<div>
Thank you for your participation. &nbsp;Here's a screen shot. &nbsp;The error happens when I try to access the pdf, if htaccess is in the same directory.<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2013/05_w22/656960/Image1.jpg" target="_blank" title="server error (253 KB)"><img alt="server error" class="file-block lazyload" style="max-width: 800px;" data-src="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2013/05_w22/800_656960/Image1.jpg" /></a>
</div>


Thank you for your participation.  Here's a screen shot.  The error happens when I try to access the pdf, if htaccess is in the same directory.server errorhttps://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2013/05_w22/656960/Image1.jpg

Image1.jpg

<div>
I think this is an issue for my web host. &nbsp;If I place the .htaccess file in other directories which contain pdf files, the &quot;save/open&quot; dialog is triggered by accessing the pdf. &nbsp;The server error happens only in a particular folder, which is in my secure website. &nbsp;I'll check the error log and discuss with web host.
</div>


I think this is an issue for my web host.  If I place the .htaccess file in other directories which contain pdf files, the "save/open" dialog is triggered by accessing the pdf.  The server error happens only in a particular folder, which is in my secure website.  I'll check the error log and discuss with web host.

<div>
<div class="content wysiwyg-content">
When visitors click on a link to a pdf file in my website, I would like them to see a dialog box which invites them to save the file, instead of opening it. &nbsp;This would avoid needing to instruct them to right click and save as. &nbsp;I'm unfamiliar with htaccess, but I created one with the intention of forcing download of pdf files. &nbsp;Instead, it created a server access problem. &nbsp;Please advise.<a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2013/05_w22/656856/htaccess.txt" target="_blank" class="file-inline" title="htaccess (93 bytes)"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 512 512"><path d="M67.508 468.467c-58.005-58.013-58.016-151.92 0-209.943l225.011-225.04c44.643-44.645 117.279-44.645 161.92 0 44.743 44.749 44.753 117.186 0 161.944l-189.465 189.49c-31.41 31.413-82.518 31.412-113.926.001-31.479-31.482-31.49-82.453 0-113.944L311.51 110.491c4.687-4.687 12.286-4.687 16.972 0l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.685 12.283 0 16.969L184.983 304.917c-12.724 12.724-12.73 33.328 0 46.058 12.696 12.697 33.356 12.699 46.054-.001l189.465-189.489c25.987-25.989 25.994-68.06.001-94.056-25.931-25.934-68.119-25.932-94.049 0l-225.01 225.039c-39.249 39.252-39.258 102.795-.001 142.057 39.285 39.29 102.885 39.287 142.162-.028A739446.174 739446.174 0 0 1 439.497 238.49c4.686-4.687 12.282-4.684 16.969.004l16.967 16.971c4.685 4.686 4.689 12.279.004 16.965a755654.128 755654.128 0 0 0-195.881 195.996c-58.034 58.092-152.004 58.093-210.048.041z"/></svg>htaccess.txt</a>
</div>
</div>


htaccess.txt

When visitors click on a link to a pdf file in my website, I would like them to see a dialog box which invites them to save the file, instead of opening it.  This would avoid needing to instruct them to right click and save as.  I'm unfamiliar with htaccess, but I created one with the intention of forcing download of pdf files.  Instead, it created a server access problem.  Please advise.

Force file download

The Apache HTTP Server is a secure, efficient and extensible server that provides HTTP services in sync with the current HTTP standards. Typically Apache is run on a Unix-like operating system, but it is available for a wide variety of operating systems, including Linux, Novell NetWare, Mac OS-X and Windows. Released under the Apache License, Apache is open-source software.