Okay, I think I see. So is there an easy way to know, based (I assume) on the file extension, what mime type to use? I imagine there is some hard coded array of types maintained somewhere for common extensions. For example: $type=someArray[$extension']; I know associative arrays don't work quite like that in php, but you get the idea. On 4/29/11, Sina Bahram <sbahram@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > The script you found is doing it correctly. There is no file to serve, so no > link can be generated to a file; however, a link can be > generated to a page such as one written in PHP or other dynamic language > that can grab a blob from a database and then stream that > file, if you will, to the user, as if it was a file on the disk; however, > since it's not a file, you have to indicate things like > mime type to let the browser and receiver know what is being received. > > I'd recommend starting here: > > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_media_type > > take care, > Sina > > -----Original Message----- > From: programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > [mailto:programmingblind-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Alex Hall > Sent: Friday, April 29, 2011 8:35 PM > To: programmingblind > Subject: offering downloads of blobs (mysql) with php > > Hi all, > I have a database project due next Wednesday. It is done, but I am > adding things since I have the time (and I really don't want to do my > calc homework right now). One of my databases is for podcasts, the > other for articles. The articles one is fine; I can serve that content > since it is stored in a longtext field, so I need only echo it to the > page. The podcast table is different, though. I looked up this stuff > already, but was taken to a script that was using a header() function > (php) and giving it mime information about the file, then it echoed > the blob, and that was it. I am wondering: > 1. What is all this mime stuff about? > 2. My only experience with files and webpages is putting a link to a > file, even a binary one, and letting the browser take care of it. Why, > then, did the script I found echo the blob and leave it at that? It > was not generating an html page with a link; the link was to > download.php, and download.php was the one doing all this with the > mime information and the echoing of the blob. > 3. Does anyone know of a good resource to find out more about serving > blobs so users can download them? Most of what I find is about > displaying images stored as blobs, but I want to offer a download link > for a given podcast's media file. > Thanks in advance. > > -- > Have a great day, > Alex (msg sent from GMail website) > mehgcap@xxxxxxxxx; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap > __________ > View the list's information and change your settings at > //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > __________ > View the list's information and change your settings at > //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind > > -- Have a great day, Alex (msg sent from GMail website) mehgcap@xxxxxxxxx; http://www.facebook.com/mehgcap __________ View the list's information and change your settings at //www.freelists.org/list/programmingblind