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Download file progress percentage with PHP and AJAX

Right now I have a test-functions.php page that contains a function that downloads a text file from an URL using PHP CURL. This curl call uses CURLOPT_PROGRESSFUNCTION to call a function I made that writes progress to a text file. It does this by writing each number 1 to 100 with a new line for each entry (I have attached all the files below). What i now need help doing is modifying my javascript function on test.php to read the last line of the file, update at least every second (less time between updates would be great as well), and echo that line to the page. I then need it to stop when the value reaches 100 and display some new text.
test.php
test-functions.php
progress.txt

Chris Stanyon

The general idea here is to use the javascript setInterval() to call a function every xxx number of milliseconds. Having a quick look at your code, I would advise that you don't write all the percentages to the progress.txt file - just write the current percentage. Simply change your fopen mode to w. This will make it easier to read in later.

$fp = fopen('progress.txt', 'w')

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;

Now in your javascript, you'd do something like the following:

// declare this at the global level
var progressTimer;

// add this function
function getProgress() {
	$.get('progress.txt', function(data) {
		var percentage = parseInt(data);
		$('#response').html(percentage);
		if (percentage == 100) clearInterval(progressTimer);
	});
}

// when you start your AJAX request, add this:
progressTimer = setInterval(function() { getProgress() }, 1000);

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One issue that I can see you having problems with is what happens if 10 people try to download the file at the same time - the progress.txt file won't be accurate at all.

COBOLdinosaur

The way around the multiple user problem would be to use individual files using the session for naming the file. It will mean the javascript has to have the file name but it should not be difficult to implement.

Cd&

ITNC

ASKER

I will start testing this now thank you. Luckily with our setup that will not be an issue but thanks for being thorough.

ITNC

ASKER

So what I am seeing after making these changes is that the file is read and the number 1 is displayed, it never updates after that on the screen. I check the progress file however and it shows 100 so I know the numbers are being written to the file. Just to be sure I download the progress file at random times after starting the transfer and I did in fact see different numbers.

ITNC

ASKER

Now oddly during testing I see 100 displayed immediately even though the text file contains otherwise. Any ideas on what may be happening here?

Chris Stanyon

The progress.txt file is probably being cached. If you switch your code to using the jQuery ajax() method, then you can prevent caching with the cache:false setting. Alternatively you can append a random string to the progress.txt file.. something like this

"progress.txt?" + Date().getTime()

ITNC

ASKER

So I switched my code over (correctly I think but not completely sure) but I get the same result. Here is the call now:

function ajax_downloadTest() {
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "test-functions.php",
data: "mode=download",
cache:false
});

progressTimer = setInterval(function() { getProgress() }, 1000);
}

ITNC

ASKER

I should mention that I tried multiple browsers and another computer even but I get the same results.

COBOLdinosaur

There could also be timing issues the script may be running into resource limitation through the pipe if there is a download going on and if there is heavy activity on the server, the PHP script may be getting throttled. Net result would be sporadic and the manifestation would be out of synch results.

Cd&

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Chris Stanyon

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ITNC

ASKER

Oh brilliant, sorry for the misunderstanding all is working properly now. Thank you so much!