[Resolved] Linking uploaded files in a MySQL database

jasonmills58

Ok, so I did my search and I couldn't come up with what i was looking for. I can handle the uploading of files, but I have an admin who is uploading files for lots of different clients, sometimes with the same or similar file names. What I need is a way to link those file names with the "Report Names" in the MySQL database, so I can just run everything off that. When the end-user logs on to view and ultimately download their reports, I need them to only see their reports, and report names, and not be worried about the file name.

For instance, would I just append the "Report Name" to the filename.pdf while its being stored, and then separate them on retrieval?

Does that make sense? I'm sure this is done ten times a day. Thanks for the help!

cheers!
Jason

leatherback

Hi,

THis is what I do for an upload where I can expect similar filenames, mulitple files of same user and option to show users the old filename:
(In thi scase abstracts for an symposium)

$time = time();

$old_name  = $_FILES[file][name];
$file_name = $_FILES[file][tmp_name];
$file_size = $_FILES[file][size];
$justfile = $_SESSION[name].$_SESSION[user_extra]."_".$time."_".$_FILES[file][name];
$newfile   = $absolute_path.'/'.$justfile;

So it basically creates a string of userdetails, current time, oldfilename and uses that to store the file.
I then place that into the database with abstracts, since they have to fill out some other details of the abstract to (authors, title, keywords). Then you can just get the file, and slite the string into insertdate and oldname.

You could even get the files without storing the filename, by searching for the username in the directory.

jasonmills58

oh, ok. And the $_FILES array is automatically populated during the upload, right? Will that still work if I'm uploading several files at the same time? ie - 4 file upload fields, and one submit button.

leatherback

Hey Jason,

Not sure!
😃

Use print_r($_FILES); to see what is in the array. (Look at the source of your page, it will give a nicely layed out print-out o fthe array).
That will probably tell you straight away what to adapt for multiple files (IF you can even do that ..?)

jasonmills58

thanks a bunch leatherback. you're swell. 😃