ASP.NET static WebMethod download file

Question

I'm trying to generate and download Excel file using ASP.NET static WebMethod, which is called via Ajax from jQuery.

[WebMethod]
public static void ExportToExcel(List<ResultGroupItem> searchResult)
{
    HttpResponse response = HttpContext.Current.Response;

    ExcelExporter excelExporter = new ExcelExporter();
    excelExporter.ExportToExcel(searchResult, response);
}

In my ExportToExcel method I generate the xls file and then I add http headers to download the file.

// excelFileBytes is a byte array holding the data to be written
if (excelFileBytes != null)
{
    response.Clear();
    response.ContentType = "application/octet-stream";
    response.AddHeader("content-disposition", string.Format("attachment; filename=\"{0}\"", fileName));
    response.Flush();
    response.BinaryWrite(excelFileBytes);
    response.Flush();
    response.End();
}

I know that my code is working, but calling it from Ajax did not initiate the download. Here is the response I get (by FireBug in Mozilla Firefox):

enter image description here

How to initiate file download from Ajax?

Yep, that looks like a ZIP archive (leading `PK` characters) of some XML files (hopefully obvious), which is what a modern Office XML file is. So, the server code seems fine. — Damien_The_Unbeliever, Jul 21 '15 at 10:41
However, reading your question again, I realise that your client side code may be doomed. If you search for `ajax trigger download`, you should find plenty of results explaining why it doesn't work. — Damien_The_Unbeliever, Jul 21 '15 at 10:44

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 21 '15 at 10:44

0

It's a bit unclear, what you are trying to do, but if I understand you right, you want to initiate a file download without the browser opening a new tab etc.

You should be able to do this using

<a href="/link/to/file" download>anchor text</a>

"download" attribute might not be necessary due to your content-disposition: attachment header.

answered Jul 21 '15 at 10:44

Jimmy B. Carlsen

26
3

Hello Jimmy, the excel file is generated on the fly using the List provided from JavaScript. It does not exist on the hard drive to download it by specifying the path to it. – George Findulov Jul 21 '15 at 10:48
You would probably need to have a
with method="post" and action set to the same as the URL you are using in your ajax call. And then have a button or an achor that submits the form.
– Jimmy B. Carlsen Jul 21 '15 at 10:58
I'll give it a try, thanks – George Findulov Jul 21 '15 at 11:03

score -1 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 21 '15 at 10:44

-1

Try something like this from client side, if you are using jquery

" $("form action='" + downloadUrl + "' method='post'> /form>").appendTo(document.body).submit() ";

answered Jul 21 '15 at 10:44

Akhil B

40
8

form tag is not well formed due to restrictions on the input. – Akhil B Jul 21 '15 at 10:48

ASP.NET static WebMethod download file

2 Answers2