Downloading text file with Javascript

Question

I have been trying to download a text file with javascript. I'm using this code:

HTML: <a id="save_file_local" download="data.local">Save file</a>

Javascript:

save_file_local.href="data:text/plain,"+encodeURIComponent(response);
save_file_local.click();    

Well, it works perfect with all extensions I have used.. but only with " .local" extension, I get a file with this name: data.download I really need to download the " .local" file, so to change of extension is not a solution for me. It works perfectly with Internet Explorer 10, but not with Chrome or Mozilla.

I have been searching without luck... so Thanks for your help!

Answer 1

From an alternate question:

<a href="path/to/file" download>Click here to download</a>

Thought no way to do this completely cross browser apparently.

Answer 2

This depends on your browser and on the Server.

If a Server sends the "Content-type: text/plain" the most browsers will display it. Its nothing you can change with javascript.

Answer 3

As evu suggested, you could use the HTML5 download attribute, although it isn't widely or consistently supported yet . Chrome give priority to the download attribute, but Firefox gives priority to the http header Content-Disposition . However, if it's content you generated in JavaScript, then the download attribute should work.

If you've got access to the server, setting Content-Disposition: attachment; in your http header would be a much better solution.