Automating a web site

[crawford]

Once upon a time I was an assembler language programmer but that is now 30 plus years ago, long before the 'net. I have picked up enough HTML to design a simple site. Now I need some help in going beyond simple - simple, at least in my terms.

I have a large number of downloadable items. I want to provide them to visitors free. I need to limit how many a visitor can download on each visit, on each day. It's a matter of wanting them to return, time and time again, for purposes of generating ad revenue. I know that will involve cookies but my knowledge stops there.

I have been providing some of these items to friends as attachments to emails. With over 2,000 (eventually) I need to allow visitors to accomplish the download without requiring my intervention. I know this is done on untold numbers of sites but I don't know how it is accomplished.

I've been subscribing for a couple of years and, though I haven't seen these specific topics covered, I am constantly impressed with the level of expert advise available here.

[seiretto]

Using cookies is futile - the users will just clear them and download at will....

You need to properly code it server-side using PHP or ASP.

If you are not able to code your own secure members area then try this:
phpAutoMembersArea - create a members area using PHP MySQL, protect your members only or adult content