HTTP_REFERER problems!

[martinb7]

Hi, i was trying to make a system that logs the visitors to my site using the HTTP_REFERER code. It will write it to a .txt file

say i have

<?php
echo $HTTP_REFERER;
?>

it works from another page if clicked by a link, but it wont work say if you typed the address in after you had been to msn.com

the page url is

http://gaming.webrevolt.biz/ref2.php

how can i get round this or make it work?

is there another way?

any ideas??


Martin

Computing/Gaming help and info:

http://www.webrevolt.biz

http://gaming.webrevolt.biz

 

[JRBeltman]

Hiya m8,
have a look here why it may not always work

http://uk2.php.net/reserved.variables

JR
As a wise man once said: To build the house you need the stone.
Back to the Basics!

 

[JRBeltman]

I am hoping that someone can come up with a way to always trace where a visitor comes from?

Maybe you can somehow get it from their history? (as in Java).

JR
As a wise man once said: To build the house you need the stone.
Back to the Basics!

 

[BitFuzzy]

The referer logs indicate what sites generated the traffic and which links, term, affilate logo etc was used.

I don't think you'll have much luck logging visits where the URL was manually typed in

 

[sleipnir214]

By definition, if you type in a URL to get to a page, there is no referer.



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TANSTAAFL!!

 

[DRJ478]

sleipnir214 is absolutely right. Don't confuse the HTTP_REFERER with the REMOTE_ADDR which gives the IP that the remote client reports. It could be forwarded through a proxy though, and the X_FORWARDED_FOR headers would identify the originating IP. However, there are many ways to avoid IP reporting or spoof IPs. Internet Protocol V4 was not intended for security...
Generating stats about visitors for informational purposes is best done with one of the log processing scripts that are numerous and freely available.

 

[martinb7]

ok thanx for the help. where can i find these scripts??



Martin

Computing/Gaming help and info:

http://www.webrevolt.biz

http://gaming.webrevolt.biz

 

[DRJ478]

Here are the most popular ones:

http://www.analog.cx/

http://www.mrunix.net/webalizer/

 

[BitFuzzy]

If you want to log "every" visitor then your best bet would be to use "$REMOTE_ADDR" , as $HTTP_REFERER will only report visits which originated from a outside location "google, yahoo, another page etc