file downloads counter

You should run all of your files through a download script, rather than via direct links. For example, instead of:

<a href="/files/myfile.zip">Download file here</a>

you can use:

<a href="/download.php?file=myfile.zip">Download file here</a>

Then, the file 'download.php' would contain something like:

<?php
$filename = $_GET['file'];

$result = mysql_query("SELECT downloads FROM table_files WHERE filename='{$filename}'";

$downloads = $results[0];

// Increment the count
$downloads++;

// Upload the new count in to the database
mysql_query("UPDATE files_table SET download='{$downloads}' WHERE filename='{$filename}'");

// Now, redirect to the file
header("Location: /files/$filename");
?>

You would want some more error checking, but this is the basic idea.

how many tables should be in the database? and what fields?