How to Efficiently Download Files from ASP.NET Web APIs Using AngularJS?

Downloading Files from ASP.NET Web APIs Using AngularJS

In an AngularJS application, you can trigger HTTP GET requests to an ASP.NET Web API method to retrieve files. However, handling the downloaded file requires further steps to facilitate the actual download process.

Using a Simple Download Method

Triggering a basic download involves utilizing the window.open function:

$scope.downloadFile = function(downloadPath) { 
    window.open(downloadPath, '_blank', '');  
}

This method initiates a direct download without utilizing AJAX.

Implementing an AJAX Binary Download Method

For a more efficient approach that supports multiple browsers, consider using the following implementation:

$scope.downloadFile = function(httpPath) {
    // Use an arraybuffer
    $http.get(httpPath, { responseType: 'arraybuffer' })
    .success( function(data, status, headers) {

        var octetStreamMime = 'application/octet-stream';
        var success = false;

        // Get the headers
        headers = headers();

        // Get the filename from the x-filename header or default to "download.bin"
        var filename = headers['x-filename'] || 'download.bin';

        // Determine the content type from the header or default to "application/octet-stream"
        var contentType = headers['content-type'] || octetStreamMime;

        try
        {
            // Try using msSaveBlob if supported
            console.log("Trying saveBlob method ...");
            var blob = new Blob([data], { type: contentType });
            if(navigator.msSaveBlob)
                navigator.msSaveBlob(blob, filename);
            else {
                // Try using other saveBlob implementations, if available
                var saveBlob = navigator.webkitSaveBlob || navigator.mozSaveBlob || navigator.saveBlob;
                if(saveBlob === undefined) throw "Not supported";
                saveBlob(blob, filename);
            }
            console.log("saveBlob succeeded");
            success = true;
        } catch(ex)
        {
            console.log("saveBlob method failed with the following exception:");
            console.log(ex);
        }

        if(!success)
        {
            // Get the blob url creator
            var urlCreator = window.URL || window.webkitURL || window.mozURL || window.msURL;
            if(urlCreator)
            {
                // Try to use a download link
                var link = document.createElement('a');
                if('download' in link)
                {
                    // Try to simulate a click
                    try
                    {
                        // Prepare a blob URL
                        console.log("Trying download link method with simulated click ...");
                        var blob = new Blob([data], { type: contentType });
                        var url = urlCreator.createObjectURL(blob);
                        link.setAttribute('href', url);

                        // Set the download attribute (Supported in Chrome 14+ / Firefox 20+)
                        link.setAttribute("download", filename);

                        // Simulate clicking the download link
                        var event = document.createEvent('MouseEvents');
                        event.initMouseEvent('click', true, true, window, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, false, false, false, false, 0, null);
                        link.dispatchEvent(event);
                        console.log("Download link method with simulated click succeeded");
                        success = true;

                    } catch(ex) {
                        console.log("Download link method with simulated click failed with the following exception:");
                        console.log(ex);
                    }
                }

                if(!success)
                {
                    // Fallback to window.location method
                    try
                    {
                        // Prepare a blob URL
                        // Use application/octet-stream when using window.location to force download
                        console.log("Trying download link method with window.location ...");
                        var blob = new Blob([data], { type: octetStreamMime });
                        var url = urlCreator.createObjectURL(blob);
                        window.location = url;
                        console.log("Download link method with window.location succeeded");
                        success = true;
                    } catch(ex) {
                        console.log("Download link method with window.location failed with the following exception:");
                        console.log(ex);
                    }
                }

            }
        }

        if(!success)
        {
            // Fallback to window.open method
            console.log("No methods worked for saving the arraybuffer, using last resort window.open");
            window.open(httpPath, '_blank', '');
        }
    })
    .error(function(data, status) {
        console.log("Request failed with status: " + status);

        // Optionally write the error out to scope
        $scope.errorDetails = "Request failed with status: " + status;
    });
};

Usage and Notes

To use the improved method:

var downloadPath = "/files/instructions.pdf";
$scope.downloadFile(downloadPath);

Note: Remember to include the appropriate headers in your Web API method:

• x-filename for the filename
• content-type for the MIME type

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