TECHNICAL GEMS

Swipe / Saving a Webpage (Crtl-s, Cmd-s)- Best to USE “Webpage Complete” option.

When you use Ctrl+S (or “Save As…”) on a web page, browsers typically offer several file type options. Each option determines how much of the web page’s content is saved, how it is structured, and how easy it is to view later—especially when moving files between servers and desktops. Here are the main options and what each one does:

1. Webpage, HTML Only (*.html, *.htm)

What it saves:

  • Only the HTML file (the page’s source code).
  • No images, CSS, JavaScript, or other resources needed for the full appearance and functionality of the page.

Viewing (Desktop/Server):

  • When you open the file locally or on a server, you’ll see the raw content and structure of the page.
  • The page will look broken: missing styling, images, and interactivity that rely on external files.

Advantages:

  • Simple, small file size.
  • Easy to inspect or edit the HTML.

Disadvantages:

  • Limited use for viewing or archiving—the page won’t look or behave as it does online.
  • Most web pages depend on many external resources, so what you see is often just text and placeholders.

2. Webpage, Complete (*.html, *.htm)

What it saves:

  • The HTML file, plus a separate folder containing all linked resources (images, CSS, scripts, etc.).
  • The HTML is modified to reference these saved local resources.

Viewing (Desktop/Server):

  • Opening the HTML file on your desktop should show the full page as it appeared online, including graphics and styles, as long as the accompanying folder remains in the same location as the HTML file.
  • If you upload just the HTML or move the folder, links may break and images/styles can disappear.

Advantages:

  • Closest offline experience to the real web page.
  • No need for an internet connection if all resources were saved properly.

Disadvantages:

  • Generates multiple files and a directory—can be messy or hard to move/share.
  • Easy to break the page by moving or renaming files or folders.
  • Some resources might still not save correctly (e.g. dynamic content or external fonts/scripts).

3. **Webpage, Single File (MHTML/MHT or Web Archive) (.mht, .mhtml)

What it saves:

  • All page content—HTML, images, CSS, scripts—embedded in one file using the MHTML (MIME HTML) format.
  • No auxiliary folders; everything is self-contained.

Viewing (Desktop/Server):

  • Designed for easy archiving and sharing: a single file can be moved, uploaded, or sent by email.
  • Needs a compatible browser or viewer (e.g. Internet Explorer, legacy versions of Edge and Chrome, special extensions for Firefox).
  • Modern browsers are inconsistent with MHTML support, so viewing on some systems or servers can be problematic.

Advantages:

  • Very portable—full page in one file, including images and styles.
  • Ideal for archiving or sharing via email or cloud.

Disadvantages:

  • Limited support in current browsers.
  • Not easily editable.
  • Some dynamic content (like video, forms, or scripts) may not work perfectly.
FormatWhat It SavesAppearance OfflinePortabilityEditingBrowser Support
Webpage, HTML OnlyHTML code onlyBroken, missing styles/imagesEasy (1 file)EasyWorks everywhere
Webpage, CompleteHTML + folder w/ resMostly accurate if not movedHard (many files)MediumWorks everywhere
Webpage, Single File (MHTML)Everything in 1 fileAccurate if viewer supports MHTEasy (1 file)HardLimited & inconsistent

Recommendations

  • For personal offline archiving or detailed web scraping, “Webpage, Complete” preserves the most functionality, but you must keep the folder with the HTML file together.
  • For portability (email, transferring), “Webpage, Single File” (MHTML) is best, but verify browser support before relying on it.
  • Use “Webpage, HTML Only” only for basic HTML study or simple text archiving—it does not preserve the look and feel.

Note: Some browsers offer extensions or tools (like “SingleFile” or “Save Page WE”) to save complete pages as single HTML files with embedded resources, but by default, native single-file support usually means MHTML or webarchive formats requiring specific viewers

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