how to load a pdf from server as an aspx page (or loading pdf files securely)?

Question

I have a folder with pdfs, but I don't want them to be public (like just typing www.domain.com/pdfs/doc.pdf).

I need them to have a security measure of some sorts (like www.domain.com/loadpdf.asmx?key=23452ADFASD12345 or using POST)

How do I do this?, ive found out how to create a pdf, but not how to load one from server.

thanks.

Answer 1

You need to use a custom http handler to handle those requests. Here is an article the covers your exact question.

Answer 2

Read the PDF into a byte array and use that. As awright18 said, do this in a handler (.ashx). Something like this:

[WebService(Namespace = "http://tempuri.org/")]
[WebServiceBinding(ConformsTo = WsiProfiles.BasicProfile1_1)]
public class MapHandler : IHttpHandler, IReadOnlySessionState
{

    public void ProcessRequest(HttpContext context) {
        CreateImage(context);
    }

    private void CreateImage(HttpContext context) {

        string documentFullname = // Get full name of the PDF you want to display...

        if (File.Exists(documentFullname)) {

            byte[] buffer;

            using (FileStream fileStream = new FileStream(documentFullname, FileMode.Open, FileAccess.Read, FileShare.Read))
            using (BinaryReader reader = new BinaryReader(fileStream)) {
                buffer = reader.ReadBytes((int)reader.BaseStream.Length);
            }

            context.Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
            context.Response.AddHeader("Content-Length", buffer.Length.ToString());
            context.Response.BinaryWrite(buffer);
            context.Response.End();

        } else {
            context.Response.Write("Unable to find the document you requested.");
        }
    }

    public bool IsReusable {
        get {
            return false;
        }
    }

I found this thread here at SO useful, but the above should work for you.