How can I force a download of a pdf in a url?

Question

I have a URL that goes to a pdf file. In my coldfusion page, I want to allow the user to download the file (using the open/save dialog or however that particular browser han

Answer 1

As far as I know, your coding is fine in Google Chrome. In IE, error message prompt. It's because of "file path" cannot support for URL path. Should use directory path instead of URL path.

Answer 2

file attribute: Do not specify the path to the directory in this attribute; use the path attribute.

Try separating the file name and path:

<!--- hard coded for clarity --->
<cfhttp url="http://www.somesite.com/path/testFile.pdf" 
        method="get" 
        getAsBinary="yes"
        path="c:/test/" 
        file="testFile.pdf"/>

<cfheader name="Content-Disposition" value="attachment; filename=myFile.pdf" />
<cfcontent type="application/pdf" file="c:/test/testFile.pdf" />

For smaller files you might skip the temp file and use <cfcontent variable..>

<cfhttp url="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/documentation/en/coldfusion/mx7/cfmx7_cfml_qref.pdf" 
        method="get" 
        getAsBinary="yes" />

<cfheader name="Content-Disposition" value="attachment; filename=myFile.pdf" />
<cfcontent type="application/pdf" variable="#cfhttp.fileContent#" />

---

Update: Dynamic example using a temp file

<cfset tempDir  = getTempDirectory() />
<cfset tempFile = getFileFromPath(getTempFile(tempDir, "testfile")) />

<!--- uncomment to verify paths 
<cfoutput>
    tempDir = #tempDir#<br />
    tempFile = #tempFile#<br />
</cfoutput>
<cfabort />
--->
<cfhttp url="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/documentation/en/coldfusion/mx7/cfmx7_cfml_qref.pdf" 
        method="get" 
        getAsBinary="yes"
        path="#tempDir#" 
        file="#tempFile#" />

<cfheader name="Content-Disposition" value="attachment; filename=myFile.pdf" />
<cfcontent type="application/pdf" file="#tempDir#/#tempFile#" />