The Repository is about the only module in DNN that implements content revisioning.  It does this by inserting a unique identifer string in the middle of every filename (so multiple versions of the same file can be added and reside within the same "Repository" file folder).

I believe (someone correct me if I'm off the mark) the javascript is required in order to execute a postback to initiate a file serve operation that (1) determines which version of the file is the "current" version, and (2) serves the file with the original filename (the name before the file was added to the Repository) rather than the actual filename (with the unique identifier included in the middle).

Example:
If you upload three copies of a file "TEST.TXT" to the Repository, you'll end up with something similar to the following inside the "Repository" folder:

  TEST.0b125c4d-3c09-4041-be6b-948a1407d145.TXT
  TEST.7bad94b5-dc41-432e-93d2-a42da404b6db.TXT
  TEST.c9e63f4c-bcd2-4c25-8287-61043aa715ee.TXT
 
You have to initiate a download with the help of the Repository module in order to know which copy is the "current" copy and to serve up the file with a filename "TEST.TXT".  A direct link to the file would have to include the unique identifier and I doubt anyone wants to deal with that.

-mamlin

omg, I desperatly need to know how to do that, so I can send out direct download links in an email. I read the other post, and I looked at my Repository. I only see one upload option for me. It just says "file" and browse to find the file on my system to upload. Do I need to set up a new Repository? I will keep looking, but more hints would help me. TIA!

When I replace [file] with [urlcontrolfile] in the template form.html, I get an error -- Value cannot be null. Parameter name: input -- when I try to use the module to upl;oad a file. The form does not load correctly.