Topic awaiting preservation: Presenting a file for download without creating the file? (Page 1 of 1)

Anyone know if its possble to I guess have a chunk of text, and present this as a file to download - without actually creating the file on the server.

Thanks

Ya got me there. If I understand what you're saying, I imagine that it might not be possible. What you're basically trying to do is download a dynamically created file directly to the user's system, right? Even if it is possible, sounds like a very abusable thing to do. How does the user know you're not going to dynamically create a self-executing virus? It's hard enough to trust downloads as it is.

Or maybe I'm just being paranoid. Or maybe I don't understand what you're trying to do.

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Suho: www.liminality.org | Cell 270 | Sig Rotator | the Fellowship of Sup

Ah ok, all it is is for my website statistics. I show the graphs and all that and want to offer them the ability to download the csv file.

I have the code and everything done already, and can put all the text into a file. I guess the question is if its possible to offer the csv data for download (they still have to press "Accept") the same way as when you offer file in headers etc. I mean i can just create the file, let them download then delete it - but if i can do it this way it saves that step.

Hmmm... OK, I've never tried anything like this, but I'm wondering if the answer isn't something simple. For example, could you create a link to the csv file and then just have people save that using the context menu (i.e., right-click for PC users)? I don't see why that wouldn't work, as you long as you can provide a link to the dynamic content.

Basically, if you can send the info to the client, then it is downloadable by default.

Or am I overlooking something?

___________________________
Suho: www.liminality.org | Cell 270 | Sig Rotator | the Fellowship of Sup

He's looking to offer the csv file without actually having the csv file on the server - grab the data, create the file, but save it only on the client machine and not on the server.

Unfortunately I have no knowledge of what would be involved, so can't help.

No worries, thanks all - its easy enough to do it the other, just makes more interesting to look at doing something special! :P

Yes it is definitely possible to send text to the client without first creating it as a file on the server. I assume you are creating the data using a server side program in Perl or PHP.

I have done this several times in Perl. The easiest way to do it with Perl is to use the CGI module. I assume there is a similar module in PHP.

You can, of course, do this from any server side program (Perl, C, C++, Shell script, PHP, etc.) by first generating the headers and sending them to standard out and then sending your (formatted or unformatted) text to standard out. The server will take this output from the program and send it to the client.

People tend to run into problems when they mistakes in the headers. The server creates no output for that. I think you can check your error logs to find out what the problem is. Once you get the header right, the rest is easy.

.



-- not necessarily stoned... just beautiful.

Here's the skinny:

You have a regular php file, which happens to output whatever you want to save.
Additionally, it set's some header() directives which tell the browser that this is a) a file to store. Don't display, just offer the save as dialog and b) the suggested filename.

Now, you'll probably find the headers at php->header() - it's something containing the word 'attachment'...

ah, found it (sligthly commented by me)

<?php
// We'll be outputting a PDF
header('Content-type: application/pdf'); 
//application/octet-stream would be good if you have more or less unspecified data, and don't want the browser to handle it 

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

// The PDF source is in original.pdf - or print whatever you want.
readfile('original.pdf');
?>

so long,

->Tyberius Prime

Ah thanks for that, im pretty silly i should have looked at the code i did recently for a normal file download module which does a simliar thing, perhaps instead of reading the file I can just use my text!! Will give it a go and let you know how it turns out.

Thanks

Ah... I get it now. Hope everything works out.

And in passing... TP: when did you start saying things like "the skinny"?

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Suho: www.liminality.org | Cell 270 | Sig Rotator | the Fellowship of Sup

uh... I have no idea. Think the Doc taught me that particular colloquial phrase.
Or was it my host mother?

Who knows what strange pieces of information float around in my head.
Is it a phrase that's moved on to be 'not cool' ;-)?

Heh i didn't really notice till it was pointed out - to be honest i dont think i've seen it used anywhere before :P

I don't think it would be considered 'not cool' , maybe just entice people into getting confused as to what it really means =/