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Downloading CSV files Question

Discussion in 'Firefox, Thunderbird & SeaMonkey' started by James Martin, 2013/09/28.

  1. 2013/09/28
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Hi all,

    Currently, I have Firefox set to store all downloads to the desktop. However, comma separated value files (CSV) are downloaded to C:\Users\username\AppData\Local\Temp.

    I have CSV file associations set to Excel 2007. These CSV files have bank account numbers, and I always erase these files when I am finished with them. Having to dig through the temp folder to find CSV files is a pain. Is there a fix for this? I never had this problem with XP as Firefox would download the CSV file to the desktop, and then Excel would open it up automatically.
     
    Last edited: 2013/09/28
    James Martin,
    #1
  2. 2013/09/30
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    You probably have an Excel plugin in FF that opens the csv files. Disable that plugin and you should be able to save the download and then manually open it. Or, when at the page with the download, don't left click the link, right click the link and select "Save link as... ".
     
    TonyT,
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  4. 2013/09/30
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    There is no Excel pugin.


    I've used that option before for other file types, but at this particular bank the right-click save as option is not there. The only options given are "Copy link location ", "Bookmark this link ", and "Inspect element Q "

    I can make the "What should Firefox do with this file?" box open up. If I choose to "Save as ", the CSV file gets downloaded to the desktop, but I have to manually open the file. If I choose to "Open with Excel ", the program opens the file automatically, but Firefox insists on downloading the file to a temp folder.

    In XP, I can set Firefox to download the CSV file to the desktop, and Excel will open it up automatically.

    It may sound like laziness on my part to manually open a downloaded file, but the automatic "save to desktop and open the file automatically" feature saves time.
     
    James Martin,
    #3
  5. 2013/10/02
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Look again at Firefox for this > Tools menu > Add-ons > Plugins > Microsoft Office. If the plugin did not exist then you would not be able to open CSV files from the browser, you would only be able to save it.

    The reason there is no Save link as... is because it's a javascript link.
     
    TonyT,
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  6. 2013/10/02
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    There is no such plug-in installed (is one available?).


    Firefox gives me the option to download the file and to open it automatically with Excel, but the file defaults to a temp folder even though I have instructed Firefox to save all files to the desktop (General tab> Save files to the desktop).

    If the file did not have sensitive information, I would not care where it downloaded to. This was never a problem with XP. :confused:
     
    James Martin,
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  7. 2013/10/02
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Just save the file to the Desktop > open the Firefox download manager and double click the file there. It will open in Excel & still be saved to the Desktop.

    Download manager = green arrow > Show all downloads.
     
    TonyT,
    #6
  8. 2013/10/02
    James Martin

    James Martin Geek Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks, Tony.

    Not exactly what I was looking for, but it is another option.

    I wonder if I can go into about:config and make some changes there?
     
    James Martin,
    #7
  9. 2013/10/03
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    No. FF uses the operating system's environment variable for the temp directory: %temp%.

    In XP it's Docs & Settings\User\Local Settings\temp.
    In later Windows it's Users\User\AppData\Local\temp.

    %temp% is hard coded in the FF program. %the directory%, when used in programming Windows applications will automatically use the directory that is defined in environment variables, either the defaults or user set variables.

    You can change the environment variable for %temp% to any location you want, even an external drive, but ALL software & Windows too will then use that location for temp files. Not really a good idea.
     
    TonyT,
    #8

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