How to prompt user to download the PDF file instead of opening?

Question

in my project site if i click on a link and the PDF opens in a new or parent window. Well I want a box to appear that prompts the user to download the file instead of opening it. Does anyone know of a simple JavaScript onClick event that will do this? In all browser default with default settings.

EDIT: sorry my server was PHP based

Answer 1

You can't do it via javascript, you need server side implementation.

Here's the SO Post which should help:
Allowing user to download from my site through Response.WriteFile()

Answer 2

Since you've tagged it .NET, i'd say this is your best solution:

    Response.ClearContent();
    Response.ClearHeaders();
    Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
    Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment;filename=download.pdf");
    Response.WriteFile(Server.MapPath("~/files/myFile.pdf"));
    Response.Flush();
    Response.Close();

Answer 3

http://aspalliance.com/259%5FDownloading%5FFiles%5F%5FForcing%5Fthe%5FFile%5FDownload%5FDialog

Answer 4

Change the Content-Type to application/octet-stream. You may find however, that some browsers will infer from the file extension that it should open as a PDF with your favorite PDF viewer.

Response.ContentType = "application/octet-stream";

Also, set the following:

Response.AppendHeader( "content-disposition", "attachment; filename=" + name );

Answer 5

Since you're edit states that you're using PHP, here's how to do the same in PHP:

<?php
header('Content-type: application/pdf');
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="downloaded.pdf"');
readfile('original.pdf');
?>