How To Make PDFs Downloadable

There are a few different places where you can include a PDF attachment as a downloadable file:

• Include PDF attachment in the Extended Info Section of a course
• Include PDF attachment as a chapter part in a course
• Include PDF attachment as a linked course
• Include PDF attachment in File Vault

First thing’s first — you’ll need to upload your PDF document into the Media Library.

Include PDF attachment in the Extended Info Section of a course

Step 1. Once the PDF is uploaded into the Media Library, copy the link path. To copy the link path, hover your mouse over the item, and then click on the Copy icon:

Step 2. Next, navigate to the Extended Info section at the course level, and in the text editor box, click on the HTML button (<>)

Step 3. Using the following html code, paste the link path copied in Step 1 in between the double quotes replacing “URL to link path”:

 <a  href="URL to link path" target="_blank">Click Here To Download PDF.</a>

Note: The “<a>” tag defines a hyperlink, which is used to link from one page to another.

Step 4. Click on Save and test course in Training Center

If you’d like to add additional styling to your download link (and you have upgraded to the latest version of the Training Center), you can utilize the colors already associated with your theme by adding class=”btn btn-primary” to the path – like this:

<a  class="btn btn-primary" href="URL to link path" target="_blank">Click Here To Download PDF.</a>  

This will stylize the link to make it look more like a button.

Important: If you’re creating a course without chapters (like in this example), you’ll still need a

“PlaceHolder” chapter which can be either Activated/Deactivated.

Include PDF attachment as a chapter part in a course

Using this method, you will need a text editor of your choice. We recommend downloading either Visual Studio Code or Sublime since these are free. You’ll also need an image with 340x180px as the dimensions.

Step 1. Download the template here

Step 2. Open the .xml file using your preferred text editor

Step 3. From the Media Library, copy the PDF link path

Step 4. In the .xml file, paste the link path copied in Step 3 in between the File Label url double quotes replacing “url of pdf from media library goes here”

Step 5. Upload your 340x180px image into the Media Library and copy/paste the link path in between the <Image> tags replacing “image that was uploaded to media library”

Step 6. Update other fields as needed (File label, Information text)

Step 7. Save your .xml file, upload it into your Media Library, and copy the link path

Step 8. At the chapter level, in the video path, enter “pdf|” followed by the copied link path in Step 7, and save your work

Step 9. Test chapter in Training Center

Include PDF attachment as a linked course

A “Linked course banner” is one of the different types of courses that you can have and can be used to “link” externally to another website, a file, or anywhere you’d like.

Step 1. Click on the “+ New Course” button, then click on the “Show Advanced Options” button

Step 2. From the Course Type drop menu, select “Linked Course (Banner)”

Step 3. In the Course Link URL field, enter the copied PDF link path

Step 4. In the Course Link Label field, enter a label, for e.g. “Download PDF”

Step 5. By default “New Window” is selected from the Course Link Target drop menu, however, if you want it to open in the current window select “Same Window”

Step 6. Test course in Training Center

Include PDF attachment in File Vault

The File Vault allows you to organize and place uploaded documents into folders for users to access which is on a per location-basis. Instructions on how to setup your file vault can be found here.