PDF file not downloading as pdf on .aspx page

Question

so I have a code that previews a PDF file using this code:

System.Net.WebClient client = new System.Net.WebClient();
        //text box holds the path to the original pdf file in a folder
        Byte[] Thisbuffer = client.DownloadData(TextBox.Text);

        if (Thisbuffer!= null)
        {
            Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
            Response.AddHeader("content-length", Thisbuffer.Length.ToString());
            Response.BinaryWrite(Thisbuffer);
        }

It views PDF file fine in chrome, IE, and Edge but on chrome when I do a download using these options:

It downloads the file as .aspx not .pdf. This is only happening in chrome not in IE or Edge.

I have tried Response.AddHeader("content-disposition", "attachment; filename=myPDFfile.pdf"); and this auto downloads the file wont allow it to be able to view before download. Any help is appreciated thank!

Answer 1

Chrome's built in PDF viewer download button points to the PDF's origin URL, so in your case the aspx page. A potential solution to this issue would to create an new aspx page that loads the PDF on page_load, and then target the new page.

Not sure how your original code block is being called, but you should be able to either insert the target page with an <a> anchor tag or use Response.Redirect() .

Example target page load:

protected void Page_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    if (Request.QueryString["RequestedPath"] != null)
    {
        System.Net.WebClient client = new System.Net.WebClient();
        //text box holds the path to the original pdf file in a folder
        Byte[] Thisbuffer = client.DownloadData(Request.QueryString["RequestedPath"]);

        if (Thisbuffer!= null)
        {
            HttpContext.Current.Response.Clear();
            HttpContext.Current.Response.ClearHeaders();
            HttpContext.Current.Response.ClearContent();
            HttpContext.Current.Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "filename=myPDFfile.pdf");
            HttpContext.Current.Response.AddHeader("content-length", Thisbuffer.Length.ToString());
            HttpContext.Current.Response.ContentType = "application/pdf";
            HttpContext.Current.Response.BinaryWrite(Thisbuffer);
            HttpContext.Current.Response.Flush();
            HttpContext.Current.Response.SuppressContent = true;
            HttpContext.Current.ApplicationInstance.CompleteRequest(); 
        }
    }
}