Multiple file download approach

[swoolf]

Hi -

I'm an intermediate-level developer about to undertake my largest-scale project to date. It's an asset management tool for an international brand.

I'm looking for some feedback and ideas to solve a functionality requirement; the site presents a list of assets to the viewer from a database. A checkbox next to each asset allows the user to select the ones they want, and then click a download button to initiate the file transfer.

I'd like to hear how some of the more experienced developers among you would approach the issue of bundling multiple files into a download. These files will be several MB each, so if a user chooses 20 or 30, you can imagine it becomes rather cumbersome to deal with.

Or if you feel this functionality itself is flawed on some level and will be difficult to solve under all circumstances, how would you change it?

Many thanks.

[zapa]

Zip File Functions (Read Only Access)
Zlib Compression Functions

http://www.phpconcept.net/pclzip/index.en.php?PHPSESSID=0ec74e8f9f0b74b9130fdcadb58a3bd6

what if you somehow find what user selects and zip them files and then send zip to user? then delete zip file.

[swoolf]

Yes, that's what I'm planning on doing. I wanted to see if anyone out there has actually built a similar system and can advise on the potential pitfalls. Or perhaps has a better idea.

Thanks for the link, btw.