Downloading files from a database

via an .ASP page

[joshie76]

I'm not sure where to post this question but I've decided here because the odd behaviour is on the client and I suspect it may be down to client settings.

We've got an .asp page that uses

Response.ContentType

and

Response.BinaryWrite

to download files and we're observing some odd behaviour. Say, for example, the asp page is called filedownload.asp

a .doc (application/msword) when downloaded shows a prompt in IE:

You are downloading the file

filedownload.doc from <server>

however

a .txt(text/plain) when downloaded shows a prompt in IE:

You are downloading the file

filedownload.asp from <server>

Does anybody know how or why this happens? Is it a server setting or something on the client?

Josh

[korkus2000]

Did you ever find an answer to this?

[joshie76]

No, why have you run into it too?

I did quite bit of research into the whole matter and think I've got a fair understanding as to why it's happening, unfortunately that's also led me to think it simply can't be corrected.

I hope I'm wrong (and you're just waiting to give me the answer!)

[korkus2000]

What is your code for the stream? I have found some stuff online but it is very specific so I wanted to see if it is your problem.

[corby0000]

Have you tried the content-disposition extension of the MIME protocol? This tells the user agent how to display the attached file. Here's an example:

Response.AddHeader "Content-Disposition", "attachment, filename=Test.txt"

Appending this to your code should force the browser to prompt the user to open the file or save it to disk. It also allows you to specify the file name for the attached file.

I don't think it really applies but here's some additional information on the extension:

[pasteur.fr ]

Hope this helps.

[joshie76]

Corby - you're a genious! It worked a treat, thank you!

However, some people get an 'Action cancelled' screen below the 'Open/Save' dialog. Any idea how to stop this?

[corby0000]

It probably has something to do with your response. Can you be a little more descriptive on what it is you're tring to do. Besides the binary stream, is there anything else in your response?

[joshie76]

No, just binary - here's an example:

Response.ContentType = "text/plain" 
Response.AddHeader "Content-Disposition", "inline; Filename=test.txt" 
Response.BinaryWrite(BinaryFromDatabase)

And it now works a treat but for the 'Action Cancelled' page that some users see (we chose to use inline as this opened in the browser, whereas if we used attachment you got two open/save dialogs - as I think about it do you know how you stop that - as then our problem is solved?).