How to save a file on a users computer with cgi

[Eric Brunel]

Bragi Baldursson wrote:

> I am writing a small cgi script that I would like to write a small
> file with user relevant information to his/her hard disk.
> How do I accomplish this?
> Can I also detect the presence of certain files on his hard disk?
> 
For all I know: you can't... The CGI script executes on the server side and 
has no knowledge of the client. And even in Java, which executes on the 
client side, the application does not have any access to the client's hard 
disk, except if the client explicitely allows it (e.g. via signed applets). 
The reason behind all that is simply security: I wouldn't like to have Web 
applications "silently" doing what they want on your hard disk, would you?

HTH
 - eb -