Asp.net MVC FileContentResult - prevent opening in browser

Question

One of my controller actions returns a file to the user. I would like the user to be presented with the download (open/save) dialog, regardless of the file type. This works fine when the file type is .doc, .docx, .xlsx, etc.., but when the file is .txt, .xps, .pdf (sometimes), or .html, it opens in the browser.

Is there a way I can prevent the file from opening in the browser, and only allow the user to open it in a separate window without navigating away from the current page?

The request for the file is made using jQuery's $.ajax({}).

Related: Having the browser handle the request and give the popup as opposed to the AJAX call receiving the conent of the file as a response string is explained by this ansewr, but this question addresses forcing the browser to handle the file in a certain way once it is received.

Cloudy · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-05 16:49:45Z

5

I don't think you can do this with a client-side command or setting. You would need to do something on the server so that it returns a content type of application/octet-stream for every file. Otherwise, the browser will look at the incoming file and decide what to do with it based on its own rules and capabilities.

If you can do this on your server, try setting the "Content-Disposition" header to "attachment; filename=whatever.xyz"

edited Oct 5, 2011 at 16:49

Cloudy

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answered Oct 5, 2011 at 13:59

Ray

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3 Comments

Cloudy Over a year ago

This yields the same result as application/unknown, which, unfortunately, is something I am trying to avoid. For user convenience it would be best to allow them to open the file with one click (just not in the current browser window).

Ray Over a year ago

If you can do this on your server, try setting the "Content-Disposition" header to "attachment; filename=whatever.xyz"

Levi Over a year ago

FYI: If you pass a non-empty value for the FileDownloadName property on the FileContentResult, then the MVC framework will automatically set the Content-Disposition header in the response.

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