How to set name of file downloaded from browser?

Question

I'm writing a web application that, among other things, allows users to upload files to my server. In order to prevent name clashes and to organize the files, I rename them once they are put on my server. By keeping track of the original file name I can communicate with the file's owner without them ever knowing I changed the file name on the back end. That is, until they go do download the file. In that case they're prompted to download a file with a unfamiliar name.

My question is, is there any way to specify the name of a file to be downloaded using just HTML? So a user uploads a file named 'abc.txt' and I rename it to 'xyz.txt', but when they download it I want the browser to save the file as 'abc.txt' by default. If this isn't possible with just HTML, is there any way to do it?

Answer 1

This will have to be done on the server side. You will have to have the old file name in a database somewhere, and then you could move it to a temp folder with the correct name and send that file to the user. TBQH i think you should consider avoiding name clashes with sub directories and store the path to each file in your database instead of old name / new name.

Answer 2

Can't find a way in HTML. I think you'll need a server-side script which will output a content-disposition header. In php this is done like this:

header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="downloaded.pdf"');

In fact, it is the server that is directly serving your files, so you have no way to interact with it from HTML, as HTML is not involved at all.

Answer 3

Well, @Palantir's answer is, for me, the most correct way!

If you plan to use that with multiple files, then i suggest you to use (or make one) PHP Download Manager.

BUT, if you want to make that to one or two files, I will suggest you the mod_rewrite option:

You have to create or edit your .htaccess file on htdocs folder and add this:

RewriteEngine  on 
RewriteRule ^abc\.txt$  xyz.txt

With this code, users will download xyz.txt data with the name abc.txt

NOTE: Verify if you have already the "RewriteEngine on " on your file, if yes, add only the second for each file you wish to redirect.

Good Luck ;) (Sorry for my english)