Force header to download file

[billckr]

Hi all,

 

I've created a document system that allows our company to upload files and create documents for internal use. I've completed the system except for the download system. When a user uploads a physical file say a .xls it's uploads outside of the home dir so it's not accessible via the web to anyone.

 

I'm trying to figure out the standard method for creating a download link for such a file. what it's the most common method for this? How can I cause the header or browser to call and then dowload the said file?

 

Thanks for any help.

 

 

 

 

[Wildbug]

See the last example on the header() page.

<?php
// We'll be outputting a PDF
header('Content-type: application/pdf');

// It will be called downloaded.pdf
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="downloaded.pdf"');

// The PDF source is in original.pdf
readfile('original.pdf');
?> 

[Daniel0]

From the FAQ/Code Snippet Repository: http://www.phpfreaks.com/forums/index.php/topic,95433.0.html

[billckr]

Thank you very much for both answers.

 

While neither one would work 100% for me, I used to 2 examples and this is what is working for me now.

 

 

// force to download a file

$file = pathto/content/$download/$thefile";

header("Pragma: public");
header("Expires: 0");
header("Cache-Control: must-revalidate, post-check=0, pre-check=0");

header("Content-Type: application/force-download");
header( "Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=".basename($file));

header( "Content-Description: File Transfer");
@readfile($file);

 

Thank you again!