Downloads currupting file/extensions

[sewNsower]

I do machine embroidery and up to now have been able to download digitalized designs from the internet onto my Mac (OSX-Panther). While I cannot read these files on my Mac, I keep them stored/indexed on my Mac. If the designs are sent as zipped files, there is no problem. However, several websites do not forward their files this way. The designs are typically downloaded with a digitalized embroidery extension indicating the format of the respective embroidery machine to be used, e.g. Brother uses .pes, Bernina uses .ART, Janome uses .SEW, etc. Now to my problem: When downloading from these sites, the embroidery files appear on my desk top as .exe or .php or sometimes even a QuickTime file. In some instances I can avoid this problem by using the Opt/Z key combination when clicking the download button on the embroidery site. When this trick fails, is there a way can I download the file without corrupting the file/extension?

[Satcomer]

Well exe is a windows self launching progam. You can open these to there basic files by un-stuffing the file with Stuffit Expander. This will not Open the exe but it will break it down ti it's file parts.

[MisterMe]

Originally Posted by sewNsower

... When this trick fails, is there a way can I download the file without corrupting the file/extension?

First of all, you need to understand that you do not have a "problem." In the worst case scenario, you have a minor inconvenience. Nothing has been corrupted or damaged. For certain file types, MacOS X appends an additional extension to the filename. This does not change the contents of the file in any way. If you remove the unwanted extension, then everything is fine.

Satcomer is correct about files with the .exe extension. They are self-extracting archives that should unzip themselves on a Windows machine. A Mac utility like Stuffit Expander may also be able to do the trick--maybe. If the .exe extension was added in error, then delete it. Extensions may be removed manually or you may use a renamer utility such as A Better Finder Rename to automate the process.

[ElDiabloConCaca]

You can try right-clicking the download link and choosing "Save File As..." or "Download Linked File As...". This may work around Mac OS X's propensity of changing filename extensions.