NodeJS: View and download a PDF from array buffer

Question

My issue:

I already have a solution where I can view a pdf file from an array buffer like so:

const data = getArrayBufferFromAPI() // <Buffer 25 50 44 46 2d 31 2e

res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/pdf')
return res.end(data)

This opens a PDF in the browser as expected BUT when I click on the 'Download icon' on browser's PDF view , it throws me an "Failed - Network error".

I already have the code which directly downloads the file as well (without viewing on browser):

res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/pdf')
res.setHeader('Content-Length', data.length)
res.setHeader('Content-Disposition', 'attachment; filename=name.Pdf')
return res.end(data)

This is not what I want.

What I'm looking for:

I am able to open in a browser or download individually without any problems. I need both to work together .ie. open the array buffer in the browser and then click the download icon on the browser view, that pdf content should get downloaded.

I use nunjucks as the view templating engine and I don't use any client side javascript.

I use similar setup and it always work, how do you handle it in FE? — l2ysho
– l2ysho, Commented Aug 23, 2020 at 18:03
@l2ysho - I use nunjucks as the view templating engine. I have no client side javascript. — Nikhil Nanjappa
– Nikhil Nanjappa, Commented Aug 23, 2020 at 18:07

l2ysho · Accepted Answer · 2020-08-23 18:17:30Z

4

Basically you need to specify content-length to do so. When downloading, browser compare content-length and real amount of data recieved, if it not match it is handled like malformed request

res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/pdf')
res.setHeader('Content-Disposition', 'attachment; filename=name.Pdf')
res.setHeader('Content-Length', data.length)
return res.end(data)

Edit

It is part of HTTP2 spec, look here

edited Aug 23, 2020 at 18:17

answered Aug 23, 2020 at 18:11

l2ysho

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3 Comments

Nikhil Nanjappa Over a year ago

i've already tried this ... 'Content-Disposition', 'attachment; would directly download the file without opening it in the browser which is not what I want.

l2ysho Over a year ago

How about dynamically set content-disposition header to attachement for download and inline for view? you can make condition by query parameter => /myfile.pdf?download=true

Nikhil Nanjappa Over a year ago

I am able to do them individually without any problems (view and download separately). But what I want is - on click of a single say link, open a pdf and then when I click on the download of the browser (the icon shown in the question as an image), it downloads.

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