I am trying to link directly to a download (PDF document) securely. Only members of my WordPress website (Subscriber role) should be able to download. Obvious answer is to create a page with the appropriately configured wpdm shortcode and restrict package access to Subscriber role. But I don’t want to link to a page, I want to link directly to the download. I’ve identified the following methods:
Only Option 4 meets my requirements (secure, direct link) but this is a faff every time I want to distribute a download link.
Is there another, preferably better, way?
Hello David,
Hope you are well. I think method #2 will work fine for Link To A Download Securely. If you restrict certain packages with the Allow Access
option for subscriber role, without this role other users will get this message as I image attached
please check and let me know
Thank you and regards
Nayeem,
Thank you for your response. Respectfully, you’ve missed an important aspect of my query: “I don’t want to link to a page, I want to link directly to the download”. In order to see the image above, the visitor would have first needed to browse to the package page. This works fine but doesn’t meet my requirements.
Make sense?
Hello David,
If you want to work with package shortcode, you can make a workaround with link-template, you can make link-template with the below code for download,
<a href="[download_url]" class="btn btn-primary" target=_blank>[link_label]</a>
Thus it will work for restricted role subscriber only, please let me know if it helps you
Thank you and regards
Nayeem,
Thank you for your response. Forgive me for not being clearer; the link needs to be sent in an email, not via or on a webpage.
Make sense?
Hello David,
Sorry for being late. I hope, tomorrow I shall give a solution for you
Thank you and regards
Still awaiting a resolution. Gentle chase.
Nayeem,
Could you help me to understand the relevance of that button/feature to creating a link to a download package? Does that button create a link?
David.
Hello David,
I want to clarify your claim point no: 2,
Use the package download link e.g. <website>/download/<package_title>/?wpdmdl=<package_id>. Secure but if user not already logged in, results in permission-denied.txt
please check from the logout browser or incognito mode browser, you shall find the login option as I image attached,
and please also use the Email Lock option, thus all features will work properly. please check and let me know
Thank you and regards
Neyeem,
OK, I understand. This is not related to my query. Once again, you are focussing on the webpage, instead of the direct download link. I do not want my visitors to visit a web page, I want to provide a link that takes them directly to the download.
Take option 4 above. When the receiver clicks the link (e.g. from an email):
– If they are already logged into the website, the PDF download opens in the browser.
– If they are NOT already logged into the website, they are taken to the login page and after they login, the PDF download opens in the browser.
At no point does the receiver visit a web page (except the login page).
Does that now make sense?
The issue I am finding is that I have to hand-craft that URL for every single download. I am trying to find a better solution.
If this is still not understood, could we get on a shared-screen somehow?
David.
Hello David,
Sorry for being late in reply. For only file protection, can you please check this article,
Though, it will only work with the apache server, as the protection is handled by .htaccess
rules.
please check
Thank you and regards
Nayeem,
I’m sorry, I have been unclear. I am not looking to protect files, I am looking for a better solution to creating a link to a download package. Is there any chance we could meet? I don’t feel as if I am able to get my message across in text.
David.
Nayeem,
Is that ‘Email Download Link’ a pro feature? It doesn’t appear on my installation with Download Manager v3.2.32.
David.
Hello David,
Yes, it is in the PRO feature. please let me know, if you need more elaboration
Thank you and regards
Nayeem,
Can you send me an example of how the feature constructs the link? Does it just link to the download page or the download directly?
David.
Nayeem,
OK, this doesn’t meet my requirements. I don’t want to control access to a download, I just want to link directly to the download in a secure way.
Perhaps linking in this way is just not possible without having to manually craft the link?
David.
Hello David,
I have talked regarding this with our team developer. He said it is required some code customization, please knock here with your requirements
Thank you and regards
Nayeem,
I only came on here to see whether something was possible, that is, a better way to create a direct link to a download. You have made it clear that this is not possible with either the free or pro versions of WP Download Manager. So I will continue to muddle through with my Option 4 workaround.
If you want to take this as a customer feature request and develop this for your customers, please feel free.
Please also feel free to close this ticket. Bye.
David.
You are welcome
Thank you and regards
The topic ‘How To Link To A Download *Securely*?’ is closed to new replies.