PHP and upload forms

gwh

Hi everyone,

I was just talking to my web host about the limit they put on the size of files uploaded to their site via http. I was saying that I wanted to build a form using php that would enable my clients to upload very large graphic files (similar to the functionality that print shops sometimes offer on their sites where large files are uploaded to their server). I was told that since the forms would have to use http, that I'd still be subject to the upload limit of relatively small sizes.

I guess my question is since these print shops offer such functionality using php, can you tell me whether there's something in the php script that enables these large files to be uploaded to their servers or would it simply be that they're with a host that allows large uploads?

Appreciate any input.

etully

Dedicated servers are getting cheaper and cheaper. Most of my clients (including two print shops) are on dedicated servers - so the hosting company doesn't care what we do with the server so the max-file-size limit is set very high. Your hosting company is right, though, the limits of HTTP will trump whatever you set in PHP anyway.

One thing you could do (at your current hosting location no matter what their limits are) is to put a Java based FTP client on your site. This way, you get around your hosting company's PHP limit and you bypass the limits of HTTP as well. Unfortunately, not everyone has Java installed and connected to their web browser.

gwh

Thanks for the reply,

The java based ftp client sounds good but I'm a bit reluctant to go this way since, as you say, not everyone has Java installed.

You were saying that most print shops have dedicated servers, so if they use this upload functionality would they be using the java ftp client to make it all happen, or could they possibly have a different set up that makes it work, bypassing the java client? I'm just trying to find out the best way to go, a set up that most clients would be able to use, ie. without the problems of lack of software installed.

Appreciate any further support offered.

etully

Since they have dedicated servers, they can do it any way they want. Since my print shop clients allow uploads that the http protocol can reliably handle, they do not use the Java client solutions. Since your PHP caps are unusually low, you might have to use the Java client which, of course, has no cap.