download counter?

[devospice]

Hi,

I'm trying to create a download counter for individual files on a web
site and I'm not sure how to do this. Right now I'm using Webalizer
to just read the log files and see how many times the files I'm
interested in were downloaded. The problem is Webalizer breaks it up
by month and I want a running total. I'd also like to see the counts
without having to log in to Webalizer in the first place. Not that
logging in or adding the results is too difficult, but it would be
nice if I could just put a little number on the web site so when I go
to the site I can imediately see the download counts.

The first thing I thought of was accessing the log files via PHP and
reading the data out of there. However because the log files get
broken up, zipped, and a new one started after they reach a certain
size I'm afraid this will be too complicated and may put too much
extra strain on the server if this is done too often.

Also, what's the best way to read log files with PHP anyway?

Any ideas?

Thanks.

->Later.....Spic e

[lorento]

I think you can make simple php application for count the download,
like:
when people click http://host/download.php?file=xyz.zip, the
download.php will increase the counter and the people will forwarded
into file xyz.zip

these are not the code but the algorithm:
1. create mysql table
create table counter (filename varchar(100), counter int);
insert into counter values ('xyz.zip', 0);
2. create download.php file:
//increase the counter table
update counter set counter = counter + 1 where filename like
'$_GET[file]'
//forward to file
header ("location: xyz.zip");

----
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On Feb 8, 3:02 am, "devospice" <s...@suddendea th.orgwrote:

Hi,

I'm trying to create a download counter for individual files on a web
site and I'm not sure how to do this. Right now I'm using Webalizer
to just read the log files and see how many times the files I'm
interested in were downloaded. The problem is Webalizer breaks it up
by month and I want a running total. I'd also like to see the counts
without having to log in to Webalizer in the first place. Not that
logging in or adding the results is too difficult, but it would be
nice if I could just put a little number on the web site so when I go
to the site I can imediately see the download counts.

The first thing I thought of was accessing the log files via PHP and
reading the data out of there. However because the log files get
broken up, zipped, and a new one started after they reach a certain
size I'm afraid this will be too complicated and may put too much
extra strain on the server if this is done too often.

Also, what's the best way to read log files with PHP anyway?

Any ideas?

Thanks.

->Later.....Spic e

[Petr Vileta]

"lorento" <la**********@y ahoo.compíse v diskusním príspevku
news:11******** *************@j 27g2000cwj.goog legroups.com...

>I think you can make simple php application for count the download,
like:
when people click http://host/download.php?file=xyz.zip, the
download.php will increase the counter and the people will forwarded
into file xyz.zip

these are not the code but the algorithm:
1. create mysql table
create table counter (filename varchar(100), counter int);
insert into counter values ('xyz.zip', 0);
2. create download.php file:
//increase the counter table
update counter set counter = counter + 1 where filename like
'$_GET[file]'
//forward to file
header ("location: xyz.zip");

Better then redirecting is to read file in php script, send to browser and
write to sql table after a file is complete send.

1. open file
2. read file and send to browser until EOF
3. increase counter in DB

This avoid a situation when user cancel download.
--

Petr Vileta, Czech republic
(My server rejects all messages from Yahoo and Hotmail. Send me your mail
from another non-spammer site please.)

[devospice]

On Feb 7, 11:03 pm, "lorento" <laurente1...@y ahoo.comwrote:

I think you can make simple php application for count the download,
like:
when people clickhttp://host/download.php?fi le=xyz.zip, the
download.php will increase the counter and the people will forwarded
into file xyz.zip

That's what I'm doing for some other files on the site. I'm just
storing the count in a MySQL table.

I can't do that with these files though, because they're MP3s from a
podcast. I can do that with the direct links on the web page, but
people who download the files via iTunes will bypass that link. And
changing the RSS feed to point to the PHP page instead of the MP3 page
breaks iTunes.

- Tom

[devospice]

Better then redirecting is to read file in php script, send to browser and

write to sql table after a file is complete send.

1. open file
2. read file and send to browser until EOF
3. increase counter in DB

Just in case you don't see my other reply, the problem with this is
it's a podcast. And pointing the RSS feed to a PHP document instead
of directly at the MP3 breaks iTunes.

- Tom

[Rik]

On Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:33:48 +0100, devospice <sp***@suddende ath.org
wrote:

On Feb 7, 11:03 pm, "lorento" <laurente1...@y ahoo.comwrote:

>I think you can make simple php application for count the download,
like:
when people clickhttp://host/download.php?fi le=xyz.zip, the
download.php will increase the counter and the people will forwarded
into file xyz.zip

That's what I'm doing for some other files on the site. I'm just
storing the count in a MySQL table.

I can't do that with these files though, because they're MP3s from a
podcast. I can do that with the direct links on the web page, but
people who download the files via iTunes will bypass that link. And
changing the RSS feed to point to the PHP page instead of the MP3 page
breaks iTunes.

Why does it break things? It shouldn't.

Then again, maybe an easier solution is just to parse the access log of
the server. Or maybe a javascript counter, allthough somewhat unreliable..
--
Rik Wasmus

[Jerry Stuckle]

devospice wrote:

>Better then redirecting is to read file in php script, send to browser and
write to sql table after a file is complete send.

1. open file
2. read file and send to browser until EOF
3. increase counter in DB

Just in case you don't see my other reply, the problem with this is
it's a podcast. And pointing the RSS feed to a PHP document instead
of directly at the MP3 breaks iTunes.

- Tom

Tom,

It shouldn't if you send the correct header information. The fact it's
coming from PHP should be completely transparent.

--
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Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
js*******@attgl obal.net
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[devospice]

It shouldn't if you send the correct header information. The fact it's

coming from PHP should be completely transparent.

It is. The PHP feed works fine. (http://www.thefump.com/cast.php)
But pointing the link tag to a PHP file instead of an audio file
generates a "this feed is not valid" error in iTunes.

->Later.....Spic e

[devospice]

Why does it break things? It shouldn't.

The link tag has to point to an MP3 or AAC file in order for iTunes to
recognize it and allow the download. Otherwise it assumes you
accidentally tried to subscribe to a non-audio based RSS feed, like a
news service or something. The PHP feed works fine. But the link has
to be to an audio file.

->Later.....Spic e

[Jerry Stuckle]

devospice wrote:

>It shouldn't if you send the correct header information. The fact it's
coming from PHP should be completely transparent.

It is. The PHP feed works fine. (http://www.thefump.com/cast.php)
But pointing the link tag to a PHP file instead of an audio file
generates a "this feed is not valid" error in iTunes.

->Later.....Spic e

As I said - if the header is correct, it should be OK.

I looked at your link, but I didn't see any php files being pointed to -
just the mp3 files themselves.

I still suspect you're not sending the correct info in the header,
especially the content header. But you haven't shown us any code or
your php buffering.

Browsers are pretty loose about things. iTunes might be more stringent.

Of course, it's possible they could be looking at the file extension
instead of the content header. But that's defeating the purpose of the
header - and pretty stupid, IMHO. But it's still possible.

--
=============== ===
Remove the "x" from my email address
Jerry Stuckle
JDS Computer Training Corp.
js*******@attgl obal.net
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