Regional University Computing Center Kaiserslautern-Landau

File Links

How to Make Files Available for Download - Instructions

About the "File Links" Content Element

The "File Links " content element is used to make files available for download on a page. You can either select specific individual files or include files via a file collection. TYPO3 automatically generates a clear download list from these files and, depending on the configuration, displays additional information such as file type or file size. Visitors to the page can download the linked files with a single click.

Usage:

Whenever possible, use the “File Links” content element for downloads instead of simply linking to files within the text. This ensures that downloads are presented consistently on the page, and users can recognize at a glance that these are downloadable documents.

The element is suitable for both individual downloads—such as documents, forms, or informational materials—and for more extensive download sections. If new files are added regularly or entire folders or categories of files need to be displayed, it is recommended to use file collections. This keeps the download list automatically up to date without requiring any changes to the content element itself.

File Links with Individually Selected Files

Recommended when

  • only a few documents are needed,
  • the selection is to be made deliberately and manually,
  • individual downloads should be highlighted,
  • the list remains consistent

File Links with a File Collection

A file collection allows download lists to be managed centrally. Changes made to the associated folder automatically take effect wherever the collection is used.

Recommended if

  • there are many files,
  • new files are added regularly,
  • multiple editors maintain files,
  • the output needs to stay up to date automatically,
  • entire folders are to be displayed.

Here's what it looks like

Live Preview of the Content Element

Illustration of the possible layouts. The “Show Description” option is enabled in all cases.

Show Icons (Default)

Large Download List

  • Instructions for Transfer Posting

    Instructions for Using the Transfer Kiosk (Cafeteria Credit to Print Credit) in the Cafeteria Lobby

    Download 994 KB
  • Locations of Multifunction Devices

    List of the locations of the multifunction devices in the Follow-Me system at RPTU in Kaiserslautern

    Download 411 KB

Download List Table

TitleDescriptionFile typeFile sizeDownload
Instructions for Transfer Posting Instructions for Using the Transfer Kiosk (Cafeteria Credit to Print Credit) in the Cafeteria Lobby PDF 994 KBDownload
Locations of Multifunction Devices List of the locations of the multifunction devices in the Follow-Me system at RPTU in Kaiserslautern PDF 411 KBDownload

Description
Instructions for Using the Transfer Kiosk (Cafeteria Credit to Print Credit) in the Cafeteria Lobby

File type: PDF
File size: 994 KB

Description
List of the locations of the multifunction devices in the Follow-Me system at RPTU in Kaiserslautern

File type: PDF
File size: 411 KB
For your reference

Basics

Files to Download

Place the files you want to make available for download in the TYPO3 file repository.

Folders in the file storage

To make it easier to select and locate files later, you should save them in an appropriate folder on your storage device. A well-organized structure makes your work easier down the line.

File Link (Content Element)

Place this content element on the web page where you want the downloads to appear. You can select multiple files within it or reference a previously created file collection.
There is no difference between the two options in the final result.

File collection (data set) — optional

To create a file collection, create a folder of your choice in the page tree. There, you define which files should be included, such as all files in a specific folder in the file storage.
If the contents of this folder change, the file collection is automatically updated—and so are all instances where it is used.

Step by step

Illustrated Instructions

Content Element: File Links

Step 1: Upload Files

Switch to the File List module.

Use the Create Folder button to create a new folder at an appropriate location in the folder structure.

Give the folder a name that is as unique and easy to understand as possible. (For the purposes of this guide, we'll use the name "File Link Test Folder.")

Select your folder and use the " Upload Files " button to add the files you want to share (see the " Upload Files" guide).

For each file, you can now enter metadata such as the title, description, and alternative text.

Step 2: Create file links

Go to the Page module.

In the page tree, select the page where the files are to be made available for download.

Create a content element using the + Create New Content button.

Select the " File Links" type for your content element. You can find this content type under " Media."

Step 3: Add a heading

In the General tab, enter a title.

Step 4: Files

Further down on the General tab, in the Files section, you can select the documents you want to link to.

 

Click the Add File button.

To select the files, first choose the folder where you saved them.

 

For a better overview, click the button in the upper right corner to switch from tile view to list view.

Use the checkboxes at the beginning of each rowto select the documents you want to make available for download, and then click " Import Selection" to confirm your file selection.
(Alternatively, you can use the + button on the right side of each row to add individual files to your selection with a single click.)

In the file metadata, you can specify a title for each file, which will then be displayed instead of the file name. (If available, the title is automatically taken from the file's metadata by default.)

Step 5: Using a File Collection

Instead of selecting individual files, you can also reference a file collection, thereby making all files in the collection available for download.

Use the search field under “Select File Collection ” to find the record for your file collection, then select your file collection by clicking on it.
Alternatively, you can also select your file collection’s record using the button with the folder icon (on the right) or the “File Collection” button (at the bottom).

 

For more information on creating and using file collections, see the section: File Collection Guide

After you've linked the desired files, you can set the sort order for the list.

Step 6: Layout

Go to the " Appearance " tab and select one of the following layouts .

Some layouts include a description.


Now switch to the General tab.

Scroll down until you reach the "File Link Layout " section.

 

Enable " Show Description."

(This should usually already be enabled; if it isn't, you can enable it here.)

Save the content element you created.

 

Check the result on the front end. Here is an example in the “Show Icons” layout and in the “Download List Table” layout.

TYPO3 Self-Study for Beginners, Part 2

Exercise

In the sandbox, create a download list

  1. Upload the files you want to make available for download to the sandbox.
  2. Create a download list using a layout of your choice.

Go to the Sandbox

Next:

 

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