PHP Pass File Handle to user so that file downloads & saves to their machine

Question

I am downloading a file from another server. I wish to push this file to my users rather than saving it to my server.

In other words, pass them the file handle so i

Answer 1

You can try this

$filetype = mime_content_type($filename);
header('Content-type: '.$filetype);
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="'.$filename.'"');

UPDATE for your EDIT:

Do you have errors disabled, since this sounds like the headers already sent error?

error_reporting(E_ALL | E_STRICT);

Answer 2

You don't have to use fopen() when using readfile();

Just include the filename inside readfile() like this:

readfile($_GET['fileUrl']);

Although this is very dangerous security-wise as the user could specify any file on your file server. If you only have a few files you want someone to be able to download perhaps you should store them in an array (or database, preferebly)

Here's an array example:

$files = array('file1.jpg', 'file2.png', 'file3.pdf');
//assume $_GET['file_id'] == 0, 1 or 2

if (file_exists($files[$_GET['file_id']]))
    readfile($files[$_GET['file_id']]);