I have a very similar requirement specified here.
I need to have the user's browser start a download manually when $('a#someID').click();
But I cannot use the window.href method, since it replaces the current page contents with the file you're trying to download.
Instead I want to open the download in new window/tab. How is this possible?
Use an invisible <iframe>:
<iframe id="my_iframe" style="display:none;"></iframe>
<script>
function Download(url) {
document.getElementById('my_iframe').src = url;
};
</script>
To force the browser to download a file it would otherwise be capable of rendering (such as HTML or text files), you need the server to set the file's MIME Type to a nonsensical value, such as application/x-please-download-me or alternatively application/octet-stream, which is used for arbitrary binary data.
If you only want to open it in a new tab, the only way to do this is for the user to a click on a link with its target attribute set to _blank.
In jQuery:
$('a#someID').attr({target: '_blank',
href : 'http://localhost/directory/file.pdf'});
Whenever that link is clicked, it will download the file in a new tab/window.
2019 modern browsers update
This is the approach I'd now recommend with a few caveats:
fetch('https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/todos/1')
.then(resp => resp.blob())
.then(blob => {
const url = window.URL.createObjectURL(blob);
const a = document.createElement('a');
a.style.display = 'none';
a.href = url;
// the filename you want
a.download = 'todo-1.json';
document.body.appendChild(a);
a.click();
window.URL.revokeObjectURL(url);
alert('your file has downloaded!'); // or you know, something with better UX...
})
.catch(() => alert('oh no!'));2012 original jQuery/iframe/cookie based approach
I have created the jQuery File Download plugin (Demo) (GitHub) which could also help with your situation. It works pretty similarly with an iframe but has some cool features that I have found quite handy:
Very easy to setup with nice visuals (jQuery UI Dialog, but not required), everything is tested too
User never leaves the same page they initiated a file download from. This feature is becoming crucial for modern web applications
successCallback and failCallback functions allow for you to be explicit about what the user sees in either situation
In conjunction with jQuery UI a developer can easily show a modal telling the user that a file download is occurring, disband the modal after the download starts or even inform the user in a friendly manner that an error has occurred. See the Demo for an example of this. Hope this helps someone!
Here is a simple use case demo using the plugin source with promises. The demo page includes many other, 'better UX' examples as well.
$.fileDownload('some/file.pdf')
.done(function () { alert('File download a success!'); })
.fail(function () { alert('File download failed!'); });
function downloadURI(uri, name)
{
var link = document.createElement("a");
// If you don't know the name or want to use
// the webserver default set name = ''
link.setAttribute('download', name);
link.href = uri;
document.body.appendChild(link);
link.click();
link.remove();
}
Check if your target browser(s) will run the above snippet smoothly:
http://caniuse.com/#feat=download
I'm surprised not a lot of people know about the download attribute for a elements. Please help spread the word about it! You can have a hidden html link, and fake a click on it. If the html link has the download attribute it downloads the file, not views it, no matter what. Here's the code. It will download a cat picture if it can find it.
document.getElementById('download').click();<a href="https://docs.google.com/uc?id=0B0jH18Lft7ypSmRjdWg1c082Y2M" download id="download" hidden></a>Note: This is not supported on all browsers: http://www.w3schools.com/tags/att_a_download.asp
I recommend using the download attribute for download instead of jQuery:
<a href="your_link" download> file_name </a>
This will download your file, without opening it.
If you are already using jQuery, you could take adventage of it to produce a smaller snippet
A jQuery version of Andrew's answer:
var $idown; // Keep it outside of the function, so it's initialized once.
downloadURL : function(url) {
if ($idown) {
$idown.attr('src',url);
} else {
$idown = $('<iframe>', { id:'idown', src:url }).hide().appendTo('body');
}
},
//... How to use it:
downloadURL('http://whatever.com/file.pdf');
Simple example using an iframe
function downloadURL(url) {
var hiddenIFrameID = 'hiddenDownloader',
iframe = document.getElementById(hiddenIFrameID);
if (iframe === null) {
iframe = document.createElement('iframe');
iframe.id = hiddenIFrameID;
iframe.style.display = 'none';
document.body.appendChild(iframe);
}
iframe.src = url;
};
Then just call the function wherever you want:
downloadURL('path/to/my/file');
Only seven years later here comes a one line jQuery solution using a form instead of an iframe or link:
$('<form></form>')
.attr('action', filePath)
.appendTo('body').submit().remove();
I've tested this in
If anyone knows of any downsides with this solution I'd be very happy to hear about them.
Full demo:
<html>
<head><script src="https://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.11.3.js"></script></head>
<body>
<script>
var filePath = window.prompt("Enter a file URL","http://jqueryui.com/resources/download/jquery-ui-1.12.1.zip");
$('<form></form>').attr('action', filePath).appendTo('body').submit().remove();
</script>
</body>
</html>
I ended up using the below snippet and it works in most browsers, not tested in IE though.
let data = JSON.stringify([{email: "[email protected]", name: "test"}, {email: "[email protected]", name: "anothertest"}]);
let type = "application/json", name = "testfile.json";
downloader(data, type, name)
function downloader(data, type, name) {
let blob = new Blob([data], {type});
let url = window.URL.createObjectURL(blob);
downloadURI(url, name);
window.URL.revokeObjectURL(url);
}
function downloadURI(uri, name) {
let link = document.createElement("a");
link.download = name;
link.href = uri;
link.click();
}function downloadURI(uri, name) {
let link = document.createElement("a");
link.download = name;
link.href = uri;
link.click();
}
function downloader(data, type, name) {
let blob = new Blob([data], {type});
let url = window.URL.createObjectURL(blob);
downloadURI(url, name);
window.URL.revokeObjectURL(url);
}
I don't know if the question is just too old, but setting window.location to a download url will work, as long as the download mime type is correct (for example a zip archive).
var download = function(downloadURL) {
location = downloadURL;
});
download('http://example.com/archive.zip'); //correct usage
download('http://example.com/page.html'); //DON'T
Most Complete and Working (Tested) Code for Downloading Data For FireFox, Chrome and IE Code is Following. Assume that Data is in texarea field, that has id='textarea_area' and filename is name of file where data will be downloaded.
function download(filename) {
if (typeof filename==='undefined') filename = ""; // default
value = document.getElementById('textarea_area').value;
filetype="text/*";
extension=filename.substring(filename.lastIndexOf("."));
for (var i = 0; i < extToMIME.length; i++) {
if (extToMIME[i][0].localeCompare(extension)==0) {
filetype=extToMIME[i][1];
break;
}
}
var pom = document.createElement('a');
pom.setAttribute('href', 'data: '+filetype+';charset=utf-8,' + '\ufeff' + encodeURIComponent(value)); // Added BOM too
pom.setAttribute('download', filename);
if (document.createEvent) {
if (navigator.userAgent.indexOf('MSIE') !== -1 || navigator.appVersion.indexOf('Trident/') > 0) { // IE
blobObject = new Blob(['\ufeff'+value]);
window.navigator.msSaveBlob(blobObject, filename);
} else { // FF, Chrome
var event = document.createEvent('MouseEvents');
event.initEvent('click', true, true);
pom.dispatchEvent(event);
}
} else if( document.createEventObject ) { // Have No Idea
var evObj = document.createEventObject();
pom.fireEvent( 'onclick' , evObj );
} else { // For Any Case
pom.click();
}
}
and then just call
<a href="javascript:download();">Download</a>
For Download Initiating.
Array for setting correct MIME type for download dialog CAN BE following:
// ----------------------- Extensions to MIME --------- //
// List of mime types
// combination of values from Windows 7 Registry and
// from C:\Windows\System32\inetsrv\config\applicationHost.config
// some added, including .7z and .dat
var extToMIME = [
[".323", "text/h323"],
[".3g2", "video/3gpp2"],
[".3gp", "video/3gpp"],
[".3gp2", "video/3gpp2"],
[".3gpp", "video/3gpp"],
[".7z", "application/x-7z-compressed"],
[".aa", "audio/audible"],
[".AAC", "audio/aac"],
[".aaf", "application/octet-stream"],
[".aax", "audio/vnd.audible.aax"],
[".ac3", "audio/ac3"],
[".aca", "application/octet-stream"],
[".accda", "application/msaccess.addin"],
[".accdb", "application/msaccess"],
[".accdc", "application/msaccess.cab"],
[".accde", "application/msaccess"],
[".accdr", "application/msaccess.runtime"],
[".accdt", "application/msaccess"],
[".accdw", "application/msaccess.webapplication"],
[".accft", "application/msaccess.ftemplate"],
[".acx", "application/internet-property-stream"],
[".AddIn", "text/xml"],
[".ade", "application/msaccess"],
[".adobebridge", "application/x-bridge-url"],
[".adp", "application/msaccess"],
[".ADT", "audio/vnd.dlna.adts"],
[".ADTS", "audio/aac"],
[".afm", "application/octet-stream"],
[".ai", "application/postscript"],
[".aif", "audio/x-aiff"],
[".aifc", "audio/aiff"],
[".aiff", "audio/aiff"],
[".air", "application/vnd.adobe.air-application-installer-package+zip"],
[".amc", "application/x-mpeg"],
[".application", "application/x-ms-application"],
[".art", "image/x-jg"],
[".asa", "application/xml"],
[".asax", "application/xml"],
[".ascx", "application/xml"],
[".asd", "application/octet-stream"],
[".asf", "video/x-ms-asf"],
[".ashx", "application/xml"],
[".asi", "application/octet-stream"],
[".asm", "text/plain"],
[".asmx", "application/xml"],
[".aspx", "application/xml"],
[".asr", "video/x-ms-asf"],
[".asx", "video/x-ms-asf"],
[".atom", "application/atom+xml"],
[".au", "audio/basic"],
[".avi", "video/x-msvideo"],
[".axs", "application/olescript"],
[".bas", "text/plain"],
[".bcpio", "application/x-bcpio"],
[".bin", "application/octet-stream"],
[".bmp", "image/bmp"],
[".c", "text/plain"],
[".cab", "application/octet-stream"],
[".caf", "audio/x-caf"],
[".calx", "application/vnd.ms-office.calx"],
[".cat", "application/vnd.ms-pki.seccat"],
[".cc", "text/plain"],
[".cd", "text/plain"],
[".cdda", "audio/aiff"],
[".cdf", "application/x-cdf"],
[".cer", "application/x-x509-ca-cert"],
[".chm", "application/octet-stream"],
[".class", "application/x-java-applet"],
[".clp", "application/x-msclip"],
[".cmx", "image/x-cmx"],
[".cnf", "text/plain"],
[".cod", "image/cis-cod"],
[".config", "application/xml"],
[".contact", "text/x-ms-contact"],
[".coverage", "application/xml"],
[".cpio", "application/x-cpio"],
[".cpp", "text/plain"],
[".crd", "application/x-mscardfile"],
[".crl", "application/pkix-crl"],
[".crt", "application/x-x509-ca-cert"],
[".cs", "text/plain"],
[".csdproj", "text/plain"],
[".csh", "application/x-csh"],
[".csproj", "text/plain"],
[".css", "text/css"],
[".csv", "text/csv"],
[".cur", "application/octet-stream"],
[".cxx", "text/plain"],
[".dat", "application/octet-stream"],
[".datasource", "application/xml"],
[".dbproj", "text/plain"],
[".dcr", "application/x-director"],
[".def", "text/plain"],
[".deploy", "application/octet-stream"],
[".der", "application/x-x509-ca-cert"],
[".dgml", "application/xml"],
[".dib", "image/bmp"],
[".dif", "video/x-dv"],
[".dir", "application/x-director"],
[".disco", "text/xml"],
[".dll", "application/x-msdownload"],
[".dll.config", "text/xml"],
[".dlm", "text/dlm"],
[".doc", "application/msword"],
[".docm", "application/vnd.ms-word.document.macroEnabled.12"],
[".docx", "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document"],
[".dot", "application/msword"],
[".dotm", "application/vnd.ms-word.template.macroEnabled.12"],
[".dotx", "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.template"],
[".dsp", "application/octet-stream"],
[".dsw", "text/plain"],
[".dtd", "text/xml"],
[".dtsConfig", "text/xml"],
[".dv", "video/x-dv"],
[".dvi", "application/x-dvi"],
[".dwf", "drawing/x-dwf"],
[".dwp", "application/octet-stream"],
[".dxr", "application/x-director"],
[".eml", "message/rfc822"],
[".emz", "application/octet-stream"],
[".eot", "application/octet-stream"],
[".eps", "application/postscript"],
[".etl", "application/etl"],
[".etx", "text/x-setext"],
[".evy", "application/envoy"],
[".exe", "application/octet-stream"],
[".exe.config", "text/xml"],
[".fdf", "application/vnd.fdf"],
[".fif", "application/fractals"],
[".filters", "Application/xml"],
[".fla", "application/octet-stream"],
[".flr", "x-world/x-vrml"],
[".flv", "video/x-flv"],
[".fsscript", "application/fsharp-script"],
[".fsx", "application/fsharp-script"],
[".generictest", "application/xml"],
[".gif", "image/gif"],
[".group", "text/x-ms-group"],
[".gsm", "audio/x-gsm"],
[".gtar", "application/x-gtar"],
[".gz", "application/x-gzip"],
[".h", "text/plain"],
[".hdf", "application/x-hdf"],
[".hdml", "text/x-hdml"],
[".hhc", "application/x-oleobject"],
[".hhk", "application/octet-stream"],
[".hhp", "application/octet-stream"],
[".hlp", "application/winhlp"],
[".hpp", "text/plain"],
[".hqx", "application/mac-binhex40"],
[".hta", "application/hta"],
[".htc", "text/x-component"],
[".htm", "text/html"],
[".html", "text/html"],
[".htt", "text/webviewhtml"],
[".hxa", "application/xml"],
[".hxc", "application/xml"],
[".hxd", "application/octet-stream"],
[".hxe", "application/xml"],
[".hxf", "application/xml"],
[".hxh", "application/octet-stream"],
[".hxi", "application/octet-stream"],
[".hxk", "application/xml"],
[".hxq", "application/octet-stream"],
[".hxr", "application/octet-stream"],
[".hxs", "application/octet-stream"],
[".hxt", "text/html"],
[".hxv", "application/xml"],
[".hxw", "application/octet-stream"],
[".hxx", "text/plain"],
[".i", "text/plain"],
[".ico", "image/x-icon"],
[".ics", "application/octet-stream"],
[".idl", "text/plain"],
[".ief", "image/ief"],
[".iii", "application/x-iphone"],
[".inc", "text/plain"],
[".inf", "application/octet-stream"],
[".inl", "text/plain"],
[".ins", "application/x-internet-signup"],
[".ipa", "application/x-itunes-ipa"],
[".ipg", "application/x-itunes-ipg"],
[".ipproj", "text/plain"],
[".ipsw", "application/x-itunes-ipsw"],
[".iqy", "text/x-ms-iqy"],
[".isp", "application/x-internet-signup"],
[".ite", "application/x-itunes-ite"],
[".itlp", "application/x-itunes-itlp"],
[".itms", "application/x-itunes-itms"],
[".itpc", "application/x-itunes-itpc"],
[".IVF", "video/x-ivf"],
[".jar", "application/java-archive"],
[".java", "application/octet-stream"],
[".jck", "application/liquidmotion"],
[".jcz", "application/liquidmotion"],
[".jfif", "image/pjpeg"],
[".jnlp", "application/x-java-jnlp-file"],
[".jpb", "application/octet-stream"],
[".jpe", "image/jpeg"],
[".jpeg", "image/jpeg"],
[".jpg", "image/jpeg"],
[".js", "application/x-javascript"],
[".json", "application/json"],
[".jsx", "text/jscript"],
[".jsxbin", "text/plain"],
[".latex", "application/x-latex"],
[".library-ms", "application/windows-library+xml"],
[".lit", "application/x-ms-reader"],
[".loadtest", "application/xml"],
[".lpk", "application/octet-stream"],
[".lsf", "video/x-la-asf"],
[".lst", "text/plain"],
[".lsx", "video/x-la-asf"],
[".lzh", "application/octet-stream"],
[".m13", "application/x-msmediaview"],
[".m14", "application/x-msmediaview"],
[".m1v", "video/mpeg"],
[".m2t", "video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts"],
[".m2ts", "video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts"],
[".m2v", "video/mpeg"],
[".m3u", "audio/x-mpegurl"],
[".m3u8", "audio/x-mpegurl"],
[".m4a", "audio/m4a"],
[".m4b", "audio/m4b"],
[".m4p", "audio/m4p"],
[".m4r", "audio/x-m4r"],
[".m4v", "video/x-m4v"],
[".mac", "image/x-macpaint"],
[".mak", "text/plain"],
[".man", "application/x-troff-man"],
[".manifest", "application/x-ms-manifest"],
[".map", "text/plain"],
[".master", "application/xml"],
[".mda", "application/msaccess"],
[".mdb", "application/x-msaccess"],
[".mde", "application/msaccess"],
[".mdp", "application/octet-stream"],
[".me", "application/x-troff-me"],
[".mfp", "application/x-shockwave-flash"],
[".mht", "message/rfc822"],
[".mhtml", "message/rfc822"],
[".mid", "audio/mid"],
[".midi", "audio/mid"],
[".mix", "application/octet-stream"],
[".mk", "text/plain"],
[".mmf", "application/x-smaf"],
[".mno", "text/xml"],
[".mny", "application/x-msmoney"],
[".mod", "video/mpeg"],
[".mov", "video/quicktime"],
[".movie", "video/x-sgi-movie"],
[".mp2", "video/mpeg"],
[".mp2v", "video/mpeg"],
[".mp3", "audio/mpeg"],
[".mp4", "video/mp4"],
[".mp4v", "video/mp4"],
[".mpa", "video/mpeg"],
[".mpe", "video/mpeg"],
[".mpeg", "video/mpeg"],
[".mpf", "application/vnd.ms-mediapackage"],
[".mpg", "video/mpeg"],
[".mpp", "application/vnd.ms-project"],
[".mpv2", "video/mpeg"],
[".mqv", "video/quicktime"],
[".ms", "application/x-troff-ms"],
[".msi", "application/octet-stream"],
[".mso", "application/octet-stream"],
[".mts", "video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts"],
[".mtx", "application/xml"],
[".mvb", "application/x-msmediaview"],
[".mvc", "application/x-miva-compiled"],
[".mxp", "application/x-mmxp"],
[".nc", "application/x-netcdf"],
[".nsc", "video/x-ms-asf"],
[".nws", "message/rfc822"],
[".ocx", "application/octet-stream"],
[".oda", "application/oda"],
[".odc", "text/x-ms-odc"],
[".odh", "text/plain"],
[".odl", "text/plain"],
[".odp", "application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.presentation"],
[".ods", "application/oleobject"],
[".odt", "application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.text"],
[".one", "application/onenote"],
[".onea", "application/onenote"],
[".onepkg", "application/onenote"],
[".onetmp", "application/onenote"],
[".onetoc", "application/onenote"],
[".onetoc2", "application/onenote"],
[".orderedtest", "application/xml"],
[".osdx", "application/opensearchdescription+xml"],
[".p10", "application/pkcs10"],
[".p12", "application/x-pkcs12"],
[".p7b", "application/x-pkcs7-certificates"],
[".p7c", "application/pkcs7-mime"],
[".p7m", "application/pkcs7-mime"],
[".p7r", "application/x-pkcs7-certreqresp"],
[".p7s", "application/pkcs7-signature"],
[".pbm", "image/x-portable-bitmap"],
[".pcast", "application/x-podcast"],
[".pct", "image/pict"],
[".pcx", "application/octet-stream"],
[".pcz", "application/octet-stream"],
[".pdf", "application/pdf"],
[".pfb", "application/octet-stream"],
[".pfm", "application/octet-stream"],
[".pfx", "application/x-pkcs12"],
[".pgm", "image/x-portable-graymap"],
[".pic", "image/pict"],
[".pict", "image/pict"],
[".pkgdef", "text/plain"],
[".pkgundef", "text/plain"],
[".pko", "application/vnd.ms-pki.pko"],
[".pls", "audio/scpls"],
[".pma", "application/x-perfmon"],
[".pmc", "application/x-perfmon"],
[".pml", "application/x-perfmon"],
[".pmr", "application/x-perfmon"],
[".pmw", "application/x-perfmon"],
[".png", "image/png"],
[".pnm", "image/x-portable-anymap"],
[".pnt", "image/x-macpaint"],
[".pntg", "image/x-macpaint"],
[".pnz", "image/png"],
[".pot", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint"],
[".potm", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint.template.macroEnabled.12"],
[".potx", "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.template"],
[".ppa", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint"],
[".ppam", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint.addin.macroEnabled.12"],
[".ppm", "image/x-portable-pixmap"],
[".pps", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint"],
[".ppsm", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint.slideshow.macroEnabled.12"],
[".ppsx", "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.slideshow"],
[".ppt", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint"],
[".pptm", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint.presentation.macroEnabled.12"],
[".pptx", "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation"],
[".prf", "application/pics-rules"],
[".prm", "application/octet-stream"],
[".prx", "application/octet-stream"],
[".ps", "application/postscript"],
[".psc1", "application/PowerShell"],
[".psd", "application/octet-stream"],
[".psess", "application/xml"],
[".psm", "application/octet-stream"],
[".psp", "application/octet-stream"],
[".pub", "application/x-mspublisher"],
[".pwz", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint"],
[".qht", "text/x-html-insertion"],
[".qhtm", "text/x-html-insertion"],
[".qt", "video/quicktime"],
[".qti", "image/x-quicktime"],
[".qtif", "image/x-quicktime"],
[".qtl", "application/x-quicktimeplayer"],
[".qxd", "application/octet-stream"],
[".ra", "audio/x-pn-realaudio"],
[".ram", "audio/x-pn-realaudio"],
[".rar", "application/octet-stream"],
[".ras", "image/x-cmu-raster"],
[".rat", "application/rat-file"],
[".rc", "text/plain"],
[".rc2", "text/plain"],
[".rct", "text/plain"],
[".rdlc", "application/xml"],
[".resx", "application/xml"],
[".rf", "image/vnd.rn-realflash"],
[".rgb", "image/x-rgb"],
[".rgs", "text/plain"],
[".rm", "application/vnd.rn-realmedia"],
[".rmi", "audio/mid"],
[".rmp", "application/vnd.rn-rn_music_package"],
[".roff", "application/x-troff"],
[".rpm", "audio/x-pn-realaudio-plugin"],
[".rqy", "text/x-ms-rqy"],
[".rtf", "application/rtf"],
[".rtx", "text/richtext"],
[".ruleset", "application/xml"],
[".s", "text/plain"],
[".safariextz", "application/x-safari-safariextz"],
[".scd", "application/x-msschedule"],
[".sct", "text/scriptlet"],
[".sd2", "audio/x-sd2"],
[".sdp", "application/sdp"],
[".sea", "application/octet-stream"],
[".searchConnector-ms", "application/windows-search-connector+xml"],
[".setpay", "application/set-payment-initiation"],
[".setreg", "application/set-registration-initiation"],
[".settings", "application/xml"],
[".sgimb", "application/x-sgimb"],
[".sgml", "text/sgml"],
[".sh", "application/x-sh"],
[".shar", "application/x-shar"],
[".shtml", "text/html"],
[".sit", "application/x-stuffit"],
[".sitemap", "application/xml"],
[".skin", "application/xml"],
[".sldm", "application/vnd.ms-powerpoint.slide.macroEnabled.12"],
[".sldx", "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.slide"],
[".slk", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".sln", "text/plain"],
[".slupkg-ms", "application/x-ms-license"],
[".smd", "audio/x-smd"],
[".smi", "application/octet-stream"],
[".smx", "audio/x-smd"],
[".smz", "audio/x-smd"],
[".snd", "audio/basic"],
[".snippet", "application/xml"],
[".snp", "application/octet-stream"],
[".sol", "text/plain"],
[".sor", "text/plain"],
[".spc", "application/x-pkcs7-certificates"],
[".spl", "application/futuresplash"],
[".src", "application/x-wais-source"],
[".srf", "text/plain"],
[".SSISDeploymentManifest", "text/xml"],
[".ssm", "application/streamingmedia"],
[".sst", "application/vnd.ms-pki.certstore"],
[".stl", "application/vnd.ms-pki.stl"],
[".sv4cpio", "application/x-sv4cpio"],
[".sv4crc", "application/x-sv4crc"],
[".svc", "application/xml"],
[".swf", "application/x-shockwave-flash"],
[".t", "application/x-troff"],
[".tar", "application/x-tar"],
[".tcl", "application/x-tcl"],
[".testrunconfig", "application/xml"],
[".testsettings", "application/xml"],
[".tex", "application/x-tex"],
[".texi", "application/x-texinfo"],
[".texinfo", "application/x-texinfo"],
[".tgz", "application/x-compressed"],
[".thmx", "application/vnd.ms-officetheme"],
[".thn", "application/octet-stream"],
[".tif", "image/tiff"],
[".tiff", "image/tiff"],
[".tlh", "text/plain"],
[".tli", "text/plain"],
[".toc", "application/octet-stream"],
[".tr", "application/x-troff"],
[".trm", "application/x-msterminal"],
[".trx", "application/xml"],
[".ts", "video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts"],
[".tsv", "text/tab-separated-values"],
[".ttf", "application/octet-stream"],
[".tts", "video/vnd.dlna.mpeg-tts"],
[".txt", "text/plain"],
[".u32", "application/octet-stream"],
[".uls", "text/iuls"],
[".user", "text/plain"],
[".ustar", "application/x-ustar"],
[".vb", "text/plain"],
[".vbdproj", "text/plain"],
[".vbk", "video/mpeg"],
[".vbproj", "text/plain"],
[".vbs", "text/vbscript"],
[".vcf", "text/x-vcard"],
[".vcproj", "Application/xml"],
[".vcs", "text/plain"],
[".vcxproj", "Application/xml"],
[".vddproj", "text/plain"],
[".vdp", "text/plain"],
[".vdproj", "text/plain"],
[".vdx", "application/vnd.ms-visio.viewer"],
[".vml", "text/xml"],
[".vscontent", "application/xml"],
[".vsct", "text/xml"],
[".vsd", "application/vnd.visio"],
[".vsi", "application/ms-vsi"],
[".vsix", "application/vsix"],
[".vsixlangpack", "text/xml"],
[".vsixmanifest", "text/xml"],
[".vsmdi", "application/xml"],
[".vspscc", "text/plain"],
[".vss", "application/vnd.visio"],
[".vsscc", "text/plain"],
[".vssettings", "text/xml"],
[".vssscc", "text/plain"],
[".vst", "application/vnd.visio"],
[".vstemplate", "text/xml"],
[".vsto", "application/x-ms-vsto"],
[".vsw", "application/vnd.visio"],
[".vsx", "application/vnd.visio"],
[".vtx", "application/vnd.visio"],
[".wav", "audio/wav"],
[".wave", "audio/wav"],
[".wax", "audio/x-ms-wax"],
[".wbk", "application/msword"],
[".wbmp", "image/vnd.wap.wbmp"],
[".wcm", "application/vnd.ms-works"],
[".wdb", "application/vnd.ms-works"],
[".wdp", "image/vnd.ms-photo"],
[".webarchive", "application/x-safari-webarchive"],
[".webtest", "application/xml"],
[".wiq", "application/xml"],
[".wiz", "application/msword"],
[".wks", "application/vnd.ms-works"],
[".WLMP", "application/wlmoviemaker"],
[".wlpginstall", "application/x-wlpg-detect"],
[".wlpginstall3", "application/x-wlpg3-detect"],
[".wm", "video/x-ms-wm"],
[".wma", "audio/x-ms-wma"],
[".wmd", "application/x-ms-wmd"],
[".wmf", "application/x-msmetafile"],
[".wml", "text/vnd.wap.wml"],
[".wmlc", "application/vnd.wap.wmlc"],
[".wmls", "text/vnd.wap.wmlscript"],
[".wmlsc", "application/vnd.wap.wmlscriptc"],
[".wmp", "video/x-ms-wmp"],
[".wmv", "video/x-ms-wmv"],
[".wmx", "video/x-ms-wmx"],
[".wmz", "application/x-ms-wmz"],
[".wpl", "application/vnd.ms-wpl"],
[".wps", "application/vnd.ms-works"],
[".wri", "application/x-mswrite"],
[".wrl", "x-world/x-vrml"],
[".wrz", "x-world/x-vrml"],
[".wsc", "text/scriptlet"],
[".wsdl", "text/xml"],
[".wvx", "video/x-ms-wvx"],
[".x", "application/directx"],
[".xaf", "x-world/x-vrml"],
[".xaml", "application/xaml+xml"],
[".xap", "application/x-silverlight-app"],
[".xbap", "application/x-ms-xbap"],
[".xbm", "image/x-xbitmap"],
[".xdr", "text/plain"],
[".xht", "application/xhtml+xml"],
[".xhtml", "application/xhtml+xml"],
[".xla", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".xlam", "application/vnd.ms-excel.addin.macroEnabled.12"],
[".xlc", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".xld", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".xlk", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".xll", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".xlm", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".xls", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".xlsb", "application/vnd.ms-excel.sheet.binary.macroEnabled.12"],
[".xlsm", "application/vnd.ms-excel.sheet.macroEnabled.12"],
[".xlsx", "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"],
[".xlt", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".xltm", "application/vnd.ms-excel.template.macroEnabled.12"],
[".xltx", "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.template"],
[".xlw", "application/vnd.ms-excel"],
[".xml", "text/xml"],
[".xmta", "application/xml"],
[".xof", "x-world/x-vrml"],
[".XOML", "text/plain"],
[".xpm", "image/x-xpixmap"],
[".xps", "application/vnd.ms-xpsdocument"],
[".xrm-ms", "text/xml"],
[".xsc", "application/xml"],
[".xsd", "text/xml"],
[".xsf", "text/xml"],
[".xsl", "text/xml"],
[".xslt", "text/xml"],
[".xsn", "application/octet-stream"],
[".xss", "application/xml"],
[".xtp", "application/octet-stream"],
[".xwd", "image/x-xwindowdump"],
[".z", "application/x-compress"],
[".zip", "application/x-zip-compressed"]
];
// ----------------------- End of Extensions to MIME --------- //
To improve Imagine Breaker 's answer, this is supported on FF & IE :
var evt = document.createEvent("MouseEvents");
evt.initMouseEvent("click", true, true, window, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, false, false, false, false, 0, null);
function downloadURI(uri, name) {
var link = document.createElement("a");
link.download = name;
link.href = uri;
link.dispatchEvent(evt);
}
In other words, just use a dispatchEvent function instead of click();
I have had good results with using a FORM tag since it works everywhere and you don't have to create temporarily files on server. The method works like this.
On the client side (page HTML) you create an invisible form like this
<form method="POST" action="/download.php" target="_blank" id="downloadForm">
<input type="hidden" name="data" id="csv">
</form>
Then you add this Javascript code to your button:
$('#button').click(function() {
$('#csv').val('---your data---');
$('#downloadForm').submit();
}
The on the server-side you have the following PHP code in download.php:
<?php
header('Content-Type: text/csv');
header('Content-Description: File Transfer');
header('Content-Type: application/octet-stream');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=out.csv');
header('Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary');
header('Connection: Keep-Alive');
header('Expires: 0');
header('Cache-Control: must-revalidate, post-check=0, pre-check=0');
header('Pragma: public');
header('Content-Length: ' . strlen($data));
echo $_REQUEST['data'];
exit();
You can even create zip files of your data like this:
<?php
$file = tempnam("tmp", "zip");
$zip = new ZipArchive();
$zip->open($file, ZipArchive::OVERWRITE);
$zip->addFromString('test.csv', $_REQUEST['data']);
$zip->close();
header('Content-Type: application/zip');
header('Content-Length: ' . filesize($file));
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="file.zip"');
readfile($file);
unlink($file);
The best part is it does not leave any residual files on your server since everything is created and destroyed on the fly!
There are so many little things that can happen when trying to download a file. The inconsistency between browsers alone is a nightmare. I ended up using this great little library. https://github.com/rndme/download
Nice thing about it is that its flexible for not only urls but for client side data you want to download.
The answer submitted by hitesh on Dec 30 '13 does in fact work. It just requires a little adjusting:
The PHP file can call itself. In other words, just create a file named saveAs.php, and put this code into it...
<a href="saveAs.php?file_source=YourDataFile.pdf">Download pdf here</a>
<?php
if (isset($_GET['file_source'])) {
$fullPath = $_GET['file_source'];
if($fullPath) {
$fsize = filesize($fullPath);
$path_parts = pathinfo($fullPath);
$ext = strtolower($path_parts["extension"]);
switch ($ext) {
case "pdf":
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=\"".$path_parts["basename"]."\""); // use 'attachment' to force a download
header("Content-type: application/pdf"); // add here more headers for diff. extensions
break;
default;
header("Content-type: application/octet-stream");
header("Content-Disposition: filename=\"".$path_parts["basename"]."\"");
}
if($fsize) {//checking if file size exist
header("Content-length: $fsize");
}
readfile($fullPath);
exit;
}
}
?>
These functions are used in stacktrace.js:
/**
* Try XHR methods in order and store XHR factory.
*
* @return <Function> XHR function or equivalent
*/
var createXMLHTTPObject = function() {
var xmlhttp, XMLHttpFactories = [
function() {
return new XMLHttpRequest();
}, function() {
return new ActiveXObject('Msxml2.XMLHTTP');
}, function() {
return new ActiveXObject('Msxml3.XMLHTTP');
}, function() {
return new ActiveXObject('Microsoft.XMLHTTP');
}
];
for (var i = 0; i < XMLHttpFactories.length; i++) {
try {
xmlhttp = XMLHttpFactories[i]();
// Use memoization to cache the factory
createXMLHTTPObject = XMLHttpFactories[i];
return xmlhttp;
} catch (e) {
}
}
}
/**
* @return the text from a given URL
*/
function ajax(url) {
var req = createXMLHTTPObject();
if (req) {
try {
req.open('GET', url, false);
req.send(null);
return req.responseText;
} catch (e) {
}
}
return '';
}
I suggest you use the mousedown event, which is called BEFORE the click event. That way, the browser handles the click event naturally, which avoids any code weirdness:
(function ($) {
// with this solution, the browser handles the download link naturally (tested in chrome and firefox)
$(document).ready(function () {
var url = '/private/downloads/myfile123.pdf';
$("a#someID").on('mousedown', function () {
$(this).attr("href", url);
});
});
})(jQuery);
Firefox and Chrome tested:
var link = document.createElement('a');
link.download = 'fileName.ext'
link.href = 'http://down.serv/file.ext';
// Because firefox not executing the .click() well
// We need to create mouse event initialization.
var clickEvent = document.createEvent("MouseEvent");
clickEvent.initEvent("click", true, true);
link.dispatchEvent(clickEvent);
This is actually the "chrome" way solution for firefox (I am not tested it on other browsers, so please leave comments about the compilability)
let args = {"data":htmlData,"filename":exampleName}
To create a HTMl file and download
window.downloadHTML = function(args) {
var data, filename, link;
var csv = args.data;
if (csv == null) return;
filename = args.filename || 'report.html';
data = 'data:text/html;charset=utf-8,' + encodeURIComponent(csv);
console.log(data);
link = document.createElement('a');
link.setAttribute('href', data);
link.setAttribute('download', filename);
document.body.appendChild(link);
link.click();
document.body.removeChild(link);}
To create and download a CSV
window.downloadCSV = function(args) {
var data, filename, link;
var csv = args.data;
if (csv == null) return;
filename = args.filename || 'report.csv';
if (!csv.match(/^data:text\/csv/i)) {
csv = 'data:text/csv;charset=utf-8,' + csv;
}
data = encodeURI(csv);
link = document.createElement('a');
link.setAttribute('href', data);
link.setAttribute('download', filename);
document.body.appendChild(link);
link.click();
document.body.removeChild(link);
}
I know I'm late for the party, but I'd like to share my solution which is variation of Imagine Breaker's solution above. I tried to use his solution, because his solution seems most simple and easy to me. But like other said, it didn't work for some browsers, so I put some variation on it by using jquery.
Hope this could help someone out there.
function download(url) {
var link = document.createElement("a");
$(link).click(function(e) {
e.preventDefault();
window.location.href = url;
});
$(link).click();
}
Note: Not supported in all browsers.
I was looking for a way to download a file using jquery without having to set the file url in the href attribute from the beginning.
jQuery('<a/>', {
id: 'downloadFile',
href: 'http://cdn.sstatic.net/Sites/stackoverflow/img/[email protected]',
style: 'display:hidden;',
download: ''
}).appendTo('body');
$("#downloadFile")[0].click();<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>I use @rakaloof's solution without JQuery (because you don't need it here). Thank you for the idea! Here is a vanillaJS form-based solution:
const uri = 'https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Test_ogg_mp3_48kbps.wav';
let form = document.createElement("form");
form.setAttribute('action', uri);
document.body.appendChild(form);
form.submit();
document.body.removeChild(document.body.lastElementChild);Using anchor tag and PHP it can be done, Check this answer
JQuery Ajax call for PDF file download
HTML
<a href="www.example.com/download_file.php?file_source=example.pdf">Download pdf here</a>
PHP
<?php
$fullPath = $_GET['fileSource'];
if($fullPath) {
$fsize = filesize($fullPath);
$path_parts = pathinfo($fullPath);
$ext = strtolower($path_parts["extension"]);
switch ($ext) {
case "pdf":
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=\"".$path_parts["basename"]."\""); // use 'attachment' to force a download
header("Content-type: application/pdf"); // add here more headers for diff. extensions
break;
default;
header("Content-type: application/octet-stream");
header("Content-Disposition: filename=\"".$path_parts["basename"]."\"");
}
if($fsize) {//checking if file size exist
header("Content-length: $fsize");
}
readfile($fullPath);
exit;
}
?>
I am checking for file size because if you load pdf from CDN cloudfront, you won`t get the size of document which forces the document to download in 0kb, To avoid this i am checking with this condition
if($fsize) {//checking if file size exist
header("Content-length: $fsize");
}
