• Login
    • Search
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Users
    • Groups
    • Rules
    • Help

    Do more on the web, with a fast and secure browser!

    Download Opera browser with:

    • built-in ad blocker
    • battery saver
    • free VPN
    Download Opera

    Open a file instead of save it

    Opera for Windows
    32
    48
    34119
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • Deleted User
      Deleted User last edited by

      If chrome has it, it could be possible to sneak the functionality back into opera via some settings-file. I read about one guy who copied his chrome-userdata to opera-folders and claims it worked for him. Can any chrome-expert explain, where chrome saves the users preferences for filetypes and the associated applications? Maybe we can hack our way around this BS from "opera software"...

      Reply Quote 0
        1 Reply Last reply
      • moomommy2
        moomommy2 last edited by

        Where can I find that old version of Opera to go back to, or is it too late for me? using v 26.0 and hating it...

        Reply Quote 0
          1 Reply Last reply
        • linuxmint7
          linuxmint7 last edited by

          ftp://ftp.opera.com/pub/opera/win/1217/

          Reply Quote 0
            1 Reply Last reply
          • A Former User
            A Former User last edited by

            Please! Add the possibility to do this! Can't be so complicated...

            Reply Quote 0
              1 Reply Last reply
            • lando242
              lando242 last edited by

              Its not a complexity thing. It was a conscious decision not to do it for safety reasons. Internet Explorer allows it because it scans any downloads for malware before it allows them to open. Other browsers don't have the same level a system integration that IE has so they either don't allow it at all or let you do it anyway and open you up to a world of pain. I don't think they will change it. As a computer tech that makes his money off of people that makes these mistakes I can assure you they have your best interests at heart on this.

              Reply Quote 0
                1 Reply Last reply
              • srnjak
                srnjak last edited by

                I'm missing this feature, too.

                While using Opera 12 and earlier, I had this aproach:

                • folder for temporary downloads (from there files were automaticly open)
                • folder for default download
                • folder, which I choose to download to

                I miss this very much.

                Reply Quote 0
                  1 Reply Last reply
                • leighrm
                  leighrm last edited by

                  This is an INCORRECT decision not give users the OPTION to at least automatically open Files IF THEY CHOOSE.. if you want to default it to open in a folder then that is fine.. But, I run an IT Recruitment Agency, I open 400 CV's per day, that is 800 seconds per day of my life being wasted so 14 mins per day, it's nearly 6 hours per month sat waiting to click a folder, to open a CV I have already told it once I want to OPEN!!!

                  I understand the issues, yet not ONCE in 20 years has my virus scan software failed to spot an issue/ macro with a document, how about at least give your users the credit they deserve to make their own mind-up about auto-downloading a document as to me your browser is the best.. but is COMPLETELY IMPRACTICAL not allowing auto-open function on downloads, I don't have 6 hours per month to wait EVERY SECOND COUNTS, so I will unfortunately have to opt for another browser as I imagine 25-50% of your user-base does for the same reason they just don't bother to tell you why they go elsewhere but that IS the reason

                  Please give your users the OPTION - with security warning all over it if you think we need some instructions about opening files from unknown sites!

                  Reply Quote 0
                    1 Reply Last reply
                  • lando242
                    lando242 last edited by

                    Chrome doesn't let you automatically open a file when you download it unless you desinate all files of that type to be opened. Thats extremely bad practice if someone accidently sets it for .exe or .js or something. Firefox doesn;t either IIRC. The only 'modern' web browser I know of that does is Internet Explorer (I use the term modern loosely when referring to IE). Still, you have to click that setting when the download dialog pops up. Besides, is it really that difficult to double click the download dialog in Opera when its finished? It really takes you 6 hours a month to double click a box? Its literally 1 extra click vs IE.

                    with security warning all over it

                    Oh yes, that sounds like a great idea.

                    http://arstechnica.com/security/2015/03/mris-show-our-brains-shutting-down-when-we-see-security-prompts/

                    25-50% of your user-base does for the same reason they just don't bother to tell you why they go elsewhere but that IS the reason

                    Opera market desktop market share is going up, not down. Still, why the ranting and raging? Do you see any devs here? Any paid Opera staff? You know, people that can change these things? You are standing in the middle of a bookstore yelling at other customers that your favorite author's newest work is crap.

                    Reply Quote 0
                      1 Reply Last reply
                    • bluejeans
                      bluejeans last edited by admin

                      Similar issue here:
                      https://forums.opera.com/post/72643

                      Reply Quote 0
                        1 Reply Last reply
                      • A Former User
                        A Former User last edited by

                        @lando242 Besides, is it really that difficult to double click the download dialog in Opera when its finished?

                        Its not all about difficulty but about principle. Why it should be more complicated when its dont have to be? If you think its only 1 more click then will you send me one dollar? Its only one dollar its not big deal doesnt it? One click - one dollar... who cares right?

                        Reply Quote 0
                          1 Reply Last reply
                        • zef3r
                          zef3r last edited by

                          I loved Opera because it was one of the few browsers left that treated me like an adult. Removing this left one feature I like: gestures. And I'm pretty sure the productivity saving of gestures is out weighed my having to manually open a file. I might add that I had to specifically set up Opera to open this file type with an external program in the first place. So the whole "It's for security" argument is invalid. I want to use my computer as I see fit. Removing the onus of security from users onto the O/S, or application in the case, creates stupid users who feel like they can randomly click anything and the softwares will save them! If you think this is a good thing, you're wrong. It isn't. Education trumps ignorance.

                          Lando242:

                          Opera market desktop market share is going up, not down. Still, why the ranting and raging? Do you see any devs here? Any paid Opera staff? You know, people that can change these things? You are standing in the middle of a bookstore yelling at other customers that your favorite author's newest work is crap.

                          So if people don't like something that a software developer does that changes how they fundamentally interface with their product, what else should they do than comment on that developers forum? Should we get the phone numbers of the developers and call them up and abuse them? Obviously not. If developers and Opera staff don't pay attention to their forums, maybe it's just another sign that they don't care about what their users want. In which case why should anyone support their product?

                          Reply Quote 0
                            1 Reply Last reply
                          • lando242
                            lando242 last edited by

                            what else should they do than comment on that developers forum?

                            How about you do it in the suggestion box forum where it belongs? Its not our fault you are posting in the wrong forums and getting mad. Its a web browser, chill out. If it doesn't float your boat and its not changing anytime soon switch browsers.

                            Reply Quote 0
                              1 Reply Last reply
                            • zef3r
                              zef3r last edited by

                              Did I create the topic? No. I simply commented in it, giving my opinion, because you know that's what forums are for and stuff. Discussion.

                              Am I mad? Not even close.

                              Reply Quote 0
                                1 Reply Last reply
                              • mlaps
                                mlaps last edited by

                                Firefox doesn;t either IIRC. The only 'modern' web browser I know of that does is Internet Explorer (I use the term modern loosely when referring to IE). Still, you have to click that setting when the download dialog pops up.

                                Firefox does allow this, at least the way mine is set up, not sure if I had to do something years ago in About:config to get it to work, but I know that it's not via an extension.

                                Besides, is it really that difficult to double click the download dialog in Opera when its finished? It really takes you 6 hours a month to double click a box? Its literally 1 extra click vs IE.

                                Maybe I'm misunderstanding the workflow, and I'd appreciate it if there was a better way to do this, but at the moment it seems like a lot more than one extra click.

                                Workflow in Firefox:
                                Click on file you want to open
                                Click open in dialog box vs. Save As
                                Occasionally clean out temp folder

                                Workflow in Opera V1:
                                Click on file you want to open
                                Navigate to your designated temp folder where you want it saved (possibly a lot of clicks) and save the file
                                Wait for it to download
                                Open up the download manager in Opera and double click the file you wanted to open
                                Occasionally clean up your designated temp folder

                                Workflow in Opera V2:
                                Have Opera automatically save everything to one common download folder
                                This saves some time when you're trying to open a file, but it seems that it is more than made up for when you have to try and clean up your downloads folder and see what is worth keeping and/or moving to a more permanent location, and what is not.

                                I go through phases where I open a lot of VCF files. Maybe just to get a quick piece of info like an email address, or maybe open it and then save it to Outlook. Either way, the VCF file is useless to me about two seconds after I open it. I just don't want to have to think about it again. It would be slightly more bearable if when you cleared the download list it actually gave you an option to delete the files at the same time, but without that I end up with a download folder with thousands of items in it, about 10% of which I actually want to save, and the rest that I don't.

                                Reply Quote 0
                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                • orchidea89
                                  orchidea89 last edited by

                                  Some solution is this extension:
                                  Open With Application

                                  https://addons.opera.com/en-gb/extensions/details/open-with-application/?display=en#feedback-container

                                  Reply Quote 0
                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                  • michsens
                                    michsens last edited by

                                    Hello everyone. I found this thread luckily without knowing, that someone linked my addon to you guys. I had exactly the same problem with the new Opera first, so I decided to start writing this little extension. First exercise was to find a way around the multiple necessary clicks until a file can be opened especially you are doing some investigation using a lot of pdf files. My final decision was to use a system notification that informs when a download is finished and what to do next - open or cancel. System notification from the chromium api are not fully supported in Opera so there are only those two possible options at the moment. "Open" opens the file in the system defined application. The file is then stored in "temporary_downloads" folder in the default download folder. "Cancel" deletes the temporary download instantly. Furthermore you can check an option to always clean up the "temporary_downloads" folder at Opera startup. You can choose defined file types or add your own file types.

                                    I would be glad if you could try out this addon and give me some feedback telling me what you might wish for this extension.

                                    Reply Quote 0
                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                    • kiziuk
                                      kiziuk last edited by

                                      Hi michsens,
                                      isn't that currently possible to give the user choice of opening the file or saving it?
                                      I work a lot with different type of files like .zip, .pdf and .msg. Some of them I need to be saved, but some I need to open only once immediately after download. So neither opening all files nor saving them all is the solution for me.

                                      Reply Quote 0
                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                      • michsens
                                        michsens last edited by

                                        Well, there are some annoying behaviours in Opera for now. There are a couple of files that are - without any other choice opened directly in Opera, f.e. mp4, txt. To be sure to save a file you should choose Rightclick + "Save linked Content As ...". Then there are files that are definitly saved. I do not know what works better for you. My idea would be to use Rightclick + "Save linked Content As ..." to save a file and left mouse click to open it.
                                        Maybe you also have an idea what behaviour you would like to have and I try my best to change the extension.

                                        Reply Quote 0
                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                        • red
                                          red last edited by

                                          Old Opera had the option to open local files directly, eg. with Libreoffice.
                                          Could that be implemented in an extension?
                                          Also it allowed to pass the url only to the external app. Useful for external downloaders and as a "1 click" function to instantly stream videos in VLC instead of downloading.

                                          Reply Quote 0
                                            1 Reply Last reply
                                          • alienracer
                                            alienracer last edited by

                                            Opera V.42 - still no OPEN option exist. 😞

                                            Reply Quote 0
                                              1 Reply Last reply
                                            • First post
                                              Last post

                                            Computer browsers

                                            • Opera for Windows
                                            • Opera for Mac
                                            • Opera for Linux
                                            • Opera beta version
                                            • Opera USB

                                            Mobile browsers

                                            • Opera for Android
                                            • Opera Mini
                                            • Opera Touch
                                            • Opera for basic phones

                                            • Add-ons
                                            • Opera account
                                            • Wallpapers
                                            • Opera Ads

                                            • Help & support
                                            • Opera blogs
                                            • Opera forums
                                            • Dev.Opera

                                            • Security
                                            • Privacy
                                            • Cookies Policy
                                            • EULA
                                            • Terms of Service

                                            • About Opera
                                            • Press info
                                            • Jobs
                                            • Investors
                                            • Become a partner
                                            • Contact us

                                            Follow Opera

                                            • Opera - Facebook
                                            • Opera - Twitter
                                            • Opera - YouTube
                                            • Opera - LinkedIn
                                            • Opera - Instagram

                                            © Opera Software 1995-2025