how to download server file in node js?

Question

Could you please tell me how to download server file in node js

here is my code Node js code (request code)

var express = require('express');
var multer = require('multer');
var bodyParser = require('body-parser');
var cors = require('cors');
var app = express();
var path = require('path');
var PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;


// use of body parser
app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({
    extended: true
}));

app.use(bodyParser.json());
app.use(cors());



app.get('/download', function(req, res){
    console.log(__dirname);
    var file = path.join(__dirname , '/uploads/file-1534458777206.xlsx');
    console.log(file)
    res.download(file); // Set disposition and send it.
});




app.listen(PORT, () => {
    console.log(`App is listening to ${PORT}`);
})

I am requesting like that on client

$('.download').on('click', function () {
            $.ajax({
                url: 'http://localhost:3000/download',
                type: 'GET',
                dataType: 'json',
                success: function (data) {
                    console.log('data')
                },
                error: function (jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown) {
                    // Handle errors here
                    console.log('ERRORS: ' + textStatus);
                    // STOP LOADING SPINNER
                }
            });

getting error on console

ERRORS: parsererror
3index.html?_ijt=9lu9erpan2oq6qf28851ngj0ra:32 ERRORS: parsererror
2index.html?_ijt=9lu9erpan2oq6qf28851ngj0ra:32 ERRORS: parsererror

server logs

C:\Users\B0207296\WebstormProjects\uploadFile\server
C:\Users\B0207296\WebstormProjects\uploadFile\server\uploads\file-1534458777206.xlsx

why files is not download on client as I mention file is present in above url

What happens when on click you do `$window.open(http://localhost:3000/download)` — WilliamNHarvey, Aug 16 '18 at 23:56
using this it dowload the file window.open(http://localhost:3000/download) .in new tab — user944513, Aug 16 '18 at 23:59
Ok so your server is working fine. I think the users browser is protecting them. I don't know of any way to download a file from an ajax request directly. Try the "virtual click link" method here i guess https://stackoverflow.com/questions/35164277/download-file-on-ajax-success-node-js — WilliamNHarvey, Aug 17 '18 at 00:00
Possible duplicate of [jQuery returning "parsererror" for ajax request](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/5061310/jquery-returning-parsererror-for-ajax-request) — sampathsris, Aug 17 '18 at 00:29

vladwoguer · Accepted Answer · 2018-08-17T00:24:49.633

0

To get the file content via ajax: Just remove the dataType, your file is being parsed to json causing the error.

$('.download').on('click', function () {
     $.ajax({
         url: 'http://localhost:3000/download',
          type: 'GET',
          success: function (data) {
              console.log(data); // File data
          },
          error: function (jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown) {
              // Handle errors here
              console.log('ERRORS: ' + textStatus);
              // STOP LOADING SPINNER
          }
      });

To download the file is better user a virtual link

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>

</head>
<body>
<b class="download">Download Here</b>
<script>
$('.download').on('click', function () {
    var link = document.createElement('a');
    link.href = 'http://localhost:3000/download';
    var e = document.createEvent('MouseEvents');
    e.initEvent('click', true, true);
    link.dispatchEvent(e);
  })
</script>

</body>
</html>

edited Aug 17 '18 at 00:24

answered Aug 17 '18 at 00:01

vladwoguer

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yes `success is` coming now but file is not downloaded why ? – user944513 Aug 17 '18 at 00:05
file is donload correctly or successfully using this `window.location ='http://localhost:3000/download';` – user944513 Aug 17 '18 at 00:06
but it is not downloded using ajax – user944513 Aug 17 '18 at 00:06
In this case you got the file content in the ajax request. If you want to download it's better use the Virtual Link Click strategy. – vladwoguer Aug 17 '18 at 00:10

how to download server file in node js?

1 Answers1