Question about encapsulating PHP script inside an anchor

[JimC]

Here's an interesting problem -

On one of my pages, I have a place where a user can download a
ZIP file by clicking on the phrase "Click to download". I want
to call a logging function that I use to show that the file was
downloaded. The file being downloaded is called file1.zip.

What I now do is the following:

<a href= "..\..\download s\file1.zip">
<?php logvisitor('fil e1.zip'); ?>Click to download.</a>

which produces the following HTML

<a href = "..\..\download s\file1.zip" >Click to download.</a>
So far so good.

But -- here's the problem -- the function logvisitor() is
always called even if the user didn't click on the link.
By placing the PHP function inside the anchor, I had assumed
it too would only be called if the user clicked.

I've also tried the following:

<a href="<?php logvisitor('fil e1.zip');
echo '..\..\download s\file1.zip'; ?> >
Click here to download.</a>

and get the same result, namely, that the PHP function is
always called.

Anybody know how to call the function if and only if the
user clicks on the phrase?
--
Jim

[Martin C. Petersen]

"JimC" <ji**@cross-comp.com> skrev i en meddelelse
news:kA******** ***********@new ssvr14.news.pro digy.com...

On one of my pages, I have a place where a user can download a
ZIP file by clicking on the phrase "Click to download". I want
to call a logging function that I use to show that the file was
downloaded. The file being downloaded is called file1.zip. You could write a script that returns the requested file and logs the
download when called like this:
download.php?fi le=..\..\downlo ads\file1.zip
('\' will perhaps have to be urlencoded)
What I now do is the following:

<a href= "..\..\download s\file1.zip">
<?php logvisitor('fil e1.zip'); ?>Click to download.</a>

PHP is evaluated serverside, that is before the html is sent to the client,
so you can't do this..
Martin

[RG]

"Martin C. Petersen" <mc*@phys.au.dk > wrote in message
news:3f******** *************** @dtext01.news.t ele.dk...

"JimC" <ji**@cross-comp.com> skrev i en meddelelse
news:kA******** ***********@new ssvr14.news.pro digy.com...

On one of my pages, I have a place where a user can download a
ZIP file by clicking on the phrase "Click to download". I want
to call a logging function that I use to show that the file was
downloaded. The file being downloaded is called file1.zip. You could write a script that returns the requested file and logs the
download when called like this:
download.php?fi le=..\..\downlo ads\file1.zip
('\' will perhaps have to be urlencoded)

What I now do is the following:

<a href= "..\..\download s\file1.zip">
<?php logvisitor('fil e1.zip'); ?>Click to download.</a>

PHP is evaluated serverside, that is before the html is sent to the

client, so you can't do this..
Martin

What you need to do is this:
<a href="downloada ndlog.php?file= file1.zip">Down load</a>

Then in downloadandlog. php:
get $file
write to the log
use the header function to send the file

Hope this helps
RG

[JimC]

Martin C. Petersen wrote:

"JimC" <ji**@cross-comp.com> skrev i en meddelelse
news:kA******** ***********@new ssvr14.news.pro digy.com...

On one of my pages, I have a place where a user can download a
ZIP file by clicking on the phrase "Click to download". I want
to call a logging function that I use to show that the file was
downloaded. The file being downloaded is called file1.zip.

You could write a script that returns the requested file and logs the
download when called like this:
download.php?fi le=..\..\downlo ads\file1.zip
('\' will perhaps have to be urlencoded)

What I now do is the following:

<a href= "..\..\download s\file1.zip">
<?php logvisitor('fil e1.zip'); ?>Click to download.</a>

PHP is evaluated serverside, that is before the html is sent to the client,
so you can't do this..

Heh, but of course! Dunno what came over me.

Jim