Automatically Update Website?

[Ty44ler]

I work for a large construction company as their web developer. Originally they had an online FTP site that they uploaded files to so that clients can download pdf files of their blueprints.

Well now, boss has decided he wants to get rid of the online FTP service and wants a better interface and do it all locally (we have the resources, so why not)

So, I created a website that has all the files organized and listed, but using this way, when a file is placed on the server the web page must be updated too to show the new file and link....

Is there anyway that when a file is placed onto the server it is added to the website automatically too with the same formatting as the rest of the site?

I know I could just make a link to the folder of the files on the server, but the page from our server isn't very appealing and thats what the boss was trying to get away from in the first place...(running apache on the server)

Here's an older version of the site, should be updated tomorrow... any suggestions are appreciated...

HA Sack FTP Site

[ScottW]

Wouldn't it be better to use a secure document sharing/collaboration service?

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[Ty44ler]

I'm not sure if I explained the situation quite right. The point of me making the site with the files linked to it, was so that clients have an easier interface to find their files, that must also be able to link from the original HA Sack homepage.

The problem using http is that it does not provide an easy way to consistently update those files without manually editing the code, but it does provide the capabilities of designing a nice interface.

Using ftp provides an easy way to consistently update the files (simply drag and drop into a folder), but the interface is rather dull and complicated for people who have no experience with computers.

If there were a combination of the two (one with a nice interface and a way to automatically update the files once placed in a certain folder) it would be perfect, but I have yet to find it. I could link to a directory, but then the server page that shows the directory is much like that of an ftp page.

Any suggestions????

[Ty44ler]

Alright guys, there has to be a way to do this... I'm stuck. The IT guys are stuck.

Is there anyway to combine the functionality of uploading files with FTP with the editable interface of http?

Please help! Boss is getting frustrated....

all it has to do is to upload a file to the server and reflect the changes on the website.

[ScottW]

Maybe you're not understanding what online document management software can do. It provides a way for you to upload files to a server, send out a URL to your clients, and have them download their files via a nice interface.

This is what you need, or something similar:
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[Ty44ler]

is there a way to make the interface customizable? Our clients don't need to upload anything. All they are doing is downloading certain files. We are the only ones who are going to be uploading, deleting or changing any files on the server. We dont have a problem uploading files to our server at all.

We just need a way to have a site that allows our clients to click on a link and download a file, but also have the site automatically show those files when they are placed on the server. FTP accomplishes this, but my boss does not want the FTP Site looking like a list of files and directories with a white background and no logo or anything on it.

[ScottW]

I've pointed you in the right direction but you're going to have to ask those sorts of questions of the providers of the software/services themselves. You're going to have to find an out of the box solution like the ones I provided unless you hire a developer to create your own custom app.

[Ty44ler]

No, thats not what I'm looking for. I am not looking for an outside company or software to purchase. I am looking for something to implement into my code already (Website posted). I have looked into php which sounds the most feasible.

To explain again...

I am looking for some code, script or something! to place into my already built website to read the contents of a folder and place the folder's files as links into my website to be downloaded.

[usslindstrom]

The two items that come to mind from me - when reading your posts (other than ScottW who has the best answer) would be to implement either Sharepoint or DotNetNuke.

Each one of those can provide the same set of things. Basically where you can have portals, and E S P E C I A L L Y in the case of Sharepoint - a file collaboration site. Every place I've worked at with IT crap - since it's release - has been using some form of Sharepoint to do exactly what you're looking for.

The catch being with Sharepoint is it's not exactly cheap. DotNetNuke can provide the same sort of functionality as Sharepoint, and for the most part it's free - minus if you decide to go with professional modules that need to be purchased.

Either way - check both of em' out - you don't have anything to lose in any case.


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[Ty44ler]

I appreciate the responses. We have Sharepoint right now to serve us within the company (clients never have access to it), but it is a little over kill for what I'm trying to do for our clients...

After about a day of research and a few lashings by the boss I have found a solution in a php script...

PHP Code:

<?php

// Note that !== did not exist until 4.0.0-RC2

// name of the directory, please be specified about naming. If 'read_dir.php' 
// and the directory that to be listed are in same folder, then just type the 
// name of the directory, otherwise full path of the directory

$directory='Name of your directory';

//Counting files variable initialization
$count=0;

//opening the directory and take a instance of it to handle var
if ($handle = opendir($directory)) {
    echo "<u><b>Files in directory</b></u><br>";

    /* This is the correct way to loop over the directory. */
    while (false !== ($file = readdir($handle))) {
        echo "$file";

        /* Determining extensions of files */
        $file_parts=explode('.',$file);
        $file_parts_counts=count($file_parts);
        $file_type_location=$file_parts_counts-1;
        $file_type=$file_parts[$file_type_location];
        
        echo " <b>($file_type File)</b><br>";
        $count=$count+1;

    }

    closedir($handle);
}
echo "Total Number of files: <b>$count</b>";
?>

I'm then going to put <a href="http://www.techimo.com/forum/webmastering-programming/"> links around the file names to create links to the files so that the clients can download them and the site will be updated each time the page is refreshed. This should do the trick.

Thanks for all your help.