Output file without saving

[AaronV]

I've seen a few sites that offer this, but I'm not sure how they do it.
It's a form button, that when pressed, prompts the use to download a
file. Like if I want my banking records, I select a date range and
press the button, and it compiles and sends me an excel doc right then.

What I'd like is to comile and deliver a file in that manner, without
saving the file to some directory and providing a link. Does anyone
know how this is done?

--
Aaron

[Ewoud Dronkert]

Re: Output file without saving

On 6 May 2005 15:56:50 -0700, AaronV wrote:[color=blue]
> It's a form button, that when pressed, prompts the use to download a
> file.[/color]

See http://php.net/header


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[Jason F.]

Re: Output file without saving

AaronV wrote:[color=blue]
> I've seen a few sites that offer this, but I'm not sure how they do it.
> It's a form button, that when pressed, prompts the use to download a
> file. Like if I want my banking records, I select a date range and
> press the button, and it compiles and sends me an excel doc right then.
>
> What I'd like is to comile and deliver a file in that manner, without
> saving the file to some directory and providing a link. Does anyone
> know how this is done?
>[/color]

You send headers that tell the browser to expect something other than
the normal fare, then stream your dynamic content after. e.g:

<?php
$csv = '"name","age "' . "\n";
$csv .= '"John Doe", 30' . "\n";
header("Content-type: application/vnd.ms-excel");
header("Content-disposition: attachment; filename=simple .csv");
echo $csv;
?>