Trains.com

Zinio questions

3244 views
12 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    August 2018
  • 14 posts
Zinio questions
Posted by PhilBurton on Monday, February 22, 2021 10:09 PM

I downloaded the digital April issue of Trains, but I can't find the download file on my PC (Windows 10) and I checked all the usual suspect places.  I'd like to be able to open up the PDF while offline.

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Northern New York
  • 25,020 posts
Posted by tree68 on Monday, February 22, 2021 10:45 PM

In my experience, when you download something with W10, it shows up on the bottom of your screen.

If you right click on that little box, you can select "show in folder."  Then you can find out where Windows hid it.

If you do such downloads on a regular basis, you might want to create a folder just for such files.

I also find that most such downloads end up under "Documents" in a downloads folder.

If you're not seeing the file appear at the bottom of your screen, watch for error messages.  Some sites won't allow such downloads.  I don't know if Kalmbach is one of them.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • 4,557 posts
Posted by Convicted One on Monday, February 22, 2021 11:27 PM

Zinio is a subscription service that offers e-versions of magazines, based upon what you are paying for.  They may have set up a specific location on your hard drive where their downloads are saved to. Likely in a hidden folder nested somewhere inside C:\users\yourname\Appdata

See the following for instructions on how to expose this hidden treasure trove:

https://www.howtogeek.com/318177/what-is-the-appdata-folder-in-windows/

 

Of course you could check your browser's settings  to see where it is set up to download by default.....but my guess is that what you are looking for has been hidden to assure that you can't access unless you have paid.

  • Member since
    April 2007
  • 4,557 posts
Posted by Convicted One on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 10:48 AM

tree68
also find that most such downloads end up under "Documents" in a downloads folder.

 

"My Documents>My Zinio Library" according to some sources I've just checked.

  • Member since
    August 2018
  • 14 posts
Posted by PhilBurton on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 11:08 PM

tree68

In my experience, when you download something with W10, it shows up on the bottom of your screen.

If you right click on that little box, you can select "show in folder."  Then you can find out where Windows hid it.

If you do such downloads on a regular basis, you might want to create a folder just for such files.

I also find that most such downloads end up under "Documents" in a downloads folder.

If you're not seeing the file appear at the bottom of your screen, watch for error messages.  Some sites won't allow such downloads.  I don't know if Kalmbach is one of them.

 

 

Larry,

Nothing in the Documents folder. 

Phil

  • Member since
    August 2018
  • 14 posts
Posted by PhilBurton on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 11:09 PM
I checked all three subfolders. Nothing there. :)
  • Member since
    August 2018
  • 14 posts
Posted by PhilBurton on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 11:12 PM
Replying to all, I don't have a Zinio folder under My Documents, nor is there an entry for downloads in my browser (Firefox), yet the downloaded issue of April Trains is open in a tab in my browser. I'm not sure exactly what Zinio is trying to accomplish here, but it doesn't make me want to subscribe to any of their magazines. Phil
  • Member since
    June 2003
  • From: South Central,Ks
  • 7,170 posts
Posted by samfp1943 on Sunday, February 28, 2021 11:49 AM

Interesting: I got a similar e-mail & [download/] from the Zinio Cmpany at about the same time  Mr. Burton did (?).  It was un sollicited'.  Since I am a subscriber to a couple of Kalmbach mags; I looked, but I prefer the 'hard' copies. 

Which probably identifies me as an Old Geezer?Sigh

Deleted it, and forgot abut it.Whistling

 

 


 

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 9,728 posts
Posted by Flintlock76 on Sunday, February 28, 2021 1:34 PM

samfp1943
I looked, but I prefer the 'hard' copies. 

Me too Sam!  I'm not taking the computer in the bathroom!  

Accidents happen ya know!  Embarrassed

Wayne

  • Member since
    January 2019
  • 1,686 posts
Posted by Erik_Mag on Sunday, February 28, 2021 6:18 PM

I've used Zinio in conjunction with a subscription to Sky&Telescope, which now uses another provider. Main advantage was being able to read the magazine up to about two weeks before receiving the hard copy. IIRC, the only files that would be saved are image files that would end up in the browser cache as the magazine is shown as a series of page views. I prefer the hard copy as the resolution is better and a magazine is easier to hold than a computer.

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Sunday, February 28, 2021 7:03 PM

I appreciate that Kalmbach is providing this for us for free.  I like the paper version, but I also like the online version.  It's easy to search, and since I read it on a large screen laptop, I can zoom in on the pictures quite a bit.

I, too, could not find the download on my computer.  It is not in the "downloads" folder, so I did a search of the entire PC.  It's not there.

Next, I checked the support pages.  It looks like their support section seems to say you have to download and install a "Zinio reader".  That will allow you to store downloads in the library to read offline.

Of course, I'm an old person who can't even turn a computer on, so I could be completely wrong.

Regardless, I like the online and the paper both.

York1 John       

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, February 28, 2021 7:33 PM

Flintlock76
 
samfp1943
I looked, but I prefer the 'hard' copies.  

Me too Sam!  I'm not taking the computer in the bathroom!  

Accidents happen ya know!  Embarrassed

Wayne

Smart phones to the Loo?

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Sunday, February 28, 2021 9:10 PM

If anyone's interested, I downloaded the Zinio Reader to my laptop.  I then downloaded the magazine.

It downloaded to my computer, and I could read it offline.  I assume I will be able to keep all the issues I download.

It looks like the magazine download is stored in a Reader program file.  I think you probably cannot access that download without the Reader installed.  It is not stored as a PDF.

York1 John       

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy