Download File from Flask App via Link or Browser

Question

Having a flask app running on remote server, and have files generated that I'd like users to download a file via a browser link (perhaps using ftp prefix?)

Here is a link of a file I put into a browser:

 ftp://linuxserver:8991/flask_project/cleaned_files/generated_file.xlsx
 # or
 http://linuxserver:8991/flask_project/cleaned_files/generated_file.xlsx
 # not found

The directory called 'flask_project' is where app.py is located. Any tips on how to access files to be transferred easily through link?

http can transfer files just fine. Avoid FTP whenever possible as its a needlessly complex, insecure, and outdated protocol. — erik258, Nov 29 '19 at 15:40
See this? https://flask.palletsprojects.com/en/1.1.x/api/#flask.send_from_directory — OneCricketeer, Nov 29 '19 at 15:42
@cricket_007 even if I switch to http:// prefix, file still now found — jKraut, Nov 29 '19 at 16:01

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 29 '19 at 16:08

Your server needs to define a route for downloading files

@app.route('/cleaned_files/<path:filename>')
def download_file(filename):
    return send_from_directory("cleaned_files",
                           filename, as_attachment=True)

Then that route would be accessed like so

http://linuxserver:8991/cleaned_files/generated_file.xlsx

Download File from Flask App via Link or Browser

1 Answers1