c# - Return PDF to WebPage from ASHX

Question

I have a web page with a "download" link on it.

Using jQuery I do an Ajax Get to a ASHX file.

In the ASHX I get the Stream of the file. I then convert the stream to a byte array and return the byte array back to the calling html page;

jQuery

$(".DownloadConvertedPDF").click(function () {
  var bookId = $(this).attr("bookId");

  $.get('/UserControls/download.ashx?format=pdf&bookId=' + bookId, {}, function (data) { });

});

C#

context.Response.ContentType = "Application/pdf";
Stream fileStream = publishBookManager.GetFile(documentId);
byte[] buffer = new byte[16 * 1024];
using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream())
{
  int read;
  while ((read = fileStream.Read(buffer, 0, buffer.Length)) > 0)
  {
    ms.Write(buffer, 0, read);
  }
}

context.Response.OutputStream.Write(buffer, 0, buffer.Length);

I don't get an error but also the PDF doesn't display on screen.

Ideally I'd like the pdf returned and the jQuery to launch the pdf in a seperate tab within the browser.

How can I make this happen or what am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

Try this (do not use .get):

window.open('/UserControls/download.ashx?format=pdf&bookId=' + bookId, "pdfViewer");

To prevent the "File does not begin with '%PDF" error, use Response.BinaryWrite:

context.Response.Clear(); 
context.Response.ClearContent(); 
context.Response.ClearHeaders(); 
context.Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";

Stream fileStream = publishBookManager.GetFile(documentId);
byte[] buffer = new byte[16 * 1024];
using (MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream())
{
  int read;
  while ((read = fileStream.Read(buffer, 0, buffer.Length)) > 0)
  {
    ms.Write(buffer, 0, read);
  }
}

context.Response.BinaryWrite(data); 
context.Response.Flush();