Linking to a Word doc

Question

I am trying to create a link to open a Word document from my
FlashHelp file. I am using Insert Hyperlink, selecting 'File' in
'Link To' and then I select the doc to link to and 'Display in
frame:' 'New Window'. If I then select 'View Selected Item' from
the toolbar and select the link a dialog asks me to Open or Save
the doc. Selecting Open shows the doc in the preview window.

When I generate the help and select the link nothing happens
although right-clicking on the link and selecting the properties
shows the correct path to where the file is located. If I
right-click and select 'Save Target As' I can succesfsully save the
doc. So the link 'knows' where the file is (in the 'SSL!/FlashHelp'
folder) so why can't it open it? I'm using X5.0.2 build 801, IE6
and Flash Player 8. I've tried amending my secrity settings in
Flash Player and IE. I have previously used the same method to link
to HTM files that open SWF files created by Captivate with no
problems.

Captiv8r · Answer

Hi robosteve and welcome to our community

If memory serves me correctly, the issue is with something called the "Mark of the Web", otherwise known as MOTW. I think this impairs linking. You might be able to work past it by creating a totally new page that doesn't have MOTW, then causing that page to redirect to the desired document file. I used to use this technique all the time when I was an Intranet Web Developer. I discovered a nice side effect of this approach. I found that even on a fast intranet, it took much longer than I liked for Word documents and PDF content to open. So I would regularly link to them in this manner. This is because I could redirect and while the user waited, I could plop a message on the screen that told them the process would take a moment and to be patient. Otherwise, with the old way, they would constantly click repeatedly thinking the browser locked up. When in reality, it was simply taking a longer time than I liked for the document to display.

Cheers... Rick

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