how to disable downloading files

alexks

Hello,

I would like to know how to disable downloading files from a website or disabling it let say after a month that file has been uploaded.

Thanks in advance.

leatherback

well... that all depends on how you have organized the file administration.

if you hgave stored all the download info in a database, and you use this to retrieve data from a hidden sectiomn of your server, you can use the [man]date[/man] functions to create a date a month after the upload date, and then test wether the current date is after or before the last download date

bradgrafelman

If you have them in a database, you could simply tell the database to only show files uploaded within the past 30 days.

On the MySQL manual page for Date and Time Functions, the very first example query does this for you:

Here is an example that uses date functions. The following query selects all rows with a date_col value from within the last 30 days:
mysql> SELECT something FROM tbl_name
    -> WHERE DATE_SUB(CURDATE(),INTERVAL 30 DAY) <= date_col;
Note that the query also selects rows with dates that lie in the future.

MarkR

One way of disabling downloading a file is to remove it from the server - this can be done easily by using the time stamp on the file (if it's been set correctly, which it usually is).

For example, you might remove files a month old in the current working directory with:

find . -mtime +30 | xargs rm

NB: The above code is not certified for production use; ensure that it deletes only files you want deleting before running it anywhere.

Mark

alexks

Thanks a lot for responses. What if I want to disable downloading a logo or a picture from a website. Also, how can I put a file in a database?

Thanks in advance?

leatherback

You cannot disable downloading a picture/logo from a website, if you show it in a browser, it can be downloaded.

Use e.g., file() to read the file in a variable, and insert it into the database. Depends a little on what type of file you want to store (e.g., text or binary/image)

alexks

Usually, I insert file paths to database, and files are put in a folder. Is there any advantages of inserting files directly into database?

bradgrafelman

Personally, I wouldn't want to tie up my DB with large amounts of data like that... I would probably go the route of just using file paths in the DB and storing the files in a folder that has an .htaccess file to block all access to it.

scrupul0us

you could always embed the logo in flash or shockwave to add another layer of "protection" against someone from just taking the image and reusing it... at least with flash or shockwave u can brand your work a little easier than just an img

alexks

how can I make .htaccess to block all accesses to those files?
How can I embed logo in flash or shosckwave?

Thanks.

bradgrafelman

alexks wrote:
how can I make .htaccess to block all accesses to those files?

Order allow,deny
Deny from all