PDF from content of asp.net page

Question

I'm trying to create a pdf of the content on a page ("returnsPage.aspx?id="returnId) and allow the user to download this directly when clicking the button.

However in my onClick method I have the following code:

lnkLoadPDF.CommandArgument = "/returns/returnsPage.aspx?id="+returnId.ToString(); 
string virtualPath = lnkLoadPDF.CommandArgument;
string fileName = System.IO.Path.GetFileName(virtualPath);

Response.Clear();
Response.AddHeader("content-disposition", "attachment; filename=" + fileName);
Response.WriteFile(virtualPath);
Response.ContentType = "";
Response.End();
Response.Redirect("/returns/returnsPage.aspx?id="+returnId);

which returns this error:

'/returns/returnsPage.aspx?id=23' is not a valid virtual path.

Can anyone please tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Thanks!

Is this a build error or a runtime error?

Jason
– Jason

2011-11-28 00:17:05 +00:00
Commented Nov 28, 2011 at 0:17 — Jason
– Jason, Commented Nov 28, 2011 at 0:17

Daniel Szabo · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-28 06:25:25Z

1

In order to turn a webpage into a pdf, you must convert it to pdf on the server. In order to do that, you must have a program on the server that can do that for you.

I've tried a variety of webpage-to-pdf converters and one of the better ones is a free, open source program called wkhtmltopdf.

After you create the pdf, you can either redirect the user to the newly created pdf (discouraged), or prompt them to download it with a savefile dialog.

If you get stuck, just search for wkhtmltopdf on stackoverflow or post another question.

answered Nov 28, 2011 at 6:25

Daniel Szabo

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1 Comment

Lilz Over a year ago

thanks I'm going to try this. Sorry if my question was too simple.

Jakob Gade · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-28 03:03:56Z

1

You can't send a file to the client and redirect him to a new location during the same request. You also can't create a PDF from a webpage without some kind of component that converts the HTML into a PDF, it's (quite a bit) more tricky that what I think you're trying to attempt.

As for your exception, are you sure returnsPage.aspx exists? :)

edited Nov 28, 2011 at 3:03

answered Nov 28, 2011 at 2:58

Jakob Gade

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