Feature Proposal: Have file links in Attachment table include a URL param to get latest version

Motivation

Ensures that clicking on a file name in Attachments table gives you the current version. Could be the same as the link format on the "manage" screen. Currently, the attachments table is vulnerable to browser cache settings, and to the differences in caching rules/behaviors inherent to different browser platforms.

Description and Documentation

I would like the file hrefs in the Attachments table to include some URL parameter to ensure that they point to the latest version. We've been facing caching issues with attachments where, after updating an attachment, the Attachments table link still retrieves the previous version. The problem is not consistent across all browsers - for example Firefox 2 didn't have the problem, but Firefox 3 does. I've searched the Support site and done a good deal of experimenting on my own (mainly with HTTP headers via Apache), but without any real success (at least success across all browsers). Based on what I've read on the Support site, it seems this issue has been raised before but without any comprehensive solution. It seems like it wouldn't be too difficult to have the links in the Attachments table mirror the version-specific links found on the "manage" screen, which would avoid the snare of browser cache settings/behaviors altogether. And I can't imagine any reason why a user or a site administrator wouldn't want the Attachment table links to always point to the latest version.

Examples

Impact

Implementation

-- Contributors: GarySprague - 20 Aug 2008

Discussion