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bkersonFlag for Canada

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How to force a file to download from a specidic path in the database table

I'm in process to write a http handler to for force download dialog box to pop up in order to download the file the following is the cotent of my code and would like to know what should I put in the code to force download the file. All the files have been uploaded in a folder in the web server and the path including the filename is stored in a table.

This code works if the document is embedded in databse table

public class DownloadHandler : IHttpHandler {
   
   public void ProcessRequest (HttpContext context) {
    string Document_ID = context.Request.QueryString["ImID"];
    SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["Bdata"].ConnectionString);

    connection.Open();

    SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand("Select Document_Path from DocumentStorage where Document_ID=" + Document_ID, connection);

    SqlDataReader dr = command.ExecuteReader();

    dr.Read();

    context.Response.BinaryWrite((Byte[])dr[0]);
   
    connection.Close();

    context.Response.End();
}

    public bool IsReusable {
        get {
            return false;
        }
    }
}

However I would like to handle this code into the first one

//Write the file directly to the HTTP content output stream.
            context.Response.WriteFile(FilePath);
            context.Response.End();
            if (String.IsNullOrEmpty(filePath))
            {
                context.Response.Write("File path cannot be empty.");
                context.Response.End();
                return;
            }

            // Write back file
            context.Response.ContentType = "application/octet-stream";
            context.Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=\"" + Path.GetFileName(filePath) + "\"");
            context.Response.Clear();
            context.Response.WriteFile(filePath);
            context.Response.End();
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {
            context.Response.Write("Failed to process your request.");
            context.Response.End();
        }

Please give me an idea....

Many thank



public class DownloadHandler : IHttpHandler {
    
   public void ProcessRequest (HttpContext context) {
    string Document_ID = context.Request.QueryString["ImID"];
    SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["Bdata"].ConnectionString);

    connection.Open();

    SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand("Select Document_Path from DocumentStorage where Document_ID=" + Document_ID, connection);

    SqlDataReader dr = command.ExecuteReader();

    dr.Read();

    context.Response.BinaryWrite((Byte[])dr[0]);
   
    connection.Close();

    context.Response.End(); 
} 

    public bool IsReusable {
        get {
            return false;
        }
    }
}

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Avatar of judgeking
judgeking
Flag of Canada image

What about just:

Respone.Redirect(request.Path + "\" + Path.GetFileName(filePath));
Avatar of bkerson

ASKER

The following piece of code will give the path and the filename

SqlDataReader dr = command.ExecuteReader();
dr.Read();

but I would like to force the browser to popup the Download window.

 Respone.Redirect(request.Path + "\" + Path.GetFileName(filePath)); is not gonna work

Many thanks
I think this will do what you want:
Response.AppendHeader("content-disposition", "attachment; filename=" + System.IO.Path.GetFileName("TextFile1.doc"));
  Response.ContentType = "application/msword";
  Response.WriteFile(MapPath("TextFile1.doc"));
  Response.End();

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Avatar of bkerson

ASKER

Hi judgeking,

Thank you for your content however my goal is not just downloading a specific file. I have a grid view and all the files to be downloaded are in a list with proper document_Id. The files are located in a folder on the web server and would like to force download with download popup window.

Another comment by taking into account my question will be greatly associated.

Many thanks

OK, I suggest you just put a 'click here to download' link in your grid that points to a download page.  You could either pass the DocName or the DocID or both:
protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    string requestedFilename = Request.Params["DocName"];
    string requestedFileID = Request.Params["DocID"];

    if (requestedFileID != null && requestedFileID.Length > 0)
        requestedFilename = GetRequestedFilename(int.Parse(requestedFileID));
    else
        requestedFilename = "TextFile1.doc"; //Test code

    Response.AppendHeader("content-disposition", "attachment; filename=" + System.IO.Path.GetFileName("/mydocfolder/" + requestedFilename));
    Response.WriteFile(MapPath("/mydocfolder/" + requestedFilename));
    Response.End();
}

protected string GetRequestedFilename(int DocID)
{
    string filename;
    //Get filename from looking up DocID in DB;
    filename = "TextFile1.doc"; //Test code
    return filename;
}

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Avatar of bkerson

ASKER

Hi Judgeking

I think the previous code is pretty close to what I want. The browser fires a message telling that Testfile.doc is not a virtual path when I replace it to a specific path I got the same error message. I just want to pass the docid then point it to a path in where the user can download the file that correspond to the docid

Many thanks
Avatar of bkerson

ASKER

Hi Judgeking

I just want to remind that the grid view is displaying all the files and document_id in the folder. The previous code works only if TextFile1.doc exist in the folder. what about if the user is clicking on another link with a different docid that point to another file.

So the previous code works only if we have one file. What I need is to have the user download any file they want without dictating the user a specific file. Anyway you are so close to help me out.

Tnaks
Sorry, I'm not sure how familiar you are with coding.  My example assumed you were already building a listview with document descriptions and IDs.  Your page will have to dymanically build links that fill in the docIDs.  You'll also need some way to determine what docID corresponds to what filename (that's where GetRequestedFilename comes in).

I can provide you samples of this code if you need, but you'll have to increase the points of this question to 500 for that.
Avatar of bkerson

ASKER

Hi judgeking,

See the code attached to the question, you will figure out if increase this question to 500 is necessary. The only piece that is not working in my code is that SqlDataReader dr = command.ExecuteReader();
 and I believe this is a good way to determine what docid correspond to what filename.

Thanks
Try this modified version of your code:
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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judgeking
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