Re: [Phpwebsite-developers] Finding mimetype best practice

[Greg T. <gr...@ta...>]

On Tue, 2005-07-26 at 11:18 -0400, Verdon Vaillancourt wrote:
> In a module of mine, I have a case where I need to check the mimetype=20
> of a file already on the server. In my initial attempt, I used...
>=20
> $type =3D mime_content_type($file);
>=20
> Then I discovered that mime_content_type may not be available in all=20
> php builds, and/or that it may not be enabled in php.ini.
...

> However, I suspect this will not work on a windows server.
>=20
> That leaves me with a couple options...
>=20
> 1) go with the above solution which I think will work for most people,=20
> and provide documentation for the rest
> 2) use function_exists('mime_content_type') and if it doesn't exist,=20
> don't even offer the module feature to the end user
> 3) use function_exists('mime_content_type') and if it doesn't exist,=20
> use a file ext check instead and map to mimetype (not very good I know)

I don't recommend option #1 at all.  It is usually problematic and more
trouble than it's worth (e.g., it tends to generate support issues
needlessly, even when documented).

#2 would probably be my preference if a notification was included when
the functionality was disabled.

#3 might be nice as well except you still have the problems from
earlier, such as:
- Windows servers won't work with the "workaround" as you pointed out.
- Some Linux and Unix systems don't provide the "file" command either.
It would break there as well.
- It's somewhat "hackish" and requires quite a bit of workaround for you
to implement properly.

Therefore, I wouldn't do #3 unless you REALLY NEEDED this functionality
at all costs.  Option #2 removes some ambiguity but still provides a
clean implementation of the built-in PHP functionality.


> What I wonder if, is there is something in the phpws api that will do a=20
> similar job for me, that I am not aware of? Keep in mind, I'm dealing=20
> with a file already on the server, not one being uploaded.

I don't know enough about the "deep parts" of the api to answer this
one.  I'll let the experts handle it. :-)

Good luck!

Greg