Ning 3.0 Tip: Download Button

[SweetPotato]

Hi all,

I've worked on several client projects recently where there was a need for members to easily access downloadable items (PDFS, Spreadsheets etc) in forum discussions.

This simple tip looks for the word 'download' in links within forum discussions and then styles the link accordingly - it simply makes the download option more obvious.

How it works:

When you add an attachment to a forum discussion (1 below) in Ning 3.0 you get this box:

Upload your file and then ensure that the Title contains the word 'Download', in the instance above it's 'Download the PDF' (2).

Press OK and save the forum discussion.

Now for the script:

Open Social Site Manager, then Custom Code, and place this in the End of Page Code section:

<script>
x$('.discussionDetailPage .card .content a:contains("Download"), .discussionDetailPage .entry-content.cf a:contains("Download")').addClass('SP_Download');
</script>

Press save.

Now for the CSS:

Open the Design Studio and Custom CSS, then add this:

/*Download Button*/
.SP_Download{
color:#1d1d1d;
font-size:16px;
border-radius:3px;
-webkit-border-radius:3px;
-moz-border-radius:3px;
padding:10px 15px 10px 40px;
background:-webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0.05, #F8F7F7), color-stop(1, #ECEBEB));
background:-moz-linear-gradient(top, #F8F7F7 5%, #ECEBEB 100%);
background:-webkit-linear-gradient(top, #F8F7F7 5%, #ECEBEB 100%);
background:-o-linear-gradient(top, #F8F7F7 5%, #ECEBEB 100%);
background:-ms-linear-gradient(top, #F8F7F7 5%, #ECEBEB 100%);
background:linear-gradient(to bottom, #F8F7F7 5%, #ECEBEB 100%);
filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorstr='#F8F7F7', endColorstr='#ECEBEB',GradientType=0);
background-color:#F8F7F7;
background-image: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/11391124?profile=original");
background-repeat:no-repeat;
background-position:7px 5px;
border:solid 1px #c9c9c9;
}

This styling can of course be simplified and amended to taste.

Here is the result:

This tip has been tested using a Design Studio V1 theme and a Design Studio V2 theme.

It won't be for everyone but is a good option for people with a forum where only admins add content and can control the links in the discussions.

Enjoy

SP

I have more tips on my profile page or my site

[Aaron]

Cool tip, SP! Thanks for sharing it.

Just wondering, what happens if you have 2 separate files to be downloaded with "download" in their title?

[SweetPotato]

Hi Aaron

This:

I should point out that the tip is case sensitive so Download with a 'D'.

SP

[Jords]

Excellent!

[Fire-Tech]

Very nice. Have to play with this one. Thanks for sharing brother.

[Cassie Purvis]

Thanks for sharing!! I'm sure this is an ignorant question, but how would you adjust this to apply to blogs instead?

[SweetPotato]

Hey Cassie, I'm away at present but remind me in a week or so and I'll post.
Sp

[Cassie Purvis]

Thanks! Really appreciate it!!

[Noémi Ketterer]

Super, thank you