PHP workaround for "mailto:"

[d-woo]

I am using the following PHP script in a file that is linked to the e-mail address in lieu of the notorius "mailto:", which is read by spiders and sends SPAM.

<?PHP
$url = 'mailto:[e-mail]';
header("Location: $url");
?>

The only problem I'm having is that in some browser environments
clicking this link directly opens the e-mail program (desired result)

while in other environments it opens a new page with
mailto:[e-mail] in the header
then opens the e-mail program. (undesired result)

I've tested this in MSIE versions 4, 5 and 5.5 and have found
no consistency. Some machines give the desired result and others
do not.

Why is this happening and what is the workaround?

[[deleted]]

That is happeing because some browsers are configured to start a mail program, and others are not. You'll have to learn to live with that.

(BTW, spiders to a lot more than just request a page and read the content, they'll find your email too.)