javascript - Download pdf file from ajax response

Question

I'm trying to make the browser download a pdf file received from an ajax response.

Inspired by Download pdf file using jquery ajax I simulate a click/download event like this:

    var req = new XMLHttpRequest();
    req.open("POST", "/servicepath/Method?ids=" + ids, true);
    req.responseType = "blob";
    req.onreadystatechange = function () {
        if (req.readyState === 4 && req.status === 200) {
            var blob = req.response;
            var link = document.createElement('a');
            link.href = window.URL.createObjectURL(blob);
            link.download = "PdfName-" + new Date().getTime() + ".pdf";
            link.click();
        }
    };
    req.send();

Unfortunately this only works in Chrome, but not Firefox + IE. Nothing happens when I try to trigger it in the last two browsers.

The script and markup is placed inside an iframe due to inheritance from an CMS, but I'm not sure if that has any influence a.

Any idea on how to optimize it for all modern browsers?

Answer 1

This version will work in all modern browsers:

var req = new XMLHttpRequest();
req.open("POST", "/servicepath/Method?ids=" + ids, true);
req.responseType = "blob";
req.onreadystatechange = function () {
    if (req.readyState === 4 && req.status === 200) {
        var filename = "PdfName-" + new Date().getTime() + ".pdf";
        if (typeof window.chrome !== 'undefined') {
            // Chrome version
            var link = document.createElement('a');
            link.href = window.URL.createObjectURL(req.response);
            link.download = "PdfName-" + new Date().getTime() + ".pdf";
            link.click();
        } else if (typeof window.navigator.msSaveBlob !== 'undefined') {
            // IE version
            var blob = new Blob([req.response], { type: 'application/pdf' });
            window.navigator.msSaveBlob(blob, filename);
        } else {
            // Firefox version
            var file = new File([req.response], filename, { type: 'application/force-download' });
            window.open(URL.createObjectURL(file));
        }
    }
};
req.send();

I was trying to get also a version for safari but it didn't work so well. Will try to keep investigate it and give a solution for that too.