Binaryworld - How to force file download using code in ASP.net. ... [ ASP.net -> General ]

Many times we have requirement to popup file download dialogbox instead of user clicking on a link. This little code you can use in your ASPX page. Call the following method from your ASP.net code which should prompt a file download dialogbox in user's browser.

Click here to copy the following block

Public Sub DownloadFile(ByVal fname As String, ByVal forceDownload As Boolean)
  Dim path As System.IO.Path
  Dim strMSG As String
  Dim fullpath = fname
  Dim name = path.GetFileName(fullpath)
  Dim ext = path.GetExtension(fullpath)
  Dim type As String = ""

  If Not IsDBNull(ext) Then
    ext = LCase(ext)
  End If

  Select Case ext
    Case "doc"
      type = "application/ms-word"
    Case "dot"
      type = "application/ms-word"
    Case "exe"
      type = "application/octet-stream"
    Case "xls"
      type = "application/ms-excel"
    Case "ppt"
      type = "application/ms-powerpoint"
    Case "pps"
      type = "application/ms-powerpoint"
    Case "txt"
      type = "text/plain"
    Case "htm"
      type = "text/html"
    Case "html"
      type = "text/html"
    Case "pdf"
      type = "application/pdf"
    Case "rtf"
      type = "application/rtf"
    Case "zip"
      type = "application/x-zip-compressed"
    Case Else
      type = "application/unknown"
  End Select
  Try
    System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Response.Clear()
    System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Response.ClearContent()
    System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Response.ClearHeaders()

    If type <> "" Then
      System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Response.ContentType = type
    End If

    If (forceDownload) Then
      System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Response.AppendHeader("content-disposition", "attachment; filename=" + name)
    Else
      System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Response.AppendHeader("content-disposition", "inline; filename=" + name)
    End If

    System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Response.WriteFile(fullpath)
    'Response.WriteFile(fullpath)
    'Response.End()
    System.Web.HttpContext.Current.Response.End()
  Catch ex As Exception
    strMSG = "File can't be downloaded at this time. Please try again later."
    'Response.Redirect("downloaderror.aspx?msg=" & strMSG & "&id=" & nProjectId)
  End Try
End Sub