tracking link clicks

[jackvull]

I have some PHP pages with links to certain files that are downloaded. Normally, when you click on these in a browser, the file is downloaded to your computer. Ideally, I want to track these clicks and add a record to a MySQL database.
Any ideas on how to do this?

Thanks.

[Dijkgraaf]

Rather than giving them a direct link to the file, have the link go to a page that then records their visit and then starts the download.

[jackvull]

OK, I can see how that would work but is there an easy way to start a download of a file within PHP?
I don't want to use JavaScript for this in case the client browser is not the correct version, or doesn't have it installed.

[jackvull]

Could I direct them to a hidden iframe in the same page that would do this?

[larryn]

Jack,

In PHP, the easyiest way would be to use a location header to redirect the browser to the download after you have completed your logging.

An alternative but one that requires some Javascript, is to make your log database entry via the anchor's onClick event.

Larry

[jackvull]

Ok, thanks. I can see how that would work but some users currently right click and select 'save target as...'. How would redirecting cope with this?
Is there a way to force whether the request is for:
(a) download and save;
(b) download and play within IE / Mozilla.