Is it possible to generate a text file for download from memory

[Claus Mygind]

The online php manual provides this code for downloading a file

 
<?php
$file = 'monkey.gif';
 
if (file_exists($file)) {
    header('Content-Description: File Transfer');
    header('Content-Type: application/octet-stream');
    header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename='.basename($file));
    header('Expires: 0');
    header('Cache-Control: must-revalidate');
    header('Pragma: public');
    header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($file));
    readfile($file);
    exit;
}
?>
 

This requires that I have a file somewhere I want to download.

If I have the data stored in memory, can I generate the download file directly from that data? Or must I first write some temp file on the server so I can output the text file for download?

I have code for the 2nd option here, just wondering if option 1 is possible, if so do you have some sample code to demonstrate?

[Rabbit]

Instead of readfile, echo whichever variable is holding the file data in memory.

[Claus Mygind]

file is used in 2 different places. Note it is also used for content length.

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

Would say this line is optional, even though my file will be slightly different each time the app is run?

Also the data has to be strung together in a loop to complete the file with a line return after each record.

[Rabbit]

Instead of the filesize, you can calculate it since you have access to the variable. The size or length of the variable will replace the filesize.

I don't know if the filesize is optional or not, you can try dropping it.