File download link does nothing

[John Spiegel]

Hi all,

I'm trying to do something simple here...just provide a link from which a
user can download a file. I'm using Server.MapPath() in my codebehind to
find out physically where the file is then binding that in the aspx page
like so...

if (!IsPostBack)
{
Session["DownloadPath"] = Server.MapPath(@"Downloads");
Page.DataBind();
}

<A href='<%# @"file:///" + Session["DownloadPath"].ToString() +
@"\MyFile.pdf" %>'>
Acrobat&nbsp;PDF</A>

It works in development but, of course, when I drop it on the web server
(hosted on one of those cheap $8 / mo. services), nothing happens when I
click the link. Hovering over the link displays what looks viable to me:

"file:///d:/accounts/ouraccount/downloadfolder/MyFile.pdf"

but nothing happens. Am I missing something in my process or is it likely
an issue to take up with the hosting company?

TIA,

John

[John Spiegel]

One ammendment, it now appears that the link is indicating "page not
available" rather than not responding at all to a click. (I don't think it
was doing this in testing a couple days ago).

- John

"John Spiegel" <js******@YETANOTHERSPAMHATERc-comld.com> wrote in message
news:OC**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Hi all,

I'm trying to do something simple here...just provide a link from which a
user can download a file. I'm using Server.MapPath() in my codebehind to
find out physically where the file is then binding that in the aspx page
like so...

if (!IsPostBack)
{
Session["DownloadPath"] = Server.MapPath(@"Downloads");
Page.DataBind();
}

<A href='<%# @"file:///" + Session["DownloadPath"].ToString() +
@"\MyFile.pdf" %>'>
Acrobat&nbsp;PDF</A>

It works in development but, of course, when I drop it on the web server
(hosted on one of those cheap $8 / mo. services), nothing happens when I
click the link. Hovering over the link displays what looks viable to me:

"file:///d:/accounts/ouraccount/downloadfolder/MyFile.pdf"

but nothing happens. Am I missing something in my process or is it likely
an issue to take up with the hosting company?

TIA,

John

[Ken Cox [Microsoft MVP]]

Hi John,

I'd say you are going about this the wrong way. A hyperlink that uses
file:// is going to look on the user's system, not the Web server. Obviously
you don't want that.

How about using a linkbutton and in the onclick event, fire up a download of
the file like this (vb code):

Response.Clear()
Response.ClearContent()
Response.ClearHeaders()
Response.ContentType = "application/pdf"
'Write the file to the browser and end the HTML content
Response.WriteFile(Server.MapPath(strFilepath))
Response.End()
"John Spiegel" <js******@YETANOTHERSPAMHATERc-comld.com> wrote in message
news:OC**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Hi all,

I'm trying to do something simple here...just provide a link from which a
user can download a file. I'm using Server.MapPath() in my codebehind to
find out physically where the file is then binding that in the aspx page
like so...

if (!IsPostBack)
{
Session["DownloadPath"] = Server.MapPath(@"Downloads");
Page.DataBind();
}

<A href='<%# @"file:///" + Session["DownloadPath"].ToString() +
@"\MyFile.pdf" %>'>
Acrobat&nbsp;PDF</A>

It works in development but, of course, when I drop it on the web server
(hosted on one of those cheap $8 / mo. services), nothing happens when I
click the link. Hovering over the link displays what looks viable to me:

"file:///d:/accounts/ouraccount/downloadfolder/MyFile.pdf"

but nothing happens. Am I missing something in my process or is it likely
an issue to take up with the hosting company?

TIA,

John

[John Spiegel]

Thanks, Ken. I'll give it a shot!

- John

"Ken Cox [Microsoft MVP]" <BA************@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:Oy**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Hi John,

I'd say you are going about this the wrong way. A hyperlink that uses
file:// is going to look on the user's system, not the Web server. Obviously you don't want that.

How about using a linkbutton and in the onclick event, fire up a download of the file like this (vb code):

Response.Clear()
Response.ClearContent()
Response.ClearHeaders()
Response.ContentType = "application/pdf"
'Write the file to the browser and end the HTML content
Response.WriteFile(Server.MapPath(strFilepath))
Response.End()
"John Spiegel" <js******@YETANOTHERSPAMHATERc-comld.com> wrote in message
news:OC**************@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...

Hi all,

I'm trying to do something simple here...just provide a link from which a user can download a file. I'm using Server.MapPath() in my codebehind to find out physically where the file is then binding that in the aspx page
like so...

if (!IsPostBack)
{
Session["DownloadPath"] = Server.MapPath(@"Downloads");
Page.DataBind();
}

<A href='<%# @"file:///" + Session["DownloadPath"].ToString() +
@"\MyFile.pdf" %>'>
Acrobat&nbsp;PDF</A>

It works in development but, of course, when I drop it on the web server
(hosted on one of those cheap $8 / mo. services), nothing happens when I
click the link. Hovering over the link displays what looks viable to me:
"file:///d:/accounts/ouraccount/downloadfolder/MyFile.pdf"

but nothing happens. Am I missing something in my process or is it likely an issue to take up with the hosting company?

TIA,

John