Is it possible to delete a file from the server after it was been loaded on a viewer's screen?

My aim is to have a file deleted after it has been viewed to keep it from being copied or looked at by any one other than the person it is intended for. Is there any was to do this?

Sry if my original question was poorly worded.

Not with javascript alone. You will need a server side language to do so.
Javascript can be used to fire the deletion though.

The simpliest, don't put the file directly to download.
Store them outside the reach of the web server.
When a user request it, and if you allow it, use a page as a "proxy".
This page will read the file from the unreachable location, and sent it to the browser (something like "while not end of file, read from source and print to browser" in pseudo code)

Store those access in a db, and simply flag them allowed/disabled for a given url.
You can even put timers in place that way.
Generate an download url that is valid only for 3 minutes, or so.

Thanks tripy, ill look into that.