Question

I have a php script that gets called via an ajax call. Values are sent to this script to build a pdf. I want to send the pdf to the browser, but since the script that builds the pdf returns to the page with the javascript I can’t see how to do this. Any ideas?

Answer 1

I would recommend something a bit different. Instead of AJAX call make a redirect to an URL like this:

./path_to_pdf_script/script.php?param1=val1&param2=val2

This script would be the one which generated the pdf. Place somewhere on top of the script this header:

header('Content-type: application/pdf');

And simply echo the string the pdf content is in. If you want the user to download this pdf instead of viewing you could do the AJAX call with the example found HERE:

from php.net

If you want the user to be prompted to save the data you are sending,
such as a generated PDF file, you can use the » Content-Disposition
header to supply a recommended filename and force the browser to
display the save dialog.

<?php
// We'll be outputting a PDF
header('Content-type: application/pdf');

// It will be called downloaded.pdf
header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="downloaded.pdf"');

// The PDF source is in original.pdf
readfile('original.pdf');
?>