Hello, Your Downloads panel and Library keep track of files you download while using Firefox. Learn how to manage your files and configure your download settings. For more information go to: Where to find and manage downloaded files in Firefox. Another alternative you have, is the download manager plugin DownThemAll would allow you to configure that in its options panel: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/downthemall.

Reply to jeyson1099...With due respect...I have been using Firefox for 15+ years, I am aware of how to 'organise' downloads [via settings->File and Applications->Downloads and for PDF files (settings->File and Applications->Applications)[for which there are two entries?] I have always had them set as 'Always Ask'. My point is that the actions of Firefox changed at Firefox 98..... In ADDITION to viewing a PDF file [in Firefox] or downloading a PDF file another copy of the file is NOW always downloaded. In my opinion this is a BUG, as Firefox is now doing something which is impossible to prevent via any settings.

It's not possible to pass a file to an application without saving it somewhere:

• Before Firefox 98: Choosing "Open with [relevant application]" saved the file in the Windows Temp folder
• Starting in Firefox 98: Choosing "Open with [relevant application]" saves the file in your default download folder (the one listed next to "Save files to" on the Settings page)
• The only way to open a PDF as web content is to select "Open in Firefox" as the default action on the Settings page; I don't think this has changed.

Unfortunately, by the time the Download dialog is displayed, it is too late to open a PDF as web content and it will always be opened as a locally saved file. I don't know whether it will be possible to fix that.

I use "Open in Firefox" as my default action, but for Word and other documents, what I'm doing for now is this set of settings:

(1) Change the default download folder to a "temp" folder I created (2) Set Firefox to always ask where I want to save a file so I can choose a real folder when I want to keep the file

On the Settings page, it looks like this:

jscher2000 - Thanks for the reply, appreciated. You say that prior to Firefox 98 the file was saved to THE 'temp' folder of a user. I can understand that, however, the file[s] must have been [and should be] tidied up by Firefox because they were not left hanging around, in 'temp'. Now, post Firefox 98, they are put in the default folder...OK...but they are not tidied up. They should be. Also, why the change? In my opinion, it is still a BUG. Applications should not create and leave permenant files lying around. They should tidy up after themselves and if it's a temporary file, it should be in 'temp', not in a user's filestore/filestructure. It's a shame we can not actually talk to Firefox support people [no disrespect to yourself or others] to get an idea as to WHY things were done and to actually give them feedback, which we can nolonger do.

Over the years, users regularly complained that a file they opened was not saved -- when they went to get it, it was gone, and in some cases it was not possible to redownload. Saving all downloads in Downloads resolved that problem. But it created a problem of clutter and manual cleaning for people who preferred the other approach.

I don't know whether the old approach will be restored as an option in the future.

Sorry, I don't believe that. The dialogue is quite simple and straightforward...you can either: open within F/Fox; open otside F/Fox; or save a file. If you open a file within F/Fox and sunsequently wish to download it, you can either go through the whole dialogue again [in order to download it] or in the case of a PDF file click on the 'chevron' looking button to download it. It is quite obvious that if you 'ask' something to do one thing, you don't expect it to do another.....If you use a 'direction indicator' whilst driving a car you don't expect the car to automatically turn & change direction immediately...in the same way if you open a file in F/Fox, you are not asking it to save the file! .... .... .... As I said in the other thread..... ... WHAT WE REALLY NEEED is someone from Mozilla/Firefox to state what the actual situation is and what is or is not going to happen.....but Mozilla no longer accept any feedback. ... ... If there is anyone out there who actually works for Mozilla/Firefox and is involved in planning updates, could they please give some input....thanks very much.

...contd... OK, the file is empty [0kb] but why the file instance [empty file]?

As I said before, it needs someone who actually works for Mozilla/Firefox to respond to the problem.

To quote the Nicki French song....Is There Anybody Out There.....

Something went wrong there....the post did not get posted properly.

Ignore the entry above, I'll re-do the whole thing.

Just found another associated problem...Checking products on Screwfix [UK based DIY store] web site and went to OPEN a PDF product 'description' within F/Fox. F/Fox displayed that the had not been downloaded due to a security risk, however it still created an instance of the file - why? If it's not going to download the file, why create an empty version of it.....IT'S A BUG IN F/FOX. ..... OK, the file is empty [0kb] but why the file instance [empty file]?

As I said before, it needs someone who actually works for Mozilla/Firefox to respond to the problem.

To quote the Nicki French song....Is There Anybody Out There.....

Just found another associated problem...Checking products on Screwfix [UK based DIY store] web site and went to OPEN a PDF product 'description' within F/Fox. F/Fox displayed that the had not been downloaded due to a security risk, however it still created an instance of the file - why? If it's not going to download the file, why create an empty version of it.....IT'S A BUG IN F/FOX. ..... OK, the file is empty [0kb] but why the file instance [empty file]? As I said before, it needs someone who actually works for Mozilla/Firefox to respond to the problem.

That's strange. I filed a new bug: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1765184

(A separate question is why Firefox is cool showing the file as web content in the built-in viewer with the default "Open in Firefox" setting, but blocks it as a download.)

Hello jscher2000

Don't understand the '...is why Firefox is cool showing the file as ....' ...'cool' ?? a miss-type I presume. Strange you found the same thing around the same time....

Anyway, I've been doing some 'fiddling' with Settings and have found a CIRCUMVENTION, not a fix. I believe that it also proves that there is a bug in the 'Open-in-FFox/Save-File/Open-inExt-Application dialogue' [from now on referred to as 'Open etc dialogue'].

For PDF files, I changed the Application Action from 'Always Ask' to 'Open in Firefox' - which means a PDF file is automatically opened in a new tab and the 'Open etc dialogue' is NOT invoked. [see attachment]

After the change, when clicking on that same link [previous entry - that warned of a security risk & created an empty file], the PDF file opened OK with NO file being downloaded/created. [The address line did contain a warning mark on the padlock symbol]

So the situation is... 1. When Settings are changed to automatically open a PDF file in F/Fox [no 'Open etc dialogue' actioned]

   No file is erroneously downloaded/created.

2. When Settings is set to Always Ask, then the 'Open etc dialogue' is actioned and a file is ALWAYS

   downloaded/created....even when it's not wanted - when just to open the file in Firefox or an 
   external application.

THEREFORE, the 'Open etc dialogue' is doing things in the wrong order.

It should find out what's required [look at what the user has indicated in reply to the initial 'Open etc dialogue' box], THEN if [and ONLY IF] a file is to be saved should the file be downloaded/created. [If the file is to be opened in F/Fox or an external application no file should be downloaded/created].

As I mentioned as while ago, this IS a bug in F/Fox.

something's going wrong-I'll log out & log in

Hello jscher2000

Don't understand the '...is why Firefox is cool showing the file as ....' ...'cool' ?? a miss-type I presume. Strange you found the same thing around the same time....

Anyway, I've been doing some 'fiddling' with Settings and have found a CIRCUMVENTION, not a fix. I believe that it also proves that there is a bug in the 'Open-in-FFox/Save-File/Open-inExt-Application dialogue' [from now on referred to as 'Open etc dialogue'].

For PDF files, I changed the Application Action from 'Always Ask' to 'Open in Firefox' - which means a PDF file is automatically opened in a new tab and the 'Open etc dialogue' is NOT invoked. [see attachment ... on next entry]

After the change, when clicking on that same link [previous entry - that warned of a security risk & created an empty file], the PDF file opened OK with NO file being downloaded/created. [The address line did contain a warning mark on the padlock symbol]

So the situation is... 1. When Settings are changed to automatically open a PDF file in F/Fox - no 'Open etc dialogue' actioned and no file is erroneously downloaded/created.

2.When Settings is set to Always Ask, then the 'Open etc dialogue' is actioned and a file is ALWAYS downloaded/created....even when it's not wanted - when just to open the file in Firefox or an external application.

THEREFORE, the 'Open etc dialogue' is doing things in the wrong order.

It should find out what's required [look at what the user has indicated in reply to the initial 'Open etc dialogue' box], THEN if [and ONLY IF] a file is to be saved should the file be downloaded/created. [If the file is to be opened in F/Fox or an external application no file should be downloaded/created].

As I mentioned as while ago, this IS a bug in F/Fox.

PS There's a problem with 'new line characters' & numbered text when submitting posts, the font [and stuff??] does all over the place.

the attachment ...hopefully...nope...i'll try two seperate files/attachments...that worked...hurrah!!

Don't understand the '...is why Firefox is cool showing the file as ....' ...'cool' ?? a miss-type I presume.

Not a typo, I meant that Firefox does not object to HTTP links in HTTPS pages when set to open the PDF as web content ("Open in Firefox"). It's cool with those links in that situation.

Strange you found the same thing around the same time....

I did not notice the 0K downloads myself. I tested what you described to verify it and then filed the bug. There is a credit to your post in the bug description.

Anyway, I've been doing some 'fiddling' with Settings and have found a CIRCUMVENTION, not a fix. I believe that it also proves that there is a bug in the 'Open-in-FFox/Save-File/Open-inExt-Application dialogue' [from now on referred to as 'Open etc dialogue']. For PDF files, I changed the Application Action from 'Always Ask' to 'Open in Firefox' - which means a PDF file is automatically opened in a new tab and the 'Open etc dialogue' is NOT invoked. [see attachment ... on next entry] After the change, when clicking on that same link [previous entry - that warned of a security risk & created an empty file], the PDF file opened OK with NO file being downloaded/created. [The address line did contain a warning mark on the padlock symbol] So the situation is... 1. When Settings are changed to automatically open a PDF file in F/Fox - no 'Open etc dialogue' actioned and no file is erroneously downloaded/created. 2.When Settings is set to Always Ask, then the 'Open etc dialogue' is actioned and a file is ALWAYS downloaded/created....even when it's not wanted - when just to open the file in Firefox or an external application. THEREFORE, the 'Open etc dialogue' is doing things in the wrong order.

This is what I said before. When you set PDFs to "Always Ask":

Unfortunately, by the time the Download dialog is displayed, it is too late to open a PDF as web content and it will always be opened as a locally saved file. I don't know whether it will be possible to fix that.