Download File in MVC 4

This article provides a sample showing how to download files from a directory in MVC 4.

Create a new ASP.NET MVC 4 Application as in the following:


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Now, right-click on the Model Folder then select Add New Item -> Add a New Class.


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In DownLoadFileInformation use the following code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;

namespace FileDownloadInMVC4.Models
{
    public class DownLoadFileInformation
    {
        public int FileId { get; set; }
        public string FileName { get; set; }
        public string FilePath { get; set; }
    }
}

Now, again right-click on Mode then select Add New Item -> Add New Class.


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In DownloadFiles.cs use the following code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Hosting;

namespace FileDownloadInMVC4.Models
{
    public class DownloadFiles
    {
        public List<DownLoadFileInformation> GetFiles()
        {
            List<DownLoadFileInformation> lstFiles = new List<DownLoadFileInformation>();
            DirectoryInfo dirInfo = new DirectoryInfo(HostingEnvironment.MapPath("~/MyFiles"));

            int i = 0;
            foreach (var item in dirInfo.GetFiles())
            {
                lstFiles.Add(new DownLoadFileInformation()
                {

                    FileId = i + 1,
                    FileName = item.Name,
                    FilePath = dirInfo.FullName + @"\" + item.Name
                });
                i = i + 1;
            }
            return lstFiles;
        }
    }
}

Now open FileProcessController and do the following code:

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Web;
using System.Web.Mvc;
using FileDownloadInMVC4.Models;

namespace FileDownloadInMVC4.Controllers
{
    public class FileProcessController : Controller
    {
        //
        // GET: /FileProcess/

        DownloadFiles obj;
        public FileProcessController()
        {
            obj = new DownloadFiles();
        }

        public ActionResult Index()
        {
            var filesCollection = obj.GetFiles();
            return View(filesCollection);
        }

        public FileResult Download(string FileID)
        {
            int CurrentFileID = Convert.ToInt32(FileID);
            var filesCol = obj.GetFiles();
            string CurrentFileName = (from fls in filesCol
                                      where fls.FileId == CurrentFileID
                                      select fls.FilePath).First();

            string contentType = string.Empty;

            if (CurrentFileName.Contains(".pdf"))
            {
                contentType = "application/pdf";
            }

            else if (CurrentFileName.Contains(".docx"))
            {
                contentType = "application/docx";
            }
            return File(CurrentFileName, contentType, CurrentFileName);
        }
    }
}

Now right-click on the Index Action then select Add A View.


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Now run the application:


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Now click on any Download link.


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