Question

I am using iTextSharp for creating pdf reports (files) and storing those on the web server where my application resides. I am able to create the file, go into the storage folder and open the file without a problem. Notice: The user is not to get the file automatically
downloaded on creation.

I want to give the user the option to download “old” reports from the server with a button.
This is working fine in IE (10) but not in Chrome and Firefox. I always get the error message:
There was an error opening this document. The file is damaged and could not be repaired.

I have this image button and on click I send the user to a Generic Handler (since my page contains Update Panels) according to this post (only using it partially for now).

This is the code that actually downloads the file:

 public void ProcessRequest(HttpContext context)
    {
        var _fileName = context.Request.QueryString["fileName"];

        using (var _output = new MemoryStream())
        {
            //var _fileSeverPath = context.Server.MapPath(_fileName);
            context.Response.Clear();
            context.Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";// "application/pdf";
            //context.Response.AppendHeader("Content-Length", _fileName.Length.ToString());
            context.Response.AppendHeader("Content-Disposition", string.Format("attachment; filename=" + Path.GetFileName(_fileName)));

            context.Response.WriteFile(_fileName);
            context.Response.Flush();
            context.Response.Close();
            context.Response.End();
        }
    }

As I said, this works fine in IE but not in Chrome and Firefox.
When I open the file in Notepad it seams that I only get about 1/3 of the file when downloaded in Chrome and Firefox.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Been trying to resolve this for a few days now..

Answer 1

Ok, FINALLY.. I found the solution and it makes me feel like a fool at the same time..
Removed context.Response.Close(); …then everything worked perfectly 🙂