Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Downloading Large Files

1 INTRODUCTION 

eLibrary files can be zipped and downloaded or converted to a PDF file for an accession number. If a 

zipped file exceeds 200 megabytes (MB), an offline download process will be initiated to reduce the load 

on the system. When using the Generate PDF & Download function there is no off-line download 

process, though PDFs generated by this function may not exceed 250 MB. In the General Search Results 

and File List screens, individual files larger than 10 MB are indicated with an asterisk * after the file 

name.

There are three ways to download a file in eLibrary: 

• Direct download by clicking the file name (General Search Results and File List)

• Zip and Download (General Search Results and File List)

• Generate PDF and Download

See eLibrary Help for standard instructions on downloading using any of these methods. This document 

explains how eLibrary performs these functions with large files and file sets. 

2 DOWNLOADING LARGE FILES – SELECTING THE FILE NAME 

You may download a single file instantly by selecting the file name in the Search Results screen. 

However, for files larger than 200 MB, selecting the file name will trigger the Offline Download process.

3 DOWNLOADING LARGE FILES – USING THE + ICON 

From the General Search Results and File List pages, you may select multiple documents to add to a 

zipped folder, independent of accession number, by selecting the green + to the left of the file name.

Once all files are selected, select the zip folder icon above the table to review its content and download 

the zipped file.

However, as with direct download, if the zipped folder size exceeds 200 MB, the Offline Download 

process will be triggered.
4 GENERATE PDF AND DOWNLOAD LARGE FILES 

With Generate PDF & Download, PDFs generated may not exceed 250 MB in size. If a user attempts to 

generate a PDF in excess of 250 MB, then a PDF will be generated noting that the maximum size has 

been exceeded; there will be no other content in the PDF. Users should utilize the Zip and Download 

function in this instance instead. Below that 250 MB maximum there is no difference between 

downloading large files and smaller files (i.e. there is no off-line download process). However, be aware 

that the process may take considerably longer to complete for larger files. 

As the pop-up message states, “You may close this pop-up at any time. Closing this pop-up will not stop 

your download. When your file is ready, your file will appear at the bottom left corner of your browser."

5 LARGE FILES VS. LARGE FORMAT (OVERSIZED) FILES 

Note that large format files, indicated with a purple L icon in search results, refer to the printed size 

of a document, and not the file’s size in MB. Large files are defined as

Oversized engineering drawings or maps that are pertinent/supplemental materials for 

hydro filings. When received, a separate accession number is assigned to the large 

formats, and they are scanned separately from the 8 1⁄2 x 11 pages, and recombined prior 

to publication on FERC Online eLibrary...

While these documents are often called “large”, they can be downloaded according to the same file 

data size requirements and security restrictions as other documents in eLibrary.

6 LARGE FILE DOWNLOADS AND SECURITY 

eLibrary only allows privileged files to be downloaded by authorized persons. The same security 

protocols apply to large files as all others; namely, users who are not signed in with the appropriate 

security permissions not be able to download or access non-public documents. Users who select a 

privileged file who are not signed in will be prompted to sign in. However, if a user does not sign in, 

they will receive an Access Denied message.