Download MS Word document through http

Hi,

I am connecting to a web site using HttpWebRequest, and opening a file url, which is actually a MS word doc.I need to download the same through backend, but the file, on downloading, is getting corrupted.I think the problem is with the encoding.Here is how i am doing it:

Dim wReq as HttpWebRequest
Dim wResp as HttpWebResponse
Dim str as String
Dim sr as StreamReader
Dim sw as StreamWriter

wReq = CType(WebRequest.Create(New Uri(strURL)),HttpWebRequest)
wReq.Method = "POST"
wReq.KeepAlive = True
wReq.Credentials = New NetworkCredential(user, passwd, domain)
wReq.ContentType = "application/msword"

wResp = wReq.GetResponse

sr = New StreamReader(wResp.GetResponseStream, System.Text.Encoding.ASCII)
str = sr.ReadToEnd.Trim
sr.Close()
wResp.Close()
wReq = Nothing

If Not str Is Nothing And str.Length > 0 Then

sw = New StreamWriter(dFolder & filename & "." & "doc", False)
sw.WriteLine(txt)
sw.Close()
sw = Nothing

End If

Please note i have to use http Web request only since the site throws up a login page which i am bypassing by posting parameters.

Please help.
Thanks in advance!

Setting the navigateURL of a hyperlink to point to the file will evoke the 'save as' dialog with no coding at all. There is also a C# article on this site by Krishnan that addresses this topic, here is a vb modified version of his code (the original is here: http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/Globalking/filedownload02272006052052AM/filedownload.aspx?ArticleID=402f8ba6-e459-4c07-a303-80f041587a6f)

Three button handlers setting a doc file, a txt file, and an image file path and passing that as a string to a subroutine called Download:

Protected Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

Download("~\documents\Isherwood.doc")

End Sub

Protected Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click

Download("~\documents\Isherwood.txt")

End Sub

Protected Sub Button3_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click

Download("~\documents\USS Isherwood 2.jpg")

End Sub

The subroutine that manages the download:

Public Sub Download(ByVal strPath As String)

Dim fileName As String = strPath

If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty(fileName) Then

fileName = Server.MapPath(fileName)

Dim fi As System.IO.FileInfo

fi = New System.IO.FileInfo(fileName)

If fi.Exists Then

Response.Clear()

Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=" & fi.Name)

Response.AddHeader("Content-Length", fi.Length.ToString())

Response.ContentType = "application/octet-stream"

Response.WriteFile(fi.FullName)

Response.End()

Else

Response.Write("No such file")

End If

End Sub

1 Reply

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Scott Lysle20y ago
Setting the navigateURL of a hyperlink to point to the file will evoke the 'save as' dialog with no coding at all. There is also a C# article on this site by Krishnan that addresses this topic, here is a vb modified version of his code (the original is here: http://www.c-sharpcorner.com/UploadFile/Globalking/filedownload02272006052052AM/filedownload.aspx?ArticleID=402f8ba6-e459-4c07-a303-80f041587a6f)

Three button handlers setting a doc file, a txt file, and an image file path and passing that as a string to a subroutine called Download:

Protected Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

     Download("~\documents\Isherwood.doc")

End Sub

Protected Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click

     Download("~\documents\Isherwood.txt")

End Sub

Protected Sub Button3_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button3.Click

     Download("~\documents\USS Isherwood 2.jpg")

End Sub

The subroutine that manages the download:

Public Sub Download(ByVal strPath As String)

     Dim fileName As String = strPath

     If Not String.IsNullOrEmpty(fileName) Then

          fileName = Server.MapPath(fileName)

          Dim fi As System.IO.FileInfo

          fi = New System.IO.FileInfo(fileName)

          If fi.Exists Then

               Response.Clear()

               Response.AddHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=" & fi.Name)

               Response.AddHeader("Content-Length", fi.Length.ToString())

               Response.ContentType = "application/octet-stream"

               Response.WriteFile(fi.FullName)

               Response.End()

          Else

               Response.Write("No such file")

          End If

     End If

End Sub