jQuery download a zipfile from a button?

Question

Quite embarrassing how much time I spend trying to get to download a zipfile from a button....

<button type='button' id='button-download'>download zipfile</button>


$("#button-download").live("click", function() {
    $.get("http://localhost/admin/zip/002140.zip"); // doesn't work?
})

I need something bullet proof here, that's why I ask here, thanks.

Answer 1

You should set the location.href property to cause navigation:

$("#button-download").live("click", function() {
  location.href = "http://localhost/admin/zip/002140.zip";
});

You could also have a simple <a> element, styled as if it were a button, in that way even the users who have JavaScript disabled will be able to download the file.

Answer 2

That is sending an AJAX request.

I haven't tried this, but it should work in theory. If you try to go to a location of a file that is downloaded, it prompts you to download rather than take you to that page.

<button type='button' id='button-download'>download zipfile</button>


$("#button-download").live("click", function() {
    window.location = "http://localhost/admin/zip/002140.zip";
})

Answer 3

Use a plain:

<a href="http://localhost/admin/zip/002140.zip" id="button-download">download zipfile</a>

link. Then it'll work fine (“bullet proof” even) without JavaScript available. It also offers more of the traditional affordances users might expect from a download link, such as right-click-save-as, or drag-and-drop.

You can of course use CSS to make it look like a button instead of a link. But what it actually is, is a link. So that's how it should be marked up.