You probably have a plugin for a popular download manager like FlashGet.
If the file you select is a direct link, FlashGet will launch with the correct
URL. Frequently, the link is a redirect or one of many complex tricks used
to hide the real URL. If your manager starts it will not load the correct URL.
More often than not, it won't start at all. If the manager is started manually,
the displayed URL will be a simple capture from your browser's address bar.

Any browser will detect the hidden URL for a file, and launch it's own download
applet. Since K-Meleon has so many configuration options, I wonder if it's
possible to change how K-Meleon starts a download.

The instant a download begins, you can easily copy the file URL from K-Meleon's
download applet. I want the applet to wait for a manual start from a mouse click.
This would be very useful, because you could see the real URL for a file. The
decision to cancel or start a download from that "secret" URL would be your choice.

I have two mozilla based browsers, K-Meleon and SeaMonkey. I've searched a
few plugin lists for both browsers. So far, I haven't found a plugin that would
permit a manual start for their download applets.

I create moderately complex scripts to automate repetative tasks in my business,
but I am not a programmer. If there is a solution that does not involve changing
the browser's code, please let me know.

Thanks guys!

For myself I made a "Download: wget" in the context menu, I used the orbit.kmm and changed it to wget etc.
Sometimes I use FreeDownloadManager but not much.
But a option to change to a external download manager would be nice (QupZilla has it).

Hello fred from nl.

Sorry for not returning to this thread sooner.

I was not familiar with Orbit Downloader, so I read the CNET reviews.
This app is packed with junkware.

Here is the review from CNET:

http://download.cnet.com/Orbit-Downloader/3000-2071_4-10600926.html

Unless the editors' review is complete bunk, it would be wise to pick a
different download manager. Maybe someone has created a clean package
for Orbit, stripped of all junkware.

My first thought was to find a way to integrate any download manager as
a complete replacement for a browser's download applet. If this were
possible, the manager would display the correct URL for a file. All download
managers will wait for a manual start if this option is selected by the user.

While searching for a solution I found many packet sniffers or sniffers
integrated with download managers. These are great for downloading and
saving streaming video.

What I want is to see the URL before I agree to download a file. That's all.
Why there aren't numerous open source or free apps that will capture these
hidden URLs is a mystery to me.

You may well be right with Orbit, but Fred only meant to use the kmm-file as syntax template for starting another app with it. Did a quick search for that macro, but there seem to exist several variations, so better wait for Fred. The easiest variation just calls an exe file with a command line that contains also the link url.

Do you have a (harmless) example page? Because it seems my KM1.6 does indeed show the correct source when asking what to do, but perhaps it depends from the site, or perhaps from the KM version, no idea.

Yes, I see what you mean, siria.

Do you remember the very early days of computer "help" forums on the web?
I sure do! After a few months it was obvious that questions or problems
get resolved if large groups of users need the same info. That's why the
same questions are asked and answered indefinitely.

Don't get me wrong, I've solved countless problems searching forums. They
can be very helpful. The thing is, I get stuck trying to resolve problems that
may interest a few advanced or expert level computer users.

I have an extensive background in building electronic devices. I constructed
a kind of "hybrid" desktop server. It's setup to download large files. I don't
need lightning fast downloads using a multi-thread manager. It doesn't matter
if a download is finished in three minutes or three hours.

I do care very much about seeing the real URL for file, before I start a download.
I thought a quick Google search would list a few open source apps authored
to reveal these hidden file URLs.

There are a few browsers specifically designed to download from cloud storage
sites. I can't remember their names, but they do exist. I'll keep searching.

Thanks siria.