File Downloads using HTTP headers

[Anon]

i'm trying to allow clients to download pdf's using the header() function. i can get it to work with the plain/text mime type, but not pdf's.

header("Content-type: application/pdf");
header("Content-disposition: attachment; filename=$file");
header("Content-length: $size");

readfile ($file);

lets me download the file name, but not its content. file length is always zero. i've tried adding "AddType application/pdf .pdf" to httpd.conf, but still no luck.

i'm sure this is a simple issue. but can anyone help me out?

[Anon]

in the php annotated manual under readfile:

"I just wanted to save you from the hours I spent searching the reason why
IE WIN refused to display a PDF document correctly:Avoid doing anything else in the script that might add misplaced headers! I had an
include of a file that registered session variables in there."