Force refresh of browser

[Lchad]

Do any of you know of a way to force refresh of the browser everytime a site is visited? I know there are java scripts but was not sure if that was best way to acheive this...
Sorry if this is the wrong forum for this post...

[Ryan Fait]

Why would you want to do such a thing?

[Lchad]

A client has requested this. She is planning on updating the site a lot. She wants to make sure the latest changes are seen each time a visitor visits her site. I told her it was unlikely that we could do this, but in fairness to her, I thought I'd research it a bit.

[Ryan Fait]

What is she wanting to update? Text is never cached, but images and other external files are. If she has PHP, I believe you can do something like this to get linked files to reload every time:

Code: Select all

<link rel="stylesheet" href="/layout.css?<?php echo time(); ?>" type="text/css" media="screen" />

The output would be something like this:

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<link rel="stylesheet" href="/layout.css?1170633048" type="text/css" media="screen" />

I've done that with images before.

[Lchad]

Well I appreciate the effort Ryan but I'm not versed in php at all and that just looks like mumbo jumbo to me.

This is a photography website so having people see the latest was important to her. After seeing that code, I'm going to tell her it "can't" be done... by me!

[Ryan Fait]

Haha, it's not difficult. Just stick ?<?php echo time(); ?> after the extension of a file. For example:

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<img src="image.gif?<?php echo time(); ?>" />

You need to change a page's extension, as well.

index.html to index.php and so on.

[Lchad]

Oh I can do that!!!!!!! Yippeee...........................

[Ryan Fait]

Let me know if it works
If it doesn't, I'll dig out my backups and find where I used it correctly.

[Lchad]

Will do!! Thanks ....

btw... made a gorgeous site this week and it's xhtml strict! wahoooo

[Ryan Fait]

Haha, congratulations Gonna post it up in the critique forum?

[Lchad]

I doubt it! hahahahaha If the client is happy and I'm happy, I don't want to mess with it!

[Ryan Fait]

Well I can at least comment on the code. PM me if you'd like that but don't want the rest of the members picking your brain

[daygon]

Aww Rian share the wealth man! Your no fun. I like picking at peoples brains because they pick at mine.

[Lchad]

hahahah Daygon... you're the one I'm most afraid of! hahahahahah

[daygon]

Im offended. Sikes. I'll be gentle i promise.

[Lchad]

Ok.. I might do it this weekend... I'm still waiting for homepage text...