Logs shows downloads, but Reports 0 download

Hello @kilter and sorry for this late reply.

Is this situation still happening? Have you entered the correct date interval to show the download data in the Reports section?

Best Regards!
Razvan

Thanks for the response Razvan.
The counts between the Logs and Reports pages did not match for a while, despite multiple resetting of the Website. But now, after a couple of days, match.
Being a beginner, I have spend an inordinate amount of time trying to give two types of access to the general user to either download a PDF file or open it in a new tab. Finally I got the download to work. But opening it in a new tab hit the snag of 403 error (not authorized). It doesn’t work with the URL. So, using CPanel’s File Manager, I deleted the high level .htaccess file. That allowed the file to be opened in a new tab, but it exposed all the Website files and structure to the general user. So, I restored .htaccess, then used the short code instead of the URL. That sort of works from Safari, but ends up downloading the file when using Chrome.
There must be a better way of learning WordPress, and surely not every Website admin needs to know the intricacies of Apache virtual machines, Linux, coding etc…
Thanks anyway.
Best regards.

Hello @kilter ,

I am glad you finally got the reports problem fixed.

As for the 403 Forbidden, yeah the .htaccess is there to forbid “unauthorized” downloads of your files ( also to make the count and Download Monitor’s conditions work ). If it was like the WordPress uploads folder someone could just browse through there and download your files. But there is a way to fulfil your needs: add the files in Media Library ( not upload from inside the Download ) and then just add the uploaded file in the Download. This way the path to the file will be domain.com/wp-content/uploads/year/month/file.extension ( it could vary depending on your WordPress Media Settings ) and it won’t trigger the 4003 error.

Hope this helps.

Kind Regards!
Razvan

Thanks again Razvan.
It took me a while to get the download links to work again.
I did as you recommended: uploaded a PDF file to the Media library, then used it to define the download file in DM.
Now, in the Page, I use the File widget which gives me a text link next to a button link in a block.
In that block, if I use the pattern you recommend (domain/wp-content/uploads/year/month/file.extension), both the file download and online reading functions work just fine in Safari as well as in Chrome.
But the DM Reports and Logs stay at 0.
If I use the DM link pattern resulting from the way I defined the file above (domain/download/file#/), I can still download the file, but can no longer read it online. Something redirects me to the front page instead. I have unchecked that option in Download Monitor settings, so it’s either a bug or a conflict with other plugins (Disable Search) or…
So, with all that said, I think I’ll just leave it as it is so that the users can either download or read the file online for now. Perhaps at some point in the future, when I have added other essential features to the Website, I’ll revisit the topic, and if Download Monitor has a way to resolve this issue with an upgraded version, I’ll work on it again.
Best regards.
Post Scriptum:
The Download Button Widget used with the Short Code does result in displaying a large button with the full name of the file + the word “Download” + the size of the file + the number of downloads. Since this is viewable to the public, it may be a good idea to add an option to hide the number of downloads. Also, clicking on it results in the same issue as I mentioned above: the user is redirected to the Front page!

Hello @kilter ,

Thanks for the info, we’ll definitely take a look at the problems you described and in a future update rest assured we’ll come with some solutions to them.

Have a wonderful day!
Razvan