Forcing bulk download

[Ize]

Hi guys,

I'm working on an online music library where people can download my client's music.

Users can stuff their shopping cart with up to 5 mp3s in a row. During the signout process, they're given the chance to download either one zip-file containing their selection (no clue how to do this, still working on it, hints are welcome), or downloading the mp3s as five seperate files.

Focusing on the latter, what would be the best approach here? Currently it involves Javascript to open five windows containing my mp3.inc.php?id='blah', but
a) it involves Javascript, users may have turned this off,
b) it opens five empty, completely useless browser windows
c) it's unprofessional.

What would be a better way to serve users five "save as" prompts in a row?

[TheRedDevil]

It would look more professional if you do not "force" them to download all the mp3's at once.

Would it be possible to have a download page, then offer a download key for each mp3. That way the user would download them when he/she decired.
Of course you would still offer a "complete" zip file and single files.

One thing to think on is that if you force them to download five files at once, it makes the risk higher for that the customer will need to redownload all files if he gets disconnected. It puts more pressure on your server as you should allow five downloads for each user at the same time (if you put them on wait it might cause problems with some browsers or the users not understanding how it works and closing the windows).

[clamcrusher]

to make zips with php

http://pear.php.net/package/Archive_Zip
http://pear.php.net/package/File_Archive

[Ize]

It would look more professional if you do not "force" them to download all the mp3's at once.

Would it be possible to have a download page, then offer a download key for each mp3. That way the user would download them when he/she decired.
Of course you would still offer a "complete" zip file and single files.

One thing to think on is that if you force them to download five files at once, it makes the risk higher for that the customer will need to redownload all files if he gets disconnected. It puts more pressure on your server as you should allow five downloads for each user at the same time (if you put them on wait it might cause problems with some browsers or the users not understanding how it works and closing the windows).

Yeah you're probably right.
I was trying to do this in as few clicks as possible, bacause our audience will use this music for tv shows and is mainly in a big hurry, downloading in the back of some set.

But again, I think you're right

[Ize]

to make zips with php

http://pear.php.net/package/Archive_Zip
http://pear.php.net/package/File_Archive

Not a big fan of PEAR. but thanks, I will take a look at that

[php_daemon]

I once had to make an entire website available for download in a single zip. I then used linux zip command and called it from php using backticks, then just point to the result zip file.

[kigoobe]

Personally, I would tell that you make a page with a list of the stuffs to download + a checkbox associated with each them. Users can thus choose which or how many mp3s they want to download (thus no need of javascript) they can go to the next page (confirmation page) where you can include the download link. You can choose here for 1 or multiple zip files (I would go for one combined one though, = less work for the users).

Check :
1. http://www.zend.com/zend/spotlight/c...zip-files1.php
2. http://www.zend.com/zend/spotlight/c...zip-files2.php
3. http://www.php.net/zip
4. http://www.granthinkson.com/?p=19

Cheers.

[Riks]

You can make a player, so visitor can hear the songs and then decide which to download with a near link. You don't have to use .zips if you don't want, you can force to download using some PHP:

http://www.sometricks.com/2006/04/23...he-web-browser