How to use PHP to start a DOWNLOAD (like you do in the PHP Freaks Code Library)

[andrechance]

I would like to use a PHP script to initiate a file DOWNLOAD (download, not upload.)

 

My motivation is to hide the full path names from the users -- who might be tempted to figure out the file naming convention and type those names directly in their browsers, instead of going through the regular website pages (which check for authentication.)

 

Anyway, I noticed that the PHP Freaks Code Library pages have exactly such a thing: a Download button.

 

For example, http://www.phpfreaks.com/quickcode/Page-Counter/73.php offers a Download button.  I looked at the source file, and saw that it contains:

 

<form method="post" action="/quickcode.php">

<input type="hidden" name="cmd" value="doDownload" />

<input type="hidden" name="quickcode_id" value="73" />

Choose Type:

<select name="type"><option value="tar">Linux (Tarball)</option><option value="zip">Windows (Zip File)</option>

</select>

<input type="submit" value="Download" onclick="if ( !window.confirm( 'By downloading this file, you accept it at your own risk. PHPFreaks does not guarantee this code or what it will do to your system!' ) ) { return false; };" />

 

</form>

 

 

It looks like the "quickcode.php" script works together with the above form to initiate a file download...

 

What does such a script consist of?  Thanks!!

[andrechance]

BTW, any other suggestion on how to hide file names is welcome!

 

But, it seems to me, letting PHP manage the downloads (instead of offering HTML links that could be read) is a way to take care of that.

 

Thanks in advance!

[AndyB]

http://www.phpfreaks.com/forums/index.php/topic,148095.0/topicseen.html

 

That should help.

[fert]

http://www.phpfreaks.com/forums/index.php/topic,95433.0.html