request-promise download pdf file

Question

I received multiple pdf files and must download it from a REST-API.

After auth and connect I try to download the file with request-promise:

const optionsStart = {
  uri: url,
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
      'X-TOKEN': authToken,
      'Content-type': 'applcation/pdf'
    }
  }
  request(optionsStart)
    .then(function(body, data) {
      let writeStream = fs.createWriteStream(uuid+'_obj.pdf');
      console.log(body)
      writeStream.write(body, 'binary');
      writeStream.on('finish', () => {
        console.log('wrote all data to file');
      });
      writeStream.end();
    })

The request create a pdf (approximately 1-2MB) but I can't open it. (Mac Preview show blank pages and adobe show = >

There was an error opening this document. There was a problem reading this document (14).

I have no information about the API Endpoint where I download the files. Just have this curl:

curl -o doc.pdf --header "X-TOKEN: XXXXXX" 
http://XXX.XXX/XXX/docs/doc1

Where is my mistake?

Update:

I opened the file in edit and the file looks like that:

Don't have any experience with that :-)

score 23 · Accepted Answer · edited Nov 25 '19 at 19:55

23

Add encoding: 'binary' to your request options:

const optionsStart = {
  uri: url,
  method: "GET",
  encoding: "binary", // it also works with encoding: null
  headers: {
    "Content-type": "application/pdf"
  }
};

edited Nov 25 '19 at 19:55

DraganescuValentin

842
2
10
16

answered Feb 12 '18 at 18:45

Radu Luncasu

975
10
17

11

If `encoding: "binary"` doesn't work try `encoding: null`! – Bora M. Alper Mar 18 '18 at 22:25
1

@boramalper I had excel sheet (.xlsx), null worked perfectly, thank you a lot! – Manohar Reddy Poreddy Jul 17 '18 at 04:41
1

@BoraM.Alper null works perfect with encryption keys on .dat format – TadeoArmenta Sep 12 '18 at 17:23
could this answer be fixed to use null, and there is a typo application/pdf – Andreas Herd Apr 17 '19 at 09:44
1

I had to use null instead of "binary" as well. Under which circumstances would "binary" work anyway? Is there any documentation? – Forivin Jan 23 '20 at 09:09

score 18 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 29 '18 at 22:26

18

Add encoding: null to your request options:

const optionsStart = {
  uri: url,
  method: "GET",
  encoding: null,
  headers: {
    "Content-type": "application/pdf"
  }
};

Then, turn the response into a Buffer (if necessary):

const buffer = Buffer.from(response);

edited Oct 29 '18 at 22:26

Blue

22,608
7
62
92

answered Oct 20 '18 at 14:58

Juan

603
7
15

3

If you set `encoding: null` then you do not need to do `Buffer.from(response)` since the response will already be a buffer – Ben McCann Apr 13 '19 at 03:19

score 2 · Answer 3 · edited Apr 01 '21 at 16:42

try this

const optionsStart = {
      uri: url,
      method: 'GET',
      headers: {
          'X-TOKEN': authToken,
          'Content-type': 'application/pdf'
      },
      encoding: null
  }
  request(optionsStart, (err, resp) => {
      let writeStream = fs.createWriteStream(uuid + '_obj.pdf');
      writeStream.write(resp.body, 'binary');
      writeStream.on('finish', () => {
        console.log('wrote all data to file');
      });
      writeStream.end();
  })

request-promise download pdf file

3 Answers3