Counting number of people online

[BIOSTALL]

Hey,

What i want to do is to create a script that counts the number of people viewing the site at any one time. Also, i have to do it using a textfile.

Now the easy bit is detecting when someone logs on to the site, just add one to the textfiles contents. The tricky bit is how to tell if a user logs out or closes the window and then subtract one from the textfile.

Any help on telling me how to tell if someone stops viewing the site would be great.

Thanks in advance

BIOSTALL

[onion2k]

Originally posted by BIOSTALL
The tricky bit is how to tell if a user logs out or closes the window and then subtract one from the textfile.

You can tell if someone logs out easily enough just by having the logout script deincrement the number of users. Checking if they've closed the window is a lot more difficult though. Practically impossible in fact. I might disconnect from the internet before closing the window for example, so any code you might want to run would never get to your webserver. Instead, keep a check of the time anyone clicks a link on the site, and if someone hasn't done anything for 15 minutes or so assume they're logged out.

It'll be tricky to implement without a database though..

[BIOSTALL]

Thanks for that 🙂 I would do it with a database but the host of my webserver only enables me to have 1 database and i've used that for my guestbook. My uncle owns the server so i'll have to have a word with him, bribe him with a good xmas pressie :p

Thanks for your help.

BIOSTALL

[onion2k]

Just add another table to the guestbook database..

[BIOSTALL]

HAHAHA!! Gud idea :p God, i feel so dumb :bemused: lol

Thanks,

BIOSTALL