Question

I am trying to show a downloadable link on my MVC application’s View using ActionLink:

<div>
<%= Html.ActionLink("Test","Download","Admin") %>
</div>

public ActionResult Download()
{   
    var cd = new System.Net.Mime.ContentDisposition
    {        
        FileName = "Download Me", 
        Inline = false, 
    };
    Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition", cd.ToString());
    byte[] csvBytes = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes("hello");
    return File(csvBytes, "csv","DownloadMe.csv");
}

The link shows up on the UI but when I click on it, I get an “Endpoint not found” error.
I am new to MVC and trying this out for the first time. Can someone please help.

Answer 1

I think you have a few issues with the controller method:

public FileResult Download()
{
    byte[] csvBytes = Encoding.ASCII.GetBytes("hello");
    return File(csvBytes, "text/csv","DownloadMe.csv");
} 

1. You want to return a FileResult, not an ActionResult.
2. The mime type is text/csv rather than just csv.
3. I don’t think the content disposition is required, but I would take it out until you get it working and then add it back later if necessary.