How do I make a webpage expire???????

[Dave2222]

Hello,
Thanks for reading my question! I know nothing about PHP, SQL or Java script. After looking at books in 'Borders' I know I should'nt try to create this myself.
Simply, I have 2 products for sale on my website. Customers order them via Paypal. Paypal gives you the option of sending the customer to a URL if the transaction was sucessful. I've set up a page using Pagebuilder as a 'conformation of order' page. On this page will be passwords so they can download/access an 'e-report'. How do I make this conformation page inaccessable to anyone who just puts it's URL in their browser line & hits go? I want it only to open when accessed from my Paypal account.

If anyone can create a script to do this where I just have to put in my conformation page URL & maybe some Paypal info if required (I don't know what info) then copy it to the page using pagebuilders 'insert forms & code' I'd be very grateful.
I think thousands of other budding web business men & women would love you! Think of the fame...., the women.....(or men).....etc,etc!

Thankyou!!!
Dave

[Sphynx]

You could maybe use HTTP_REFERER to check for a specific referer such as...

if (isset($HTTP_REFERER)) {
if ($HTTP_REFERER == "whateverURL") {
Display Your Page;
} else {
header ("Location: AnotherURLHere); /Send'em elswhere/ }
}else {
header ("Location: AnotherURLHere); /Send'em elsewhere/
}

err....it's early, does that look right?

[Dave2222]

Hello Sphynx!
It didn't work, just showed as text on the web page. Can you try again? Did I put the wrong info in?

I entered it like this:
if (isset($HTTP_REFERER)) { if ($HTTP_REFERER == "https://www.paypal.com") { Display Your Page; }
else {
header ("Location: http://www.compudecintl.com); /Send'em elswhere/ }
}else {
header ("Location: http://www.compu-dec-intl.com); /Send'em elsewhere/ }

Thanks!
Dave2222

[Sphynx]

Do you mean that the entire code between the <?php ... ?> tags is being displayed on the page? If so then it's not being interpreted as PHP for some reason.

Try this...

<?php
if (isset($HTTP_REFERER)) {
if ($HTTP_REFERER == "https://www.paypal.com") {
echo "REFERRED FROM PAYPAL - VALID";
}else {
echo "BLAH";
}
}
else {
echo "BLAH";
}
?>

[Sphynx]

Dangit how can i format my posts with indents? :p

[Dave2222]

Hi,
I think it worked the first time, just once per each order page. Could open it everytime afterwards. Deleted my cookies & internet files but didn't make any difference. My brother was able to view them from his computer.
As mentioned above, I know nothing about PHP etc. I used the page builder 'insert foms or HTML' command to insert it in each orderform page.
I inserted it 'as is' (above)- did not add any URL or anything. Am I supposed to open any PHP daterbase or anything for this to work?
Cheers
Dave.

[Sphynx]

ack 🙂

Ok lemme describe this best I can.

All PHP scripts must reside withing the <?php...?> tags. These tags tell the server to begin parsing PHP...
<?php

The first line checks to see if the built-in variable HTTP_REFERER has been set...

if (isset($HTTP_REFERER)) {

If that variable does indeed have a value, then next we check to see if that value is one gained from clicking your link at paypal...
if ($HTTP_REFERER == "https://www.paypal.com") {

If the user was referred from paypal, then they are valid. I put an echo here, but this is where you would display other stuff. You can echo an entire form, or an entire page.
echo "REFERRED FROM PAYPAL - VALID";
}else {

The line below is executed if HTTP_REFERER is set, but they didn't come from Paypal by clicking your link....
header ("Location: http://www.compudecintl.com); }
}

The lines below execute if there is no REFERER value set...
else {
header ("Location: http://www.compudecintl.com);
}
?>

I'm thinking I'm missing some part of the big picture here. Are you trying to add this code to an existing page? If so, it is already a .php file or is it .html?

It works for me by simply creating a new text file, typing it in, and naming the file something like testreferer.php, and pointing my browser toward it.

I'm not saying this is the best or only way to do this, but it's just the idea that sprang to mind 🙂 I'm sure some of the more expert members here could maybe offer a better solution.

Anyway... here's the code you need all put back together...

<?php
if (isset($HTTP_REFERER)) {
if ($HTTP_REFERER == "https://www.paypal.com") {
echo "REFERRED FROM PAYPAL - VALID";
}else {
header ("Location: http://www.compudecintl.com); }
}
else {
header ("Location: http://www.compudecintl.com);
}
?>

[jnuneznyc]

Ok... I think what the ultimate goal here is that Dave would like to secure a page. The redirection script works but the problem is that the page can still be bookmarked and called up at any time.

My suggestion is to set a session variable before redirecting to PayPal.

CODE:
$HTTP_SESSION_VARS["paypal_Confirm"] = "Start";
header('location: {The PayPal Link Goes Here}');
exit;

Then have Paypal return to a page that will check the $HTTP_Referer and session variable. Set the session variable to a second status and redirect to the proper page.

CODE:
if($HTTP_Referer == "http://www.paypal..."){
if(isset($HTTP_SESSION_VARS["paypal_Confirm"] ) && $HTTP_SESSION_VARS["paypal_Confirm"] == "Start"){
$HTTP_SESSION_VARS["paypal_Confirm"] = "Complete"
header('location: {Successful link goes here}');
} else {
header('location: {Warning link goes here}');
}
} else {
header('location: {'location: {Error link goes here}');
exit;
}

On the final page set a cache refresh so it won't remain in cache for long and remove the session variable.

CODE:
if(isset($HTTP_SESSION_VARS["paypal_Confirm"] ) ){
if($HTTP_SESSION_VARS["paypal_Confirm"] == "Complete"){
unset($HTTP_SESSION_VARS["paypal_Confirm"]);
} else {
header('location: {'location: {Error link goes here}');
exit;
}
} else {
header('location: {'location: {Error link goes here}');
exit;
}

....the rest of the code goes here....

This will prevent bookmarked links and verify that the user is coming back from PayPal.

There are other ways to do this. A quick search at http://www.sourceforge.net revealed a few projects for PayPal and PHP called...
PHPAYPAL which requires a MySQL Database and Apache.

oops... the rest seem to be dead in the water (No releases yet and no recent updates)