LISTING FILES WITH DIRECT LINKS IN PLONE

In Plone, items of content type File are represented as links to separate web pages, and only on that separate page can a user find a link to download the actual file. This, of course, is somewhat insane, but I got the solution from the very helpful joelburton on the #plone IRC channel:

1. In the ZMI, go to portal_properties -> site_properties
2. In the typesUseViewActionInListings box, remove the file listing

Simple once you know it, but seemingly impossible to find without intimate knowledge of the system.