How to download a pdf file in Android?

Question

I want to download a pdf file from an url. For viewing the pdf file I used the code below.

File file = new File("/sdcard/example.pdf");

if (file.exists()) {
    Uri path = Uri.fromFile(file);
    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    intent.setDataAndType(path, "application/pdf");
    intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);

    try {
        startActivity(intent);
    } 
    catch (ActivityNotFoundException e) {
        Toast.makeText(OpenPdf.this, "No Application Available to View PDF",
            Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }
}

It is working but how do I get the pdf file from an url (e.g http://.../example.pdf). I want to download the pdf file from this url. Please help me. Thanks in advance.

score 28 · Answer 1 · edited Aug 19 '18 at 02:17

28

Download a pdf:

 startActivity(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("www.education.gov.yk.ca/pdf/pdf-test.pdf")));

Ah as I've just found out this is device dependent.

scenarios

It will download the pdf to your browser/downloaded/ folder
You have a google docs account - It will ask you to sign in then view the pdf in the browser
You have a pdf reader installed - App dependent may catch it may not

In all scenarios though the user has access to the PDF with one line of code :-)

edited Aug 19 '18 at 02:17

rmtheis

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answered Jun 16 '11 at 09:02

Blundell

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@Blundell I tried the same with an MP4 url, but it opens the video in Google Chrome instead of starting the download. Any help? – harishannam Feb 12 '15 at 16:29
how is this device dependant?what do you mean? – Peter Haddad Jan 20 '18 at 07:24
meaning either scenario 1, 2 or 3 could happen – Blundell Jan 20 '18 at 08:36

score 9 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:33

9

Downloading a PDF works the same as downloading any other binary file.

Open a HttpUrlConnection
Use the connection's getInputStream() method to read the file.
Create a FileOutputStream and write the inputstream.

Check this post for example source code.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:33

Community

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answered Jun 16 '11 at 09:34

THelper

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But in Blundell answer the file will not be downloaded if pdf is not available in mobile.But i want to download pdf file from url and then the pdf will be show in webview. So this is the right answer for me. – Ramakrishna Jun 16 '11 at 10:54
Any plugin that does that? Sound like something generic – Vlado Pandžić Aug 07 '17 at 21:33

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Nov 27 '17 at 07:26

0

There is no need to put lengthy code to open and download pdf in android you can just use below code to open and download pdf

String URL ="http://worldhappiness.report/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/03/HR-V1_web.pdf"

 startActivity(new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW,Uri.parse(URL)));

answered Nov 27 '17 at 07:26

Deep Adhia

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This is basically the same answer as [this](https://stackoverflow.com/a/6369390/3908170) one... do you have anything to add to make yours different? – DarkCygnus May 09 '18 at 22:18

How to download a pdf file in Android?

3 Answers3

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