download a file without seeing the download URL

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Hi,
This is the situation: I have a GoogleSite, and I want people to be able to download off it. I could upload as attachment to their site, but the space would soon run out. So, I want to host the file I am making available for download on a file hosting site, I could add the URL from the hosting site as a link on the GoogleSites so that when people click on it it opens a new window and the download begins, but I don't want the people who download the files to be able to see the download link because then they could just give the download link to their friends instead of coming through me.

The way GoogleSites has it is that if you click on the download button the URL flashes for a second to the download URL and then back to the page URL.

I don't know.

Any suggestions?

thanks
duane

Posted 24-Apr-11 0:45am

Member 7867932

Updated 24-Apr-11 2:51am

Ed Nutting

v2

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Ed Nutting 24-Apr-11 8:51am

Edited to remove the 'sit:' so that people understand what you mean.

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Ed Nutting · Answer 1 · 2011-04-24T02:56:00

You could create a page on your site that acts as a midway. The link to the user goes to oyur page and your page then returns the download they wanted to them by retrieving it from the file server and then passing it back to the user. You would have to change the reponse content type and rewrite the stream but that's easy. The disadvantage of this is that it slows down the download as first your servers have to download it and then the user has to download from you.

This is a common problem and most places seem to settle for a direct link to the file server (just look at most of the image urls on facebook) but it is a valid problem. However, if you're worried about friends redistributing and insecure link, most people are more likely just to pass on the actual downoaded file and not the link.

Hope this helps,

Ed