Can I link directly to a file on my hard drive?
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I am working with the WP hosted, free version as a sample of what can be done with a blog. What I’m after is a private, corporate blog that would really only be accessed from within the office. Knowing this, I would like to create a direct link to files on our server. As the files are updated, I want the blog links to read the new version- not the version when the link was created. Right now, the file I’m linking to is uploaded to my WP site so any edits to the original file are not showing up via the blog link. Is there a way to do this with the WP hosted version? Is it possible to do this with a locally installed version?
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If you have your own web server (IIS or Apache) then you can make the file accessible using that. Then link to the file via the URL.
This is would be true for WP or any web publishing system.
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OK, I’m getting conflicting information on whether this can be done or not. Regardless, it’s still not working. A direct link “\localserverfilesword.doc” works perfect from within Word or a web browser address bar but not in WordPress. When I publish, WP insists on adding “http://” to the beginning of the link and then it’s off to 404 I go. Am I missing something simple here?
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If you have installed wp, you should be asking questions in that forum http://wordpress.org/support/
We do not host our own blogs here.
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Ah, I misread the “WP hosted, free version” in your post. (And the first answer didn’t help, either.) Sorry.
This is probably a question for WP.com support.
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For this to work, you’re going to have to have a static IP address, and most ISP’s won’t do that. From the internet for people to find the file, they will have to know where you are on the internet (your IP). If it isn’t static, and you have to reboot your modem, or your ISP reboots their system, your IP address will change, and the link to the file will be broke.
I can’t understand why you don’t upload the file to box.net or similar online storage site instead of wanting to open your computer up to the entire internet, and all the hackers and less-than-honest types that are out there.
IMO, this is NOT a good idea, or even a fairly good idea, it is a bad one.
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I would recommend the same as thesacredpath myself and use a “free” service to host the file and just link to it. Unless you are running your own server software on your computer with a static IP, there is no reason to link it to your own computer in my mind, but using the suggestions given, it is possible to answer your question. It has to be done through a web or ftp server on your own computer using an IP address public to the internet or it will not work.
Trent
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Well this security issue is even more conflicting info for me. I was originally led to believe it would not be a problem if it were a private blog accessible only by invitees who were located in the same office. I’m not expecting it to be accessed via the internet much, 90% of the time from within the office where the server is.
I’m trying to keep this as simple as possible to promote usage in a small office. While I personally use online storage for my own blog, I can see it becoming an annoying extra step that others may forget and not complete. Next thing you know, were looking at a four week old work schedule. Optimally, our schedule would be updated in one location and everyone in the office could see the current version.
In the same vain of keeping it simple, I’m trying to avoid the extra maintenance and responsibility of hosting it ourselves. Maybe that’s what we need to do after all.
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Why not just upload the file to wordpress? That way it would be available to all the users in your private blog, but not to anyone else.
Even if you go the self-hosted route (on a web server), you are still going to have the same problems accessing the file on your computer.
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Yeah, uploading to WP (or anywhere) is the extra step I’m trying to avoid. We would have to do that every time we update a file. I want everyone in our company to be able to create posts, add links etc so I’m trying to keep it as painless as possible. Some aren’t that tech savvy and I’m hoping to simplify the process as much as possible.
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Yeah, uploading to WP (or anywhere) is the extra step I’m trying to avoid.
It makes no difference whether or not you are referring to either a wordpress.com blog or a wordpress.org blog, there is no way that you can avoid this step.
I want everyone in our company to be able to create posts, add links etc so I’m trying to keep it as painless as possible. Some aren’t that tech savvy and I’m hoping to simplify the process as much as possible.
What you are describing IMHO is a wiki and not a blog. http://www.wikispaces.com/
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So here’s the fix. I just made a quick down and dirty local web page with all our local links (aka intranet). In one frame, I linked to the blog. Works great. Just a bit of formating on the web page and it will look great too.
Our local links should be pretty stagnant (although the files linked to will be updated) so I don’t see much maintenance on my part to add links there. Users (hopefully) will catch on to using the blog without having to worry about editing a web page.
Free & much lower maintenance than other solutions. I’m happy. It was one of those “Well duh” moments for me.
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Sounds like a good solution and thanks for posting it in case others want to do the same thing.
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