php help: allow member once-per-day access

[mm559]

Been searching everywhere and I can't find the solution, but I know it must be out there...

 

I am looking for a function that will allow members to print/view items on my site, but only once per day. In other words, certain members-only content is available to view/print, but I want to limit 'viewability/printability' to once per day per member. Once an item is viewed, it will not be available again to that member until the next day.

 

Does anyone know how to accomplish this?

 

Thanks!

[gizmola]

There's many ways to do it.  One very standard approach would be to keep a database table that has a simple structure like: 

 

asset

userid

timestamp

 

When someone attempts to access an asset, you first do a query from the table to see if there is a row that exists for today.  Assuming a mysql database table, this is a very simple query that uses mysql's date functions for comparison.

 

Once you determine that they haven't looked at the asset today, you let them see it, and call a routine to insert a row for that asset in the database.

 

 

[mm559]

Cool, thanks! That sounds like the solution I need... unfortunatly I am pretty new to php and don't exactly know how to do what you've said. Can you tell me where to find more info, or provide a little more detail? Thanks!

[gizmola]

You probably want to start by creating the mysql table. 

 

Then you can simply read the php manual on how to do an insert statement and select.

 

http://us2.php.net/manual/en/mysqli.query.php