Appending parameters to exe downloads?

**awatson** · 06-21-2006 12:59 PM

I'm a complete javascript novice, but I have pieced together some basic javascript that extracts the source parameters from a url when the page is loaded (using body onload=). For example:

If the page is www.mysite.com/index.htm?source=test+one+two

The parameters will be "source=test+one+two"

For links on that web page, I use something like this to append the parameters when calling that link.

<a href="index.htm" onClick="go('index.htm'); return false";>

The "go" script is rather simple:

function go(addr) {
if (source==null){
location.href=addr
}
else{
location.href=addr+'?'+source;
}
}

This all works great for htm links (web pages). However, if I try to use the same onClick link with an exe file it loses the exe information:

<a href="test.exe" onClick="go('test.exe'); return false";>

In other words, my browser pop's up as usual asking whether to open or save the file, but the .exe identifier is gone. Saving the file results in a document with no file extension.

For now, I'm just using a basic link with .exe files <a href="test.exe">, but I would like to append the calling parameters to this URL too so I can track them in my access logs.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Anthony

**phpnovice** · 06-21-2006 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by awatson

For links on that web page, I use something like this to append the parameters when calling that link.

<a href="index.htm" onClick="go('index.htm'); return false";>

The "go" script is rather simple:

function go(addr) {
if (source==null){
location.href=addr
}
else{
location.href=addr+'?'+source;
}
}

First, let's simplify your code. Use this link:

<a href="index.htm" onclick="return go(this)">

and this function:

Code:

function go(link) {
  if (source) link.href += '?'+source;
  return true;
}

**awatson** · 06-21-2006 01:42 PM

phpnovice,

Thanks for the feedback, but your rewritten functions and links wouldn't work for me. The parameters do not get appended to the URL.

Returned to my original code and everything works again, EXCEPT with links to exe files.

Thanks,

Anthony

**phpnovice** · 06-21-2006 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by awatson

... your rewritten functions and links wouldn't work for me. The parameters do not get appended to the URL.

Hmmm... Might this be a browser issue? That code works for me in IE and Mozilla.

HTML Code:

<html>
<head>
<script type="text/javascript">
var source = "source=test";
//
function go(link) {
  if (source) link.href += '?'+source;
  return true;
}
</script>
</head>

<body>
<p><a href="test.html" onclick="return go(this)">test.html</a></p>
</body>
</head>

But, I suppose that is neither here nor there -- you are entitled to use whatever code suits (and works for) you.

**awatson** · 06-21-2006 02:18 PM

phpnovice,

Strange, your full example worked fine for me. However, if I change the fixed source variable to the code I use to get the source from the URL, it no longer works (but it does work fine with my original code).

function getSource(){
source = document.URL.substring(is_input+1, document.URL.length);
return source
}

Thanks,

Anthony

**phpnovice** · 06-21-2006 02:20 PM

This:

source = document.URL.substring(is_input+1, document.URL.length);

can be changed to this:

source = self.location.search.substr(1);

**awatson** · 06-21-2006 03:08 PM

phpnovice,

Nice... Thanks!

It still doesn't work with exe files, but it helps reduce the page sizes and should simplify maintenance as well.

Anthony

**phpnovice** · 06-21-2006 03:26 PM

Alas! I cannot directly solve the problem with .exe files. Since they were never intended to accept a query/search string, this is probably why it causes a problem to have one. There is an alternative, but it would mean changing the whole method by which you are tracking this information.

**awatson** · 06-21-2006 03:40 PM

> I cannot directly solve the problem with .exe files

Not a problem. I appreciate the input you have given already.

> There is an alternative, but it would mean changing the whole
> method by which you are tracking this information.

What alternative are you thinking of?

While we're talking javascript and exe files, do you know if there's a way to rename the exe file (or select alternate exe files) based on the URL parameters?

i.e. www.mysite.com/page.htm?source=one

would download file-one.exe

www.mysite.com/page.htm?source=two

would download file-two.exe

Is this even possible with javascript? As I said, I'm a complete novice.

Thanks,

Anthony

**phpnovice** · 06-21-2006 04:09 PM

The alternative would solve the problem of .exe files and the renaming of files. Server-side code has the ability to tell the browser (not just IE) to open the download manager dialog ("Save As" dialog) and to specify the default file name to use. The file itself is sent as an HTTP Attachment -- this is what tells the browser to open the download manager dialog. As part of this attachment information, you can also specify the desired file name. Thus, the server-side code can keep track of the files it sends to the browser for download. A link like the following is how you could start this process:

<a href="downloader.asp?file=myfile.exe">myfile.exe</a>

The ASP document would know where to find the specified file and could download it with whatever alternative name it chose. This is also a good way to prevent your visitors from knowing where the file is found. This prevents them from bookmarking the location and easily retrieving the file again later. It forces them to go through your established process to obtain the file.

**awatson** · 06-21-2006 04:35 PM

Hmm... I hadn't thought about an ASP page just for downloads. It's probably a little too involved for my current needs, but I'll keep it in mind for the future.

Thanks again for your help!

Anthony

**phpnovice** · 06-21-2006 04:44 PM

Not just ASP -- in case you misunderstood. PHP can do it, too. And both only require about 25-50 lines of code (depending upon how you wish to store the tracking information.

**netbuddy** · 06-21-2006 04:57 PM

I dont know if it helps, the issue with the .exe appending thingy...

I used to have a web server set up to use a free cgi program, your request for the somefilename.exe?myAppendedText=someValue could be invoking a cgi program to find the value string ?myAppendedText=someValue and act on its value.

Thread: Appending parameters to exe downloads?

Thread Tools

Display

Appending parameters to exe downloads?

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions