File not downloading express.js res.download

Question

I've generated/exported a xlsx file using json2xlsx npm module and to download that file I'm using res.download(file) functionality of of express.js.

Reference: Download a file from NodeJS Server using Express

Following is my code:

var fs = require("fs");
var json2xls = require('json2xls');

app.use(json2xls.middleware);

app.get('/export/:id', function (req, res) {
    var id = req.params.id;
    db.collection('provider').findOne({_id: mongojs.ObjectId(id)}, function (err, doc) {
        var jsonArr = {};
        var arr = jsonArr = doc;
        var xls = json2xls(arr);
        fs.writeFileSync('data.xlsx', xls, 'binary'); //file exported

        //Now I want to download that file
        res.setHeader('Content-disposition', 'attachment; filename=data.xlsx');
        res.setHeader('Content-type', 'application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet');
        res.download(__dirname + '/public/data.xlsx', function (error) {
          console.log(error);
        });

        //res.json(doc);
    });
});

View html

        <div class="panel-body">

            <div class="form-group" ng-repeat="(key,value) in providerList"  ng-if="!$first">                    
                    <label>{{key.replace("_", " ") | uppercase}}</label>
                    <input type="text" class="form-control" id="title" placeholder="Enter Title" ng-model="providerList[key]">                    
            </div>

            <div class="well well-lg text-center bg-gray">                                        
                <button class="btn-lg btn-success" ng-click="export(id)">Export to Spreadsheet</button>
            </div>
        </div>

AngularJS controller code:

$scope.export = function (id) {
            $http.put('/export/' + id, $scope.providerList).success(function (response) {
                 if (response) {
                    alert("File is successfully exported at: "+ response);
                }
            });
        };

Error: { [Error: Request aborted] code: 'ECONNABORTED' }

Updated Error

Any help would be appreciated.

Necessary debug information. What do you mean by "not downloading"? Any errors? What will be displayed in the console with this call: `res.download(__dirname + '/data.xlsx', function(error) { console.log(error)} );` ? — stdob--, Mar 08 '16 at 08:03
This is the error: `{ [Error: Request aborted] code: 'ECONNABORTED' }` — J.K.A., Mar 08 '16 at 08:51
What if you try to save a file on a temporary random name instead `data.xlsx` before sending? What show `curl -I http://you.site/export/id`? — stdob--, Mar 08 '16 at 09:11

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

6

Set response header before res.download(),

res.setHeader('Content-disposition', 'attachment; filename=data.xlsx');
res.setHeader('Content-type', 'application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet');
res.download(__dirname + '/data.xlsx');

UPDATE:

According to json2xls, you can use res.xls('data.xlsx', jsonArr);.

For that you have to setup middleware for json2xls

app.use(json2xls.middleware);

UPDATE 2:

For front end(AngularJS), Refer this

edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

Community

1
1

answered Mar 08 '16 at 05:26

Jay

1,575
1
17
22

data.xlsx is generating ? – Jay Mar 08 '16 at 05:59
Updated Post Please Check – J.K.A. Mar 08 '16 at 08:54
@Mark : I've already updated my answer and it's working, use middleware. – Jay Mar 08 '16 at 09:16
use res.xls('data.xlsx', jsonArr); instead of res.download(); Directly pass json array into res.xls function. – Jay Mar 08 '16 at 09:20
Its working now but instead excel it response is showing like above (Check updated Post) on `console & alert` – J.K.A. Mar 08 '16 at 09:25
Can you update your question with client side code ? – Jay Mar 08 '16 at 09:33
Updated. Please check. – J.K.A. Mar 08 '16 at 09:36
Refer this, http://stackoverflow.com/questions/22447952/angularjs-http-post-convert-binary-to-excel-file-and-download – Jay Mar 08 '16 at 09:43
I replaced my controller's function with the code suggested in your link and its working now on chrome... Great..!!! Thanks :) – J.K.A. Mar 08 '16 at 09:49

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 08 '16 at 04:27

1

May be your .xlsx file saved in the root folder.So, moved the .xlsx file under public folder and enable it in express like below.

        app.use(express.static('./public'));

answered Mar 08 '16 at 04:27

Vignesh Kumar

598
4
11

Moved to `public` and used `app.use(express.static(__dirname + "/public")); // express.static means we are telling the server to look for static file i.e. html,css,js etc. but still not working ` – J.K.A. Mar 08 '16 at 04:31
Here's the code now : `res.download(__dirname + '/public/data.xlsx');` – J.K.A. Mar 08 '16 at 04:32
Its not showing any error but download is also not working – J.K.A. Mar 08 '16 at 04:32
Updated Post Please Check – J.K.A. Mar 08 '16 at 08:54

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 10 '20 at 09:27

0

I notice your angular controller makes a $http.put but your backend is expecting a GET (app.get). Are you sure this is how you intended to configure it?

answered Mar 10 '20 at 09:27

CahirOD

1
2

File not downloading express.js res.download

3 Answers3