Returning a file from Web Service

[Alan Sloan]

I have written a Web Service that interacts with a COM component to extract
a file from another system. Basically the Web Service accepts a part number
and a rev and extracts the file to a subfolder of the Web Service. What is
the best way to get this file to the client?

The client is a web application that's being written in C#. What I'd like
to be able to do is to return the file in the same manner as it would be if
a hyperlink to the file were clicked on (With the usual "File Download - Do
you want to open or save this file?" dialog). Sorry, but that's the best I
can do to describe the effect I want, hopefully everyone understands what I
mean.

I know that I can return it as a byte array which can be re-assembled on the
client side, but I'm not the one developing the client app and I don't know
what flexibility they have there. It would be nice if they could call the
Web Service from say, a button click, and just have the file open. By the
way, in case it matters, these will all be pdf files.

Any help would be appreciated.
Alan Sloan

[=?Utf-8?B?S2VpdGg=?=]

Sorry, but the intent of a web service is to return a value (or values) to
the caller, just as a regular function would, but over HTTP/HTTPS. Any way
I've seen this done, the client will have to reassemble the byte array (or
BASE64 string, etc), save the file off into some temp dire, and send the file
using the HttpResponse object. HOWEVER, there may be a way for you to have
them send you a Response object, and you can then try setting up the
OutputStream property with your file, but I'm not sure if that will work
(never tried it).

If that doesn't work, you could offer a separate asp page they can pass
query strings to (or post form contents to) that calls the web service,
assembles the file, and then sends the stream in the response, which will
open up your "open or save this file" dialog.

-Keith

"Alan Sloan" wrote:

I have written a Web Service that interacts with a COM component to extract
a file from another system. Basically the Web Service accepts a part number
and a rev and extracts the file to a subfolder of the Web Service. What is
the best way to get this file to the client?

The client is a web application that's being written in C#. What I'd like
to be able to do is to return the file in the same manner as it would be if
a hyperlink to the file were clicked on (With the usual "File Download - Do
you want to open or save this file?" dialog). Sorry, but that's the best I
can do to describe the effect I want, hopefully everyone understands what I
mean.

I know that I can return it as a byte array which can be re-assembled on the
client side, but I'm not the one developing the client app and I don't know
what flexibility they have there. It would be nice if they could call the
Web Service from say, a button click, and just have the file open. By the
way, in case it matters, these will all be pdf files.

Any help would be appreciated.
Alan Sloan