Force Download in Codeigniter doesn't work

Question

I'm trying to download a file using force_download in codeigniter.

I create an AJAX call like this

$.ajax({
    type: 'POST'
    , url: '<?php echo base_url('downloadPayroll'); ?>'
    , data: { filename: filename }
});

And here is my controller

public function downloadPayroll() {
    $filename = $this->input->post('filename');
    $fileContents = file_get_contents(base_url('assets/uploads/'. $filename));

    force_download($filePath, $fileContents);
}

I know I have the correct path and filename but it doesn't download anything.

What am I doing wrong because the documentation for Download Helper is very limited.

Enable all warnings, output name and make sure this file exist and not empty. Use some utility to monitor file access in your OS. — George Sovetov, Jan 18 '17 at 10:39
This solved my problem http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30261836/codeigniters-force-download-problems — Cronas De Se, Jan 18 '17 at 10:44

Nishant Nair · Answer 1 · 2017-01-18T10:35:30.490

0

Please try using below code. You are passing wrong variable name for force_download

$filename = $this->input->post('filename');
$fileContents = file_get_contents(base_url('assets/uploads/'. $filename)); 
$file='test.pdf';
force_download($file, $fileContents);

edited Jan 18 '17 at 10:35

answered Jan 18 '17 at 10:21

Nishant Nair

1,999
1
13
18

Please make sure you specify the file format for the first argument force_download . – Nishant Nair Jan 18 '17 at 10:34

score 0 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:08

0

Just a note to anyone else who may be having this problem: Make sure you have a file extension on the filename you supply for the first argument to force_download().

CodeIgniter uses this to set the MIME type, and it doesn't seem to work without.

for more CodeIgniter - force_download() problem.

$name = 'myfile.txt';//file extension is required
force_download($name, NULL);//if you dont want to send data set NULL

And Don't forget to load download helper first.

$this->load->helper('download');

edited May 23 '17 at 12:08

Community

1
1

answered Jan 18 '17 at 10:23

Hikmat Sijapati

6,869
1
9
19

I have included the download helper in my autoload. Also, I already tried hardcoding my filename into the `force_download` function but I still didn't get any response from the server. – Cronas De Se Jan 18 '17 at 10:30
enable `file_get_contents` on server. – Hikmat Sijapati Jan 18 '17 at 10:32
for more see here http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10256060/enabling-file-get-contents-on-a-shared-server – Hikmat Sijapati Jan 18 '17 at 10:32

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 18 '17 at 11:38

there is no way to download a file via an ajax request like that - try this instead

your JS File

$.ajax({
    type: 'POST'
    , url: '<?php echo base_url('downloadPayroll'); ?>'
    , data: { filename: filename },

    success: function(strUrl)
    {
        var link = document.createElement('a');
        link.style = "display: none";
        link.href = strUrl;
        document.body.appendChild(link);
        link.click();
        setTimeout(function () {
            document.body.removeChild(link);
        }, 5000);   
    }
});

Your Controller:

public function downloadPayroll() 
{
    $filename = $this->input->post('filename');
    echo base_url('assets/uploads/'. $filename);
}

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 08 '21 at 02:16

you are missing the helper

public function downloadPayroll() {
$filename = $this->input->post('filename');
$fileContents = file_get_contents(base_url('assets/uploads/'. $filename));

$this->load->helper( 'download' );

force_download($filePath, $fileContents);

}

Force Download in Codeigniter doesn't work

4 Answers4