Secure content area using PHP

[Benjamin]

This might be straying slightly away from graphic design and towards coding but some of you guys seem to know about it ...

If I want to create a 'members' area with high security, containing pdfs and other files, what are my options?

.htaccess will protect a directory or file but I kind of want something a bit more flexible. So that 'power users' can add new files but 'normal users' can only download files, for example, and so that you only have to enter a password once.

Also I've got access to a secure server for SSL.

The only thing I can think of according to my understanding is to put all the content in a MySQL database and use the database to control access.

If you tell me to shut up and join a developer forum I guess I ought to do that.

http://www.jackfruitdesign.com/
Om Namah Shivaya

[ecsyle]

PHP and sessions, + a MySQL DB. Look up info about sessions in PHP. Some CMSs already have this ability built in. Check out Xoops, and a few of the different modules available.

http://www.artformsdesign.com/uploads/Ecsyle_sig0010.jpg
Art Forums (http://www.artformsdesign.com) | Ecsyle.Com (http://www.ecsyle.com)

[Benjamin]

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I was just hoping there was a way to do it without bothering with a database. Thanks will check out Xoops.

http://www.jackfruitdesign.com/
Om Namah Shivaya