TCPDF - AJAX - Download file without saving it to webserver from AJAX call

Question

I have an AJAX call to the create_pdf.php page:

$('body').on('click', '.PrintButtonWithClass', function (event) {
    var1 = $('#id1').val();
    var2 = $('#id2').val();
    dataString='var1='+var1+'&var2='+var2+'&pdf_name=PdfName&pdf_creator=myname';

    $.ajax({ 
        type: 'post',
        url: '/path/to/createpdf/file/create_pdf.php',
        data: dataString,
        success: function (data) {
            alert('success');
        }
    });
});

In create_pdf.php I tried to use this line to download the file:

$pdf->Output(str_replace(' ','_',utf8_decode($_POST['pdf_name'])).'.pdf', 'D');

I tried also the FD and I parameters with no success, the file does not get downloaded.

How can I force downloading the file created without saving it to the webserver and without redirecting user to any other page? I want him to stay on the same page, and that the browser pops up a (download or preview dialog box) for the PDF. Is there any way to do it?

EDIT : create_pdf.php is Waiting for POST variables. and uses them to create the HMTL for the pdf.

Answer 1

You can try to submit the form to a new window( like a popup ):

<form method="post" id="myform" action="your_url">
    <input name="param1">
</form>

And in javascript

// create popup window
var wind = window.open('about:blank', '__foo', 'width=700,height=500,status=yes,resizable=yes,scrollbars=yes');

// submit form to popup window
$("#myform").attr("target", "__foo");

Do not forget to send content-type header from php:

header("Content-Type", "application/pdf");

Edit: Browsers should display your pdf content and also show download or print options. The code is not tested but I think it would do what you requested;

Answer 2

I found a work-around for my problem.

I did an AJAX call inside another AJAX call.

the first AJAX call creates the file on webServer and opens the file in a new Window.

In his success parameter I do the following:

The second AJAX call that deletes the file from Server.

            $.ajax({ 
                type: 'post',
                url: '/path/to/create_pdf.php',
                data: dataString,
                success: function (data) {

                window.open(
                  data,
                  '_blank' // <- This is what makes it open in a new window.
                );


                window.setTimeout(function () {
                    dataString2 = 'Downloaded=true';
                            $.ajax({
                                type: 'post',
                                url: '/path/to/create_pdf.php',
                                data: dataString2,
                                success: function (data) { alert(data); }, // handler if second request succeeds 
                            });
                }, 5000);



                    },

                  });

Answer 3

Using this answer to my similar request : send a csv file from php to browser

I needed to (1) get and display a pdf in another window; and (2) get a CSV file and prompt for saving.

I have 2 simple buttons on the page ( http://potoococha.net/ ) for each. Here is the code:

function getCSVText(evt)  {

  if (currentChecklistCountry)  {

    var form = $('<form method="post" action="../php/sendCSV.php?country=' + currentChecklistCountry + '"></form>');

    $('body').append(form);

    form.submit();

    form.remove();
  }
  else  checklistCountryButton.classList.add("needsAttention");
}

function openChecklistPage()  {

   if (!currentChecklistCountry)  {
       checklistCountryButton.innerHTML = "Select Country";
       checklistCountryButton.classList.add("needsAttention");
       return;
    }

   if (gNumDays == undefined) gNumDays = 12;

   vars = "?country="     + currentChecklistCountry;
   vars += "&num_days="   + gNumDays;
   vars += "&line_nos="   + lineNumbers.checked;
   vars += "&left_check=" + leftCheck.checked;
   vars += "&endemics="   + showEndemics.checked;
   vars += "&sci_names="  + !sciNames.checked;
   vars += "&italics="    + !italics.checked;

   window.open( '../php/makePDF.php' + vars, '_blank' );
}

So the getCSVText() methods downloads a file using a temporary form appended and then immediately removed, and openChecklistPage() successfully opens another browser window with a pdf file. The pdf file is never saved on the server. The CSV file is already stored there and just retrieved. Perhaps you can modify the code for your purposes.