Stream file using ASP.NET MVC FileContentResult in a browser with a name?

Question

Is there a way to stream a file using ASP.NET MVC FileContentResult within the browser with a specific name?

I have noticed that you can either have a FileDialog (Open/Save) or you can stream the file in a browser window, but then it will use the ActionName when you try to save the file.

I have the following scenario:

byte[] contents = DocumentServiceInstance.CreateDocument(orderId, EPrintTypes.Quote); result = File(contents, "application/pdf", String.Format("Quote{0}.pdf", orderId));

When I use this, I can stream the bytes, but a OPEN/SAVE file dialog is given to the user. I would like to actually stream this file in a browser window.

If I just use the FilePathResult, it shows the file in a browser window, but then when I click on "Save" button to save the file in PDF, it shows me the Action Name as the name of the file.

Has anyone encountered this? Any suggestions will be highly appreciated.

Answer 1

public ActionResult Index()
{
    byte[] contents = FetchPdfBytes();
    return File(contents, "application/pdf", "test.pdf");
}

and for opening the PDF inside the browser you will need to set the Content-Disposition header:

public ActionResult Index()
{
    byte[] contents = FetchPdfBytes();
    Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "inline; filename=test.pdf");
    return File(contents, "application/pdf");
}

Answer 2

Hello, This might be helpful for whoever else faces this problem. I finally figured out a solution. Turns out, even if we use the inline for "content-disposition" and specify a file name, the browsers still do not use the file name. Instead browsers try and interpret the file name based on the Path/URL.

You can read further on this URL: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/381890/securly-download-file-inside-browser-with-correct-filename

This gave me an idea, I just created my URL route that would convert the URL and end it with the name of the file I wanted to give the file. So for e.g. my original controller call just consisted of passing the Order Id of the Order being printed. I was expecting the file name to be of the format Order{0}.pdf where {0} is the Order Id. Similarly for quotes, I wanted Quote{0}.pdf.

In my controller, I just went ahead and added an additional parameter to accept the file name. I passed the filename as a parameter in the URL.Action method.

I then created a new route that would map that URL to the format: http://localhost/ShoppingCart/PrintQuote/1054/Quote1054.pdf

routes.MapRoute("", "{controller}/{action}/{orderId}/{fileName}",
                new { controller = "ShoppingCart", action = "PrintQuote" }
                , new string[] { "x.x.x.Controllers" }
            );

This pretty much solved my issue. Hoping this helps someone!

Cheerz, Anup