Downloading excel file in asp.net mvc

Question

What I'm trying to implement is giving the users the ability to export the grid data to an excel file and download it, with the help of a file save dialog.

Here's how I have coded it right now -

In Javascript -

$.post("/irn/Identifier/Download", { "columnValues": columnValues });

In the Identifier controllers Download action -

public FileResult Download(string columnValues)
{
    DTData headlineRows = (DTData)Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject(columnValues, typeof(DTData));
    var e = new Services.DownloadToExcel();
    return File(e.WriteData(headlineRows), "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet", "testfile.xlsx");
}

In the DownloadToExcel class, inside the WriteData function I have -

//Here, I'm using the EPPlus library to write the column data to an excel file and then i'm returning the data as a byte array -

//Some code that writes the data
return packages.GetAsByteArray();

When I run this code, I expect to see a File Save Dialog in the browser, but nothing happens. There aren't any errors on the C# or JavaScript side. Can anyone tell me what i could be doing wrong?

Answer 1

I solved this but forgot to update here -

This worked -

Inside my class -

private const string MimeType = "application/vnd.openxmlformats- 
officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet";

private ExcelPackage package = new ExcelPackage();

private FileContentResult excelFile;

Write data using EPPlus

 ...

 ...

 ...

excelFile = File(package.GetAsByteArray(), MimeType, FileName);

 return excelFile;

Answer 2

bit late but I was having a similar issue. To solve it I used JSON.stringify(columnValues) on the client to convert my data into a json string before sending it to the controller.

Then instead of using

$.post("/irn/Identifier/Download", { "columnValues": columnValues });

try

var columnValuesString = JSON.stringify(columnvalues);
window.location = '/irn/Identifier/Download?columnvalues=" + columnValuesString';

Changing the $.post() to a window.location makes it work.

Then you can deserialize the json string in the controller and your Open/Save dialog should appear after hitting your link.

I hope this helps someone else. Let me know and I can post my code if needed.

Thanks.

Answer 3

If you're testing the site in Internet Explorer, try the following:

• Open Internet Options -> Advanced. Click Reset. You can also choose to Restore Advanced Settings.

• Open Internet Options -> Security. If zones have been changed at all, click "Reset all zones to default level".

Changes to these settings may affect whether or not Internet Explorer accepts file downloads.

More information here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/ie/forum/ie8-windows_other/ie-8-will-not-let-me-download-any-files-music-pdf/bc59ba24-866b-4dbf-93f2-85ebb9912c2c

Answer 4

You should use IFrame to help downlaoding the file.

function postToIframe( url,data) {
    var target = "downloadIFrame";
    $('<iframe  name="' + target + '" style="display:none"/>').appendTo('body');
    $('body').append('<form action="' + url + '" method="post" target="' + target + '" id="postToIframe"></form>');
    $.each(data, function (n, v) {
        $('#postToIframe').append('<textarea name="' + n + '">' + v + '</textarea>');
    });
    $('#postToIframe').submit().remove();
}