Provide run / open / save / save as options when downloading files - Discussion

The worst thing of the current download behavior (and one of the biggest reason why I hate Chrome) is the fact that you can't choose what need to happen when you click on a link to a file.

The browser always download the files in the same folder, or you need to always tell to the browser where to save the files.

But some times I'm ok if the file is downloaded in the Download folder, most of the time I need to change the download location, many other times I don't need to keep a copy of the file locally (for some installer for example, or some documents) and find really annoying to have to manually goto the Download folder and remove those files by hand.

So what I really really really need is a way to temporarily easily override the default behavior and switch between the option to save, save as or run/open the file that I have to download (or whatever option will be available.

Elliot Kirk

As a Chrome user, here are my thoughts.

1. Chrome opens most pdf files in the internal pdf viewer (pdfium?) so they do not appear in my downloads folder. This means I rarely have this problem. When I do experience this problem, it usually occurs with Word and Excel files that I want to open but don't want a copy in my downloads folder.

2. I would like a way to choose the filename and location to save the downloaded file, but only for a subset of downloaded files (the ones I don't intend to delete soon after viewing). Because I only do this for some files, I would prefer to go to the downloads folder and change the name/location using File Explorer as opposed to being asked the name/location for every file I download. 

3. Yes, I want a light-weight downloads process. Chrome is light-weight. You click on download and the file is in your download folder. 

Elliot Kirk 

Tbh, just do this and we'll be happy!

Run = Open

there doesn't need to be 2 buttons that do exactly the same thing.

But, show "Run" when the file being downloaded is a .exe, and show "Open" for all other file types.

I'm voting for Options 1 AND 2 (something like Option 4, but without 3).

I want to run files without saving them (I know, they have to be downloaded, but get deleted afterwards).
I want to save them in a folder I can choose individually for every download and to rename it the way I like.
I want to cancel a download before it starts (if I clicked the wrong link). So that makes buttons like:

RUN (without saving)
SAVE AS
CANCEL

Maybe there are a few users out there, that often use SAVE (with a given name and directly to the download folder). But if I choose to download something and store it for later usage, I want to choose name and location individually for every download by myself.

Elliot Kirk josh_bodner A mockup of how I envision Edge working:

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Elliot Kirk wrote:

Hello everyone and thanks for your significant interest in our feedback item of “Provide run / open / save as options when downloading files”. This has been a very interesting problem to think through. The downloads team would love your thoughts on whether we have identified the main customer needs such a feature would need to address.

We believe that there are three main things being asked for:

1. You would like a way to open a file without having to keep it on your computer so that your downloads folder remains “clean” (eg. You want to view your bank statement, but want it deleted after you are finished looking at it)
2. You would like a way to choose the filename and location to save the downloaded file so that you can better organize your downloads (eg. You download a family photo IMG_1502.jpg and want to rename it to Reunion2019.jpg and save it in your Photos folder)
3. You still want a light-weight downloads process that does not require many clicks (eg. User wants to download multiple photos in succession and move them in bulk afterwards without having to click “Save” each time). This is what our downloads flow currently addresses; one click to download.
4. You would like a way to easily switch between (1), (2), and (3) for different files you are downloading; one size does not fit all (eg. For bank statements, you want to just open it, and have it deleted afterwards. But for family photos, you want to be able to rename and save to a specific location).

Do you think we are thinking in the right direction? We are still exploring possible solutions to this problem and any additional feedback is most welcome!

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Back to topic

I often use 1, 2, but 3 is also very useful sometimes.
So I totally agree with 4.
Giving users the opportunity to choose is better than making decisions for them.
Of course, you will have the default options.

Elliot Kirk 

Elliot Kirk 

1. Although this was a mainstay of IE, I think this "Open" button actually needs to die. The reason? Storage Sense. Windows 10's Storage Sense can automatically clean up the Downloads folder of old things we only needed temporarily (like program installers or things to print). The "Open" button of IE caused unneeded confusion, because people wanted to save AND open, and making them choose just confused them. Not to mention if you open a file and then decide you want to save it, you have to re-download it or use "Save As..." in whatever program opened it. If you treat the entire Downloads folder as the new, simply more visible, temporary cache, the "Open" button is unnecessary. Simply save everything, then offer to open if desired. If you really want to keep an Open button, you can leave an option to re-enable it in settings, but leave it off by default.
2. This is something I do a lot, and right now, all major browsers make you either always open the Save As dialog or open the downloads folder and move stuff afterwards, messing with the download history. Some others suggested a button to move everything after downloading, which I think is an AMAZING idea. Put a button on the download bar on the right side where the useless "Show All" button is right now, that says something like "Move Downloads", which will open the Select Folder dialog box and move whatever files you just downloaded and are on the download bar into a folder you choose. You can also have an option to "Move & Rename" for each file, accessible via the ... button on each download. I prefer the former over the latter, but both would be great!
3. Yes! Lightweight and fast is key. In my work, I use a website which recently forced me to download a bunch of files individually in succession (bad website design, but nothing I can do). I don't want to answer Open or Save for every file in that case.
4. Interestingly, Firefox already allows you to set a default option per file type. The problem is file type is not an accurate predictor of contents of the file (family photo and clip-art might both be .jpg files), so that is not so great. If you use my suggestions in #1 and #2, I think those fixes will cover all scenarios you mention in #4, except wanting to delete a file immediately after viewing. For that, you could optionally add another option to the ... button for each download that says something like "Open Once" or "Open & Delete". When the user chooses that, transparently move the file from the Downloads folder to the traditional temporary cache where IE and classic Edge would store files to be "opened" instead of saved. Then, open the file from there, and delete the file from there as you would have done before if the user had clicked "Open" in Edge. In other words, assume the user normally wants to save to Downloads, because that is what Chrome does, it is faster, and it prevents unwanted loss of data, but provide the option to change your mind afterwards by marking the file as temporary.

I know these changes may sound radical now, but so was the idea of Microsoft making a Chromium-based browser.
I would be happy to further clarify any of my suggestions. Thank you for designing a browser based on community suggestions!