How to create file and return it via FileResult in ASP.NET MVC?

Question

I have to create and return file in my aplication ASP.net MVC aplication. The file type should be normal .txt file. I know that i can return FileResult but i don't know how to use it.

public FilePathResult GetFile()
{
string name = "me.txt";

FileInfo info = new FileInfo(name);
if (!info.Exists)
{
    using (StreamWriter writer = info.CreateText())
    {
        writer.WriteLine("Hello, I am a new text file");

    }
}

return File(name, "text/plain");
}

This code doesn't work. Why? How to do it with stream result?

BigBlondeViking · Accepted Answer · 2009-09-04T13:03:28.797

36

EDIT ( If you want the stream try this: )

public FileStreamResult GetFile()
{
    string name = "me.txt";

    FileInfo info = new FileInfo(name);
    if (!info.Exists)
    {
        using (StreamWriter writer = info.CreateText())
        {
            writer.WriteLine("Hello, I am a new text file");

        }
    }

    return File(info.OpenRead(), "text/plain");

}

You could try something like this..

public FilePathResult GetFile()
{
    string name = "me.txt";

    FileInfo info = new FileInfo(name);
    if (!info.Exists)
    {
        using (StreamWriter writer = info.CreateText())
        {
            writer.WriteLine("Hello, I am a new text file");

        }
    }

    return File(name, "text/plain");

}

edited Sep 04 '09 at 13:03

answered Sep 03 '09 at 20:21

BigBlondeViking

3,853
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3

Also consider the other options- http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1187261/whats-the-difference-between-the-four-file-results-in-asp-net-mvc remembering that File( can accomodate all of them. – RichardOD Sep 03 '09 at 20:31
Yea, the File([params],...) will do what you want...you need to figure out what u want... – BigBlondeViking Sep 04 '09 at 13:05
2

In the second example you must replace declaring name variable to file path. string name = Server.MapPath("/me.txt"); – Cheburek Oct 22 '11 at 22:17

score 8 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 03 '09 at 19:53

8

Open the file to a StreamReader, and pass the stream as an argument to the FileResult:

public ActionResult GetFile()
{
    var stream = new StreamReader("thefilepath.txt");
    return File(stream.ReadToEnd(), "text/plain");
}

answered Sep 03 '09 at 19:53

Tomas Aschan

58,548
56
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1

Note that `"thefilepath.txt"` needs to be the full path to the text file, not just a relative path. – Tomas Aschan Sep 03 '09 at 19:54
how can i create one? with "TextWriter tw = new StreamWriter("date.txt");" or something else? – Ante Sep 03 '09 at 20:01
1

Yes, for example like so. Remember that the file paths need to be full paths, and use `using` statements. – Tomas Aschan Sep 03 '09 at 20:23

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 29 '15 at 15:22

Another example of creating and downloading file from ASP NET MVC application at once but file content is created in memory (RAM) - on the fly:

public ActionResult GetTextFile()
{
    UTF8Encoding encoding = new UTF8Encoding();
    byte[] contentAsBytes = encoding.GetBytes("this is text content");

    this.HttpContext.Response.ContentType = "text/plain";
    this.HttpContext.Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "filename=" + "text.txt");
    this.HttpContext.Response.Buffer = true;
    this.HttpContext.Response.Clear();
    this.HttpContext.Response.OutputStream.Write(contentAsBytes, 0, contentAsBytes.Length);
    this.HttpContext.Response.OutputStream.Flush();
    this.HttpContext.Response.End();

    return View();
}

How to create file and return it via FileResult in ASP.NET MVC?

3 Answers3

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