file download script/sessions: help

Anon

Trying to write a script that will force a download in the header. Using code found here:

$filesize = filesize("$fullpath");
Header("Content-Length: $filesize");
Header("Content-type: application/download");
Header("Content-Disposition-type: attachment");
Header("Content-Disposition: filename=$filename");
Header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary");
$fp = fopen("$filename","rb");
$result = fpassthru($fp);
exit;

What is strange about this is that this code does work (the save file dialog pops up, etc..), as long as a session isn't in progress.

It breaks when sessions_start() is called -- IE5.5 freaks out and says "Unable to find internet site". Which is tragic, because I need to use sessions for this job.

Has anyone else run into this issue? Is this an IE issue, and is there a work-around?

Anon

you don't have to set all that other jazz in the header... i've never even seen application/download before... is that something for file download programs or something?

i just have a list of extensions and headers, and just set Content-type: and then do the fpassthru and it works fine all any browser i have ever tried (ie, netscape, opera, mozzila...)

if you don't want to set the content-type correctly, you could just use application/unknown

i have many sites that do downloads this way with sessions, so i don't know what the problem with your code is. if you do a session_register("filename") on the referring page and filename wasn't set on it, that is your problem.

mike

Anon

Thanks for the response, mike. I'm not sure what's going on with the sessions, either.
It's driving me nuts.

I've made changes to the header as you suggested, to no avail.

The session that i'm attempting to start -- which breaks this page -- has nothing to do with the file that's being downloaded. It merely makes sure that the user is authenticated.

not sure how to proceed from here. Could you possibly post a code sample of headers that work? thanks
adam

gzimmer

place this before your session_start, and it will work!

session_cache_limiter("private");

Georg

Anon

You are a life saver. I've had this problem with 6.0 for weeks and been trying to figure it out. It was actually the fact that it had an open session that stopped IE 6 from doing the download!!!!

Used that command:
session_cache_limiter("private");

And now it works!

James

Anon

Ha! Great. I was hoping I could be of help to somebody. It took me to find that bit of information. You would not believe. Well, maybe you would!

Georg

Anon

Georg,

Your fix works like a charm. Thanks a million -- you saved me a lot of grief!!!

-Rich