGreathouse · 29th August 2002, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Psionicist
With a little luck, some browsers might process normal txt files as html documents, so they are viewable from your browser. Lets try it.

No such luck on IE 6.0

reapersaurus · 31st August 2002, 09:07 AM

Morrus?

bondetamp · 31st August 2002, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CRGreathouse

No such luck on IE 6.0

How about this one?

test.txt

**Morrus** · 31st August 2002, 09:45 AM

The problem with that is that it makes it very easy for some to construct an entire website consisting solely of html attachments (each has a URL, so it would be painfully easy to do); they can even use the the server as a storage space for .zip files.

CRGreathouse · 31st August 2002, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bondetamp
How about this one?

test.txt

Yes, actually, that worked. I guess the content declaration overrides the file extention.

Psionicist · 31st August 2002, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CRGreathouse

Yes, actually, that worked. I guess the content declaration overrides the file extention.

Yes, as I already proved in my second post...

reapersaurus · 31st August 2002, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Morrus
The problem with that is that it makes it very easy for some to construct an entire website consisting solely of html attachments (each has a URL, so it would be painfully easy to do); they can even use the the server as a storage space for .zip files.

Umm.. I'm not following you, Morrus.

Are these really worries of yours, or just possible outcomes for discussion's sake?

1) Because if you're worried about people making a website out of attached html files distributed amongst multiple posts on multiple threads, i just don;t get that worry. Especially when it's so easy to get free web space on the internet.

2) And how could people use 'your' server as a storage space for .zip files, when you limit them to 100 KB per attachment?
I just don't see anyone doing these two things you bring up.
But I CAN see how useful it would be to be able to have members attach those 2 files, can't you?

It would benefit the community - html files more so than zip's.

**Morrus** · 31st August 2002, 11:12 PM

Actually, yes. It is a concern of mine.

Psionicist · 1st September 2002, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Morrus
Actually, yes. It is a concern of mine.

The Reaper is right, it shouldn't be. I cannot imagine ANYONE uploading documents for personal use to the ENWorld messageboard. There are MILLIONS of forums and uploading features over the internet without the problems you speak off.

**Grazzt** · 1st September 2002, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Psionicist

The Reaper is right, it shouldn't be. I cannot imagine ANYONE uploading documents for personal use to the ENWorld messageboard. There are MILLIONS of forums and uploading features over the internet without the problems you speak off.

As many people as we have on here, someone would do it. Just to show others it could be done. You know how the internet goes...

The It's Man · 1st September 2002, 02:26 AM

So, if there it's easy to get free webspace - why use the forums?

Morrus doesn't want to include those types of files, there is a workaround as psionist already mentioned and there a megs of free webspace

Metalsmith · 1st September 2002, 08:09 AM

Sweeeet.

It worked.

Metalsmith

CRGreathouse · 1st September 2002, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Psionicist
Yes, as I already proved in my second post...

As I mentioned, your didn't work for me at all. I just etried it and got the same result. Is your doctype correct?

Psionicist · 1st September 2002, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CRGreathouse

As I mentioned, your didn't work for me at all. I just etried it and got the same result. Is your doctype correct?

Yes. It's the exact same code as the document bondetamp uploaded.

**Umbran** · 1st September 2002, 10:16 PM

Also, isn't there a decent possibility for destructive use of .zip files? If you cannot control what's inside the .zip, some idiot could use the ability to post stuff to do nasty things to the unwary. Not everyone who registers is necessarily a nice person...

While you'd imagne folks would be careful dealing with .zip files gotten off an open message board, why ask for trouble?

reapersaurus · 5th September 2002, 04:06 AM

So, Morrus -
Am I accurate in synopsizing that you don't want to add .html files to the attachment list because you are afraid someone will build a website that links together a bunch of attachments of posts that they don't know the numbers of in advance?

Can you even edit an attachment that you've already posted, to add the correct link to the next attachment to a post they'd make?!

Forget the zip file, if it worries you.

To properly synopsize again:
This worry of yours is so strong that you want the members of this community to have to rename every html file to .txt when wanting to share an older helpful thread, and also make the reader save the file to their HD, then rename the file, then open it up.
All this instead of just making it convenient and having them click the attached file?

And psionicist - your idea has only worked on my machine 1 out of 3 times on my same machine - I conclude that it is not a reliable way of sharing html files.