Simple cookie reading problem

[4site]

Hi all, this is probably stupidly easy but I'm struggling.

I am trying to understand why cookies only appear to be readable when a
web page is retrieved by *typing the url into the browser's address
box* but NOT when the same page is accessed *via a link from another
page*. I probably don't fully understand the mechanics of an HTTP
request...

Example:

The first page sets a persistent cookie:

<?php
$value = 'something';
setcookie("TestCookie", $value, time()+(24*365*3600));
?>

and contains a link - <a href="cookie_test.php?">Link to cookie
test</a>

The second page [cookie_test.php] contains the following code:

<?php
print "COOKIE DATA: <br />";
foreach ( $_COOKIE as $cookie_name =$cookie_value ) {
print "$cookie_name = $cookie_value <br />";
}
?>

When a) viewing cookie_test.php, using either Firefox 2.0 or IE7, via
the link from page one, the cookie data does not print out. But b) by
entering cookie_test.php into the address box and pressing return, this
causes the browser to display the cookie contents.
PHP Version 4.3.10

Could I have an explanation please and how do I retrieve cookie data in
case (a) ?

Thanks for your help...

[Blayde]

On Nov 5, 10:59 am, "4site" <[e-mail]:

Hi all, this is probably stupidly easy but I'm struggling.

I am trying to understand why cookies only appear to be readable when a
web page is retrieved by *typing the url into the browser's address
box* but NOT when the same page is accessed *via a link from another
page*. I probably don't fully understand the mechanics of an HTTP
request...

Example:

The first page sets a persistent cookie:

<?php
$value = 'something';
setcookie("TestCookie", $value, time()+(24*365*3600));
?>

and contains a link - <a href="cookie_test.php?">Link to cookie
test</a>

The second page [cookie_test.php] contains the following code:

<?php
print "COOKIE DATA: <br />";
foreach ( $_COOKIE as $cookie_name =$cookie_value ) {
print "$cookie_name = $cookie_value <br />";}?>

When a) viewing cookie_test.php, using either Firefox 2.0 or IE7, via
the link from page one, the cookie data does not print out. But b) by
entering cookie_test.php into the address box and pressing return, this
causes the browser to display the cookie contents.
PHP Version 4.3.10

Could I have an explanation please and how do I retrieve cookie data in
case (a) ?

Thanks for your help...

Hey 4site,
Sounds like everything should work fine, but the browsers might be
caching cookie_test.php without the information on it. Have you tried
completely refreshing the page after cookie_test.php loads empty? You
might also check out the manual for header() as there is a good example
for stopping browsers from caching pages.
Good luck, Blayde