Export data to .csv format in Internet Explorer?

[shigehiro]

Hi all,

I tried to export the data into .csv format.. and the below is how I do it:

container.REQUEST.RESPONSE.setHeader('Content-Type','text/csv')
container.REQUEST.RESPONSE.setHeader('Content-Disposition', 'attachment;filename=outputFile.csv')
container.REQUEST.RESPONSE.write(outputString)

The above works completely fine when I tested it in Firefox, but when I used IE, it will prompt user to save file as a 'Document' file type (& not as expected 'outputFile.csv'). What should I do so that if user uses IE, it will also result in automatic 'outputFile.csv' prompting? Did I set the correct heading (i.e., setHeader)?

On the other hand, I believe that the generated format is still correct, in csv format.

Thanks a lot

Shige

[jlm699]

I've had this problem before as well. It's an IE problem (as usual), which doesn't handle the setHeaders very well. I don't have a copy of my code that fixes it (I can get it later this evening), however I can point you to this site for some help:

http://downside.ch/blog/?p=26

[shigehiro]

Thanks, jlm699 for your fast reply (as usual)...
:)

For meantime, I will take a look at website you gave.

Shige

[shigehiro]

Visited the website and I tried out the suggestion given, but it didn't help much, still get the same old problem huh..

container.REQUEST.RESPONSE.setHeader('Content-Type','text/csv')
container.REQUEST.RESPONSE.setHeader('Content-Disposition', 'attachment;filename=outputFile.csv')
container.REQUEST.RESPONSE.setHeader('Pragma', 'public')
container.REQUEST.RESPONSE.setHeader('Cache-Control', 'max-age=0')
container.REQUEST.RESPONSE.write(outputString)

Probably I ll wait for Jim to retrieve his code snippet. :) before making much more noise

Thanks

[jlm699]

Alright, went home for lunch and grabbed my old code files... now keep in mind this is PHP but the headers that you need to modify should be the same:

<?php
 
// Now we'll use header calls to download a file to the client
header('Cache-Control: public, must-revalidate');
header('Pragma: hack');
header('Content-Type: application/vnd.ms-excel');
header('Content-Length: '.(string)(filesize($file_path)));
header('Content-Transfer-Encoding: binary\n');
/*
    Using the "Content-Disposition" header allows us to provide a recommended filename
    as well as force the browser to display the save/open dialog.
*/
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="suggestedfilename.csv"');
readfile($file_path);
?>
 

I don't know why IE is so hard to deal with, but I need all of these headers to get it to display the 'Open/Save' dialog instead of trying to download the .php page itself. Mozilla was fine with the simple way that you did it.

Anyway, I hope that helps... just remember that you'll need to adapt those header calls to your code

[shigehiro]

Jlm,
Thanks for your codes, they are really helpful. :)
Just that I still didn't manage solve the problem, but you already helped much by replying to my questions...
I guess I will keep this problem on the shelf for meantime, & ll come back to look around for the solution again later.

Shige