Advice sought

sgreid101

Hi all,

I have this problem, that I would like some advice about the best way to approach it:

I have "myserver/CodeGenerator.php" which creates a random number and displays it and adds it to mySQL database.

I want to want to be able to provide code that I give to various webmasters to include on their webpages that retrieves this random number.

My problem is this:
Using include(myserveraddress/CodeGenerator.php) would allow users to just hit refresh on their browser and a new code would be displayed. I only want the user to see the code once and if refreshed the same code should appear.

I presume that I can't use start_session() in CodeGenerator.php because it has to be integrated into the Webmasters page and that doesnt allow html code before hand.

I'm sure that there is a standard way of doing this but I don't know what it is.

Any help appreciated.

HalfaBee

How about storing the IP addr along with the random number and a timestamp.
This should be able then to supply the same rand number if the IP addr matches and the timestamp is close.

Are you sending the random number as an image or text?

It could have problems with AOL, but who gives a toss.

sgreid101

Yes I guess that's a very good idea. Thanks.

I guess that's the only way to ensure the user gets the same number, other than getting the webmaster to create a unique ID of some sort for each user and passing it into my integration code I supply.

I'm sending it as text, will that cause a problem with AOL?

HalfaBee

No, AOL users are not on static IP's.
On normal dialup/broadband you get an IP for the total connection time, on AOL you get all sorts of IP's over the same connection.

sgreid101

That's a bit crazy - but then again it's AOL

HalfaBee

I don't think they really got past the BBS days. sigh