Looking for an alternative to http_referer

azshowdotcom

This question may have been asked a million times, but I am on a bit of a time crunch and don't have time to search through the past posts.

I use a php script that has http_referer command to verify if a customer has paid for products I sell through ClickBank.

I have recently found out that Microsoft and Netscape acknowledge that some versions of their Browsers: IE 5+ and Netscape 6 and 7 have a difficult time recognizing this command. Opera also has a tough time sometimes as well. If the browser does not accept the http_referer, they are simply redirected to the page I assign as the redirect page.

Is there an alternative way to check where a visitor comes from?

Thanks everyone,

Dennis

sarah

Did you ever find a solution to this issue...I'm having a heck of a time with it as well.

ednark

there is a more complex solution to this problem.

simply use sessions, php has access to the item $SERVER['HTTP_REFERRER'] which isn't alway set... so make your own manual variable you update that lives in $SESSION

put something in the users session at the end of every page

page_x.php

<?php #START OF FILE
  # stuff
  # stuff
  # END OF FILE
  $_SESSION['came_from'] = $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
?>

and the other pages check to see where they came from

page_y.php

<?php #START OF FILE
  # only accepts ppl that came from page_x
  if ( !isset($_SESSION['came_from']) || $_SESSION['came_from']!='page_x.php' ) {
     # redirect user
  }
  # stuff
  # stuff
  # END OF FILE
  $_SESSION['came_from'] = $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'];
?>

azshowdotcom

I have found a solution - a programmer lol.

First of all, I want to thank ednark for taking the time to detail the code he wrote in his post.

To be honest, after I asked my question I got some ideas that I put together into a product that I am now successfully selling. The php programming was so above my head, I had it programmed for me.

I don't want to SPAM the board so I won't go into great detail of the product. My programmer is always looking for php and encryption work. If you want me to hook you up with him, just stop by my contact page and shoot me an email: azshow.com/contact.html His work is awesome and quick and inexpensive.

Good luck all,

Dennis