PHOP headers - Opening a CSV file from PHP script

Question

I have the below code to open a CSV file, but for some reason it looks to be converting shopkeeper/89137.csv to shopkeeper_89137.csv. It keeps opening a blank csv file obviously because its looking for a file that isnt there. What is the proper way to reference a file in order to open it?

            header("Content-type: text/csv");
            header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=shopkeeper/89137.csv");
            header("Pragma: no-cache");
            header("Expires: 0");

hmm, you talk about "open a CSV file", but you actually stream it to the client's browser... — Leon
– Leon, Commented Dec 1, 2011 at 16:56
As far as I know, those are the headers that are sent to the browser indicating that content of a file is being sent rather than the content itself. Are you outputting the content in some way? The filename is simply the name of the file the browser will use when presenting the download. — Brendan Bullen
– Brendan Bullen, Commented Dec 1, 2011 at 16:57
@BrendanBullen "indicating that content of a file is being sent rather than the content itself" - had to read this a couple of times ;-) — Leon
– Leon, Commented Dec 1, 2011 at 16:59
@Leon After coming back to it after 16 hours, so did I! I think "indicating that content of a file is being sent rather than producing the content itself" would have been better. :) — Brendan Bullen
– Brendan Bullen, Commented Dec 2, 2011 at 9:03

Chris C · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-01 16:52:55Z

2

Referencing file paths is not ideal in the HTTP header. You must reference only "89137.csv" for the filename, and then process your file by appending "shopkeeper/" to the filename in your file opening function. Remember that you can still use variables in the header string parameter.

answered Dec 1, 2011 at 16:52

Chris C

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1 Comment

Leon Over a year ago

according to the spec you cannot reference file paths at all. Besides, these headers will open a SaveAs dialog at the user's browser, so how should the OP using script "append shopkeeper/ to the filename in your file opening function"?

Mr. Llama · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-01 16:52:36Z

1

The headers should only include the base name of the file being sent. On the receiving end of things, it thinks you're trying to pass it a file with the name "shopkeeper/89137.csv" which, on most operating systems, contains an illegal character (/) for a file name, so it gets converted to an underscore.

You should probably tweak the line to read:

header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=89137.csv");

answered Dec 1, 2011 at 16:52

Mr. Llama

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Comments

Leon · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-01 16:52:28Z

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Actually, the / character is reserved and cannot be used as a filename!!

I would reconsider your naming scheme...

answered Dec 1, 2011 at 16:52

Leon

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