Unable to download a file with example script - php

Question

I want to create xlsx file and send to the browser as an attachment, so the user downloads it immediately. I literally did copy-paste the code from this example.
But it doesn't work. I fixed the path in require_once, but the issue is somewhere else.
The xlsx file is generated corerctly - when I save ot on the server, I can open it. It is also sent to the browser - firebug's console shows some funny characters in output window. The headers are also correct.
But no Save as... dialog is shown. I did some basic checks based on google search results - I have no extra white space after ?>.
The only difference in my code is that I call php script from jQuery's $.post function with some additional arguments.
Could it be the reason why I can't download this file?
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
PHP version: 5.4.20
PHPExcel version: 1.8.0
Server: Apache/2.4.6 (Linux/SUSE)
This question is also posted on codeplex.

Answer 1

You can't download files via an ajax request such as $.post for security reasons.
You could use a link that opens in a new window instead.

Answer 2

<?php
// If user click the download link
if(isset($_GET['filename'])){
// The directory of downloadable files
// This directory should be unaccessible from web
$file_dir="";
// Replace the slash and backslash character with empty string
// The slash and backslash character can be dangerous
$file_name=str_replace("/", "", $_GET['filename']);
$file_name=str_replace("\\", "", $file_name);
// If the requested file is exist
if(file_exists($file_dir.$file_name)){
// Get the file size
$file_size=filesize($file_dir.$file_name);
// Open the file
$fh=fopen($file_dir.$file_name, "r");
// Download speed in KB/s
$speed=50;
// Initialize the range of bytes to be transferred
$start=0;
$end=$file_size-1;
// Check HTTP_RANGE variable
if(isset($_SERVER['HTTP_RANGE']) &&
preg_match('/^bytes=(\d+)-(\d*)/', $_SERVER['HTTP_RANGE'], $arr)){
// Starting byte
$start=$arr[1];
if($arr[2]){
// Ending byte
$end=$arr[2];
}
}
// Check if starting and ending byte is valid
if($start>$end || $start>=$file_size){
header("HTTP/1.1 416 Requested Range Not Satisfiable");
header("Content-Length: 0");
}
else{
// For the first time download
if($start==0 && $end==$file_size){
// Send HTTP OK header
header("HTTP/1.1 200 OK");
}
else{
// For resume download
// Send Partial Content header
header("HTTP/1.1 206 Partial Content");
// Send Content-Range header
header("Content-Range: bytes ".$start."-".$end."/".$file_size);
}
// Bytes left
$left=$end-$start+1;
// Send the other headers
header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");
header("Accept-Ranges: bytes");
// Content length should be the bytes left
header("Content-Length: ".$left);
header("Content-Disposition: attachment; filename=".$file_name);
// Read file from the given starting bytes
fseek($fh, $start);
// Loop while there are bytes left
while($left>0){
// Bytes to be transferred
// according to the defined speed
$bytes=$speed*1024;
// Read file per size
echo fread($fh, $bytes);
// Flush the content to client
flush();
// Substract bytes left with the tranferred bytes
$left-=$bytes;
// Delay for 1 second
sleep(1);
}
}
fclose($fh);
}
else
{
// If the requested file is not exist
// Display error message
echo "File not found!";
}
exit();
}
?>
Download.
You can use this code for download you can edit extension and also speed