Send pdf via express to js client and download

Question

I am trying to send pdf file from my express server using the client when requested like this:

  res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/pdf');
  res.setHeader('Content-Disposition', 'attachment; filename=test.pdf');
  fs.createReadStream('test.pdf').pipe(res);

And then on the client side I am trying to download it by taking the resulting string converting it to a url and downloading from there.

var blob = new Blob[pdfString], { type: 'application/pdf' });
var url = window.URL;
var downloadUrl = url.createObjectURL(blob);

However the resulting file is two empty pages and I beleive think it might be because the resulting file is url is to large? If anyone could figure out whats wrong here or tell me of a better way to do it that would be awesome.

this might be helpful: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/31105846/how-to-send-a-pdf-file-from-node-express-app-to-the-browser — aitchkhan, Jan 16 '18 at 17:48
I'm trying to figure out a way I could use the 'request' http client — user2158720, Jan 16 '18 at 18:11
@HaroonKhan Thank you, but I already have the server side set up, I am trying to figure out how to download the response as a pdf file on the client side — user2158720, Jan 16 '18 at 18:17

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 16 '18 at 18:48

I was able to figure it out using XMlHttpRequest:

   var req = new XMLHttpRequest();
      req.open('GET', path , true);
      req.responseType = "arraybuffer";
      req.onload = (event) => {
        downloadPdf(req.response); //This is where I convert to blob
      }
      req.send();

Send pdf via express to js client and download

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