[RESOLVED] Downloading via PHP problem -- Please help me

[computerzworld]

Hello,
I am using PHP in order to download file from server. But it doesn't download fully. The file size is around 3-4 MB but it downloads 750kb only if I download using PHP function that I used for force downloading file. But if I download it using direct link then it downloads fully. What should be the problem according to you? Here is the download code that I am using.

function forcedownload($file)
{
	$path = 'downloads/'.basename($file);
	if(!file_exists($path))
	{
		echo "File Not Found";
	}
	else
	{
		//do download
		header("Pragma: public");
		header("Expires: 0");
		header("Cache-Control: must-revalidate, post-check=0, pre-check=0");
		header("Cache-Control: private",false);
		header("Content-type: application/force-download");
		header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=\"".basename($file)."\";" );
		header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary");
		header("Content-Length: ".filesize($file));
		readfile("$file");
		exit();
	}
}

I don't know what should be the problem behind this. Please help me. Thanks in advance.

[sfullman]

try removing

		header("Content-Length: ".filesize($file));

and see if you get any different result. Then to further troubleshoot, see if you can isolate the error; start with a file that is less than 750kb (say 500kb), then test with a file that is larger, until you determine if the size is the problem.

If you have a trusted friend, see if they can get it on their system on a different computer/OS/IP address to see if your computer is the problem.

And, of course, if you have developed any other coding that DOES successfully download a 3-4MB file, try starting with it and replace with this file until you locate the problem.

Finally, if you have access to phpMyAdmin, their data dumps are 100% reliable from my experience, so I suggest you take a look a the headers they output in their coding - perhaps some of your headers are unnecessary (I'm subscribing to the thread so I can learn this too).

Samuel

[computerzworld]

Thanks for the reply...
I 've tried removing content-length from the code but it didn't work. I will be checking with the other options that you have given. Thanks once again.

[computerzworld]

Problem solved.. Actually there was some problem in download function that I was using previously..
Here is the code which solved my problem which I got from php.net

<?php
// downloading a file
$filename = $_GET['path'];

// fix for IE catching or PHP bug issue
header("Pragma: public");
header("Expires: 0"); // set expiration time
header("Cache-Control: must-revalidate, post-check=0, pre-check=0");
// browser must download file from server instead of cache

// force download dialog
header("Content-Type: application/force-download");
header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");
header("Content-Type: application/download");

// use the Content-Disposition header to supply a recommended filename and
// force the browser to display the save dialog.
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=".basename($filename).";");

/*
The Content-transfer-encoding header should be binary, since the file will be read
directly from the disk and the raw bytes passed to the downloading computer.
The Content-length header is useful to set for downloads. The browser will be able to
show a progress meter as a file downloads. The content-lenght can be determines by
filesize function returns the size of a file.
*/
header("Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary");
header("Content-Length: ".filesize($filename));

@readfile($filename);
exit(0);
?>

HTH..Thanks.

[bradgrafelman]

Side note. This:

header("Content-Type: application/force-download");
header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");
header("Content-Type: application/download");

has the exact effect same as this:

header("Content-Type: application/force-download");

since [man]header/man won't replace previous headers set by default.

[NogDog]

Actually, I believe it has the inverse effect: only the last header set of a given type will be sent unless you pass FALSE as the 2nd, optional parameter, in which case it does not replace the preceding header but instead sends both.

[bradgrafelman]

Oops, skimmed over it - you're right. Either way, the other two calls are superfluous. :p