Downloading a file with a different name to the stored name

Question

Is it possible to let your user download a file with a different name?

For example, there is a file called "4324ffsd34.jpg". I want people to download it via download.php, with a different name (like "filetodownload.jpg"), without renaming the original file.

You can also do this in Apache with mod_rewrite without needing to hit your PHP scripts. May not be applicable to your situation, but if it is, it could improve performance. — Artelius, Oct 27 '09 at 01:34

score 71 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 17 '15 at 09:55

71

Sure, use a Content-disposition header

header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="filetodownload.jpg"');

if you wish to provide a default filename, but not automatic download, this seems to work.

header('Content-Disposition: filename="filetodownload.jpg"');

edited Nov 17 '15 at 09:55

Toby Allen

10,997
11
73
124

answered Oct 27 '09 at 01:21

David Snabel-Caunt

57,804
13
114
132

yes i can see now, thx :), but i guess i must also use "readfile('original.pdf');" to do it – Utku Dalmaz Oct 27 '09 at 01:25
Absolutely, and good to set the Content-Length and Content-Type too. You can use filesize() for the length and write your own function based on the extension to do content-type or use http://uk2.php.net/fileinfo – David Snabel-Caunt Oct 27 '09 at 01:28
@RULE101 you can either use `readfile()` or `fread()` to do it – RJ Anoop Jul 24 '15 at 03:43

Frankie · Answer 2 · 2012-08-31T13:50:22.023

Sure you can, just try something like this:

$original_filename = '4324ffsd34.jpg';
$new_filename = 'my_new_filename_is_detailled.jpg';

// headers to send your file
header("Content-Type: application/jpeg");
header("Content-Length: " . filesize($original_filename));
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="' . $new_filename . '"');

// upload the file to the user and quit
readfile($original_filename);
exit;

Hope it helps!

score 29 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 20 '15 at 07:09

29

There is also another way if you are using html5

<a href="link/to/my/file/with/a/name/i/dont/like.jpg" download="MyFile.jpg">Download</a>

Cheers :3

answered Sep 20 '15 at 07:09

The Bumpaster

944
7
20

1

download attribute is not work in safari, this is only work on crome ,firefox – Manish Patel Dec 11 '15 at 07:20
10

Works for me. No one's using safari anymore. At least no one who's serious about browsing the web... – Webmaster G Aug 04 '16 at 04:19

score 3 · Answer 4 · edited Aug 15 '13 at 12:52

3

Nothing wrong with the above but I had to add:

ob_clean();
flush();

before readfile

otherwise I can not open the download jpg/png file

edited Aug 15 '13 at 12:52

Rui Jarimba

11,166
11
56
86

answered Aug 15 '13 at 12:33

user2685840

31
1

1

Very usefull. Without it I was getting a corrupted file. – viniciussss Jan 16 '20 at 19:01

score 3 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 30 '17 at 11:55

3

<a href="4324ffsd34.jpg" download="filetodownload">Download</a>

answered Sep 30 '17 at 11:55

Gayan Dasanayake

1,933
2
17
22

1

Note you don't have to specify file extension, it will be added by the browser. – Gayan Dasanayake Sep 30 '17 at 11:56
1

This "download" attribute is only honored for links to resources with the same-origin. – Gayan Dasanayake Sep 30 '17 at 11:56

Downloading a file with a different name to the stored name

5 Answers5

Linked

Related