encrypting location of zip files

I want to allow registered users to download zip files from my website on pages they can only access by being logged on. What I don't want is for them to be able to see the location of the zip file and just copy it and send it to anyone since I can't restrict access to the zip file ( at least I think I can't). Is there a way to hide the location of a zip file by perhaps encrypting it?

you would need to store the downloadable zip files outside of the site root, and use the File Manipulation -> File Download from Universal Email to initiate the download.

storing the files outside of the site root prevents direct access to the file through the websites URL. in many cases, though, you will need a dedicated hosting account in order to store the files outside of the root.

Ok I was able to store it outside of the root in a folder named anon_ftp, now how do I download the zip using Universal Email? I looked for the location of the folder but it does'nt show up since it is located outside of the root. Do I need to change the root in dreamweaver?

What I am really trying to do is encrpt the http location of the webpage that initiates the download. Anyway to do that?

no, it is not possible to encrypt the address.

How then would you suggest I do this? What I want to do is have users click a link to download the zip file.

What I want to avoid is having them send this link to anyone so they can just download the file.

There is no way to password protect a zip.file and even if I did the members would already have access to it after they logged in.

Basically I want only the member who paid to be able to download the zip/ would I be better off having it sent to them via universal email? If I did that though couldn't they just share it with their friends? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.

you would need to store the downloadable zip files outside of the site root, and use the File Manipulation -> File Download from Universal Email to initiate the download.

storing the files outside of the site root prevents direct access to the file through the websites URL. in many cases, though, you will need a dedicated hosting account in order to store the files outside of the root.


make sure that the download page is password protected so that only registered users can access it.

Ok, I got that, but here's the problem with that scenario. If I password protect the page yes it keeps joe schmoe public off the page. But what I want to do is only allow "certain" members to access this page that initiates the download. Certain being users who have paid for it, as opposed to some user who has the password to get into my website but didn't buy the material to be downloaded for that specific page. I also want to limit number of times the user who does have access to be able to download to 3 times.

see the following tutorials on the eCart support page:

Applying Register/Login to your checkout

Automatically populating checkout fields

Creating an Order History page

Creating a Digital Goods Download Center


ecart/