c# - Download Excel file via AJAX MVC

C# - Download Excel file via AJAX MVC

Downloading an Excel file via AJAX in an MVC application typically involves setting up the server-side controller to return the file, handling the AJAX request, and triggering the download on the client side. Here's a step-by-step guide to achieve this using C# and jQuery:

Server-Side (C# / MVC)

  1. Create a Controller Action

    In your MVC controller, create an action method that returns the Excel file:

    using System.Web.Mvc; using System.IO; using System.Net; using System.Web; public class ExcelController : Controller { public ActionResult DownloadExcel() { // Generate or retrieve your Excel file content byte[] fileBytes = GetExcelFileBytes(); // Example function to get Excel file bytes // Return Excel file as a file download return File(fileBytes, "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet", "example.xlsx"); } private byte[] GetExcelFileBytes() { // Example: Generate your Excel file bytes here // Replace with actual Excel file generation logic MemoryStream ms = new MemoryStream(); // Example: Writing content to the memory stream // using (var package = new ExcelPackage(ms)) // { // // Add data to Excel package // } return ms.ToArray(); } }
    • DownloadExcel() method returns a FileResult containing the Excel file bytes.
    • GetExcelFileBytes() is an example method that generates or retrieves the Excel file content. Replace it with your actual logic for generating the Excel file.

  2. Client-Side (JavaScript / jQuery)

    In your client-side code (typically in a JavaScript file or script block), use jQuery to trigger the AJAX request and handle the file download:

    function downloadExcelFile() { $.ajax({ url: '/Excel/DownloadExcel', // Replace with your controller and action type: 'GET', xhrFields: { responseType: 'blob' // Set the response type as blob }, success: function(data) { var a = document.createElement('a'); var url = window.URL.createObjectURL(data); a.href = url; a.download = 'example.xlsx'; // File name document.body.append(a); a.click(); a.remove(); window.URL.revokeObjectURL(url); }, error: function(xhr, status, error) { console.error('Error downloading Excel file:', error); // Handle error } }); }
    • downloadExcelFile() function initiates an AJAX GET request to the server-side action (/Excel/DownloadExcel in this example).
    • responseType: 'blob' ensures the response is treated as a binary blob.
    • On success, the function creates a temporary link (<a> element) with the blob URL and triggers a click to initiate the download.
    • window.URL.revokeObjectURL(url) releases the object URL after the download is complete.

  3. Triggering the Download

    Call downloadExcelFile() function wherever you want to trigger the download, such as a button click event:

    <button onclick="downloadExcelFile()">Download Excel</button>

Notes:

  • Ensure your MVC application is correctly configured to handle AJAX requests and return file downloads.
  • Adjust file names (example.xlsx), paths (/Excel/DownloadExcel), and content types (application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet) as per your application's requirements and file types.
  • Handle errors and edge cases (like file generation failures or network issues) appropriately in both server-side and client-side code.

By following these steps, you can effectively download an Excel file via AJAX in your MVC application using C# on the server-side and jQuery on the client-side. Adjust the specifics based on your application's architecture and requirements.

Examples

  1. Download Excel file using AJAX in MVC Description: Implementing a controller action to generate and download an Excel file using AJAX in ASP.NET MVC.

    public ActionResult DownloadExcel() { // Generate Excel file (replace with your implementation) byte[] fileBytes = GenerateExcelFile(); // Return file as download return File(fileBytes, "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet", "example.xlsx"); }

  2. AJAX request to download Excel file Description: Making an AJAX request to download an Excel file from an MVC controller action.

    function downloadExcel() { $.ajax({ url: '/Controller/DownloadExcel', type: 'GET', success: function(data) { // Trigger file download var blob = new Blob([data]); var link = document.createElement('a'); link.href = window.URL.createObjectURL(blob); link.download = 'example.xlsx'; document.body.appendChild(link); link.click(); document.body.removeChild(link); } }); }

  3. Pass parameters to download Excel file via AJAX Description: Sending parameters to an MVC controller action to customize Excel file generation.

    function downloadExcelWithParams() { var params = { param1: value1, param2: value2 }; $.ajax({ url: '/Controller/DownloadExcel', type: 'GET', data: params, success: function(data) { // Handle success } }); }

  4. Handle AJAX errors when downloading Excel file Description: Handling errors during AJAX request for downloading Excel file in MVC.

    $.ajax({ url: '/Controller/DownloadExcel', type: 'GET', success: function(data) { // Handle success }, error: function(xhr, textStatus, errorThrown) { // Handle error } });

  5. Secure download of Excel file via AJAX Description: Implementing security measures to download Excel files securely via AJAX in MVC.

    [Authorize(Roles = "Admin")] public ActionResult DownloadExcel() { // Authorization check // Generate and return Excel file }

  6. Display loading spinner during Excel file download Description: Showing a loading spinner or progress indicator during the AJAX request for downloading an Excel file.

    function downloadExcelWithLoading() { // Show loading spinner $('#loading-spinner').show(); $.ajax({ url: '/Controller/DownloadExcel', type: 'GET', success: function(data) { // Hide loading spinner on success $('#loading-spinner').hide(); // Handle success }, error: function(xhr, textStatus, errorThrown) { // Hide loading spinner on error $('#loading-spinner').hide(); // Handle error } }); }

  7. Download Excel file asynchronously in MVC Description: Implementing asynchronous handling for downloading Excel files in ASP.NET MVC.

    public async Task<ActionResult> DownloadExcelAsync() { // Generate Excel file asynchronously byte[] fileBytes = await Task.Run(() => GenerateExcelFile()); // Return file as download return File(fileBytes, "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet", "example.xlsx"); }

  8. Handle progress events during Excel file download Description: Monitoring progress events or implementing partial downloads for large Excel files via AJAX in MVC.

    $.ajax({ url: '/Controller/DownloadExcel', type: 'GET', xhrFields: { onprogress: function(e) { // Handle progress event } }, success: function(data) { // Handle success } });

  9. Download Excel file with custom headers via AJAX Description: Adding custom headers (e.g., authentication tokens) to download Excel files via AJAX in MVC.

    $.ajax({ url: '/Controller/DownloadExcel', type: 'GET', headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer ' + authToken }, success: function(data) { // Handle success } });

  10. Download multiple Excel files via AJAX in MVC Description: Implementing functionality to download multiple Excel files asynchronously via AJAX in ASP.NET MVC.

    function downloadMultipleExcel() { var files = ['file1.xlsx', 'file2.xlsx']; for (var i = 0; i < files.length; i++) { var url = '/Controller/DownloadExcel?filename=' + files[i]; var link = document.createElement('a'); link.href = url; link.download = files[i]; link.click(); } }

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