IdHTTP.get returning HTTP1.1/ 403 Forbidden

Question

I'm trying to access an update.txt file on my website, using a DelphiXE compiled program and the IdHTTP component.

The code I'm using is as follows:

procedure TFormAbout.SpeedButtonUpdateClick(Sender: TObject);

function CheckUpdates: String;
var lIdHttp: TIdHTTP;
begin
  lIdHttp := TIdHTTP.Create(nil);
  result := lIdHttp.Get('http://www.test.com/test_down_load/update.txt');
end;

var
sWebVersion: String;
sVersionList: TStringList;

begin
try
  sWebVersion := Checkupdates;
except
  on E: Exception do
  begin 
    ShowMEssage(E.ErrorMessage);
    MessageDlg('An Error occured checking for an update.',mtError,[mbOK],0);
  end;
end;
if sWebVersion <> '' then
  begin
    sVersionList.CommaText := sWebVersion;
    ShowMessage('Version: ' + sVersionList[0] + ' - ' + 'Date: ' + sVersionList[1]);
  end;
end;

This however results in error: HTTP1.1/ 403 Forbidden

The IdHTTP component has been set up with the following properties.

HandleRedirects := true;
HTTPOptions [hoForceEncodeParams];
ProtocolVersion := pv1_1;
Request.UserAgent := Mozilla/5.0 (compatible; Test)

If I enter the URL in an IE browser, it returns the file without errors, but when accessing from my program, I get the error. Any pointers will be appreciated. .htaccess is correct for the site. Permissions for the file are correct on the website: 0644.

Do I have to set any of the other properties for the IdHTTP component. I only have this component on the about form. Do I need anything else.

The updateinfo.txt file simply contains the text in quotes: "18.3.5,2011/12/17"

I have simply used "test" here in place of my actual program name and URL.

Regards Adrian

Answer 1

403 means you do not have permission to access the requested URL. The server likely requires you to provide a username/password, especially since you are using an .htaccess file. Use the Request.UserName and Request.Password properties for that. As for why the browser does not ask for username/password, my guess is the browser has them cached from an earlier access.

BTW, your SpeedButtonUpdateClick() has a memory leak. You are creating a new TIdHTTP object but you are not freeing it.