[2005] getting data from a web MYSQL DB

I have a pretty general question. What would be the best approach that's reasonably secure and completely automated to get data in XML form from a MYSQL database on a web server? Right now my program requires them to on their own go to the website, sign in, and take a couple steps to download the correct XML file and then the program just has them browse for it and then it does its stuff with the file. The website owner and designer (who isn't me btw) has told me that's apparently too hard for the average user and they complain it's too complicated :rolleyes: So he wants my program to automate most or all of the process and grab the XML file automatically. Right now it's a php script that generates the XML file then saves it to the server and provides them with a link to download it. The most automation I came up with given what I know how to do at the moment is load the correct website in a web browser control inside my program. Then I'd pass in a username or ID provided by them during installation onto the web address for the php file so it passes in with GET their username. Then it'd just simply show them a webpage with list of possible XML files of theirs to download or automatically link to the file itself if there's only one. I think that'd still get blocked by the automatic file download protection in IE7 cuz the web browser control is powered by IE, right? So that's one annoyance plus this still involves too many steps. Is there a better way to automate this or to query the database directly and download the XML file in the background assuming their firewall doesn't stop it?