Connection check (cookies)

[SDUK]

Hi all a newbie here.

I am currently updating my website and looking to create some extra features for my users.

My site works on earning commission and the feature I wish to install is where a user can click on a box saying "test my connection". Using PHP it will check the computer to identify whether they are able to accept cookies and secondly whether Norton Anti Virus is blocking them.

This will then return a pass/fail for each check it performs.

This I feel is an important feature to my site as I require these features to receive the commission.

My question is: How do I create this feature? I have seen it used on other sites but would appreciate a step by step or a place I can download the script etc....

Thanks for your help in advance.

[grahame]

You aren't asking for people to give you their resources for free so that you can then charge others for yours are you? Cheeky!

Method: Send out a unique cookie with the initial page (have a look at the setcookie function in PHP), and check that the value that's entered is returned in the $_COOKIE array on the subsequent page.

References: You'll find setcookie and $_COOKIE reference documention on the http://www.php.net site - that's a good starter for you if you're well up on PHP already and just need a bit of information about the extra functions.

[SDUK]

LOL
No I have no intention on selling information and the info you have provided is ore than enough to help me start, thank you.

Does the same apply to see if norton settings are blocking cookies? or is that not cookie related?

[grahame]

Originally Posted by SDUK

Does the same apply to see if norton settings are blocking cookies? or is that not cookie related?

You'll receive back the cookie if it isn't being blocked, and you will NOT get it back if it's being blocked for any reason - Norton, user's prefeneces or choice, or if you're being trawled by a search engine.

As an afterthought, if the page that sends out the cookie also includes a unique "get" parameter - in effect a hidden input field - you'll be able to tell which user it is who's refused the cookie when the response comes in, rather than just have to give a generic "you don't accept cookies" response.