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Why is Firefox replacing 'space' with '%20' when I try to save a file?

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Alright so when I try to save a file from at least two websites, Firefox is converting the spaces in the file name to '%20'. So for example, instead of 'Firefox rules.doc' it's 'Firefox%20rules.doc'.

This is NOT a html error, Internet Explorer doesn't have these problems on the exact same websites, and it's only a recent occurance for Firefox.

EDIT: Have tried re-installing Firefox; diabling add-ons; diabling plugins; updating plug-ins; creating a new profile.

Alright so when I try to save a file from at least two websites, Firefox is converting the spaces in the file name to '%20'. So for example, instead of 'Firefox rules.doc' it's 'Firefox%20rules.doc'. This is NOT a html error, Internet Explorer doesn't have these problems on the exact same websites, and it's only a recent occurance for Firefox. EDIT: Have tried re-installing Firefox; diabling add-ons; diabling plugins; updating plug-ins; creating a new profile.

Modified by CaptainObvious

All Replies (10)

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Are you left-clicking the link when that happens or do you use "Save Link as" the right-click context menu?

Does it also happen if you hold down the Alt key and left-click?

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It happens both when I left-click or right-click and 'save link as...'

However when I held the alt key as you suggested, it worked like it should. How do I get the browser to do that all the time?

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Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the add-ons is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Tools > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

   Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window. 


""Since spaces are not allowed in a URL, the %20 represents a space. If you right click on a link to the file, you should be able to save the file with spaces instead of the %20's. But if you load the file in your browser and then try to save it, it ends up with the %20's."""

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Didn't work. I've so far tried re-installing Firefox; diabling add-ons; diabling plugins; updating plug-ins; creating a new profile. The only thing that's helped is, as mentioned in the original reply, holding the alt key whilst clicking on the link. Not a permanent solution though.

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How are the files send by that website?

You can check the HTTP response headers with the Live Http Headers extension.

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The files are unchanged, I'm not sure what you mean. As I said before the file names come up as they should if I hold the ALT key, but that's not a permanent solution

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Still having this problem, and now it won't let me hold 'alt' and click on the download link either...

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You can set the Boolean pref browser.altClickSave to true on the about:config page.

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Ah thanks for that, at least the temporary solution is back though I'd still love to find a permanent solution.