Begin a file download in a pop up page

On many sites when you click a link or button to begin the download of a file, you will be taken to a page where the download will start in a pop-up page, and if for some reason it does not; there will be a link or button to manually start the download. It seems that the primary reason for this is to display advertisements during the download. None the less, it is a frequently requested item.

The key is to be able to send response "Content-Disposition:","attachment; filename" headers to the browser indicating your intent to do a download and not display the file in the browser window.

In this example, after the download finishes, clicking the download complete button will return you to this page using a ASP Session value. This can be accomplished another way using ASP as a helper to eliminate the URL parameter.

Except where otherwise noted, this site, all content, and all source code and markup is licensed under a Creative Commons License Creative Commons License.

No part of this web site including all application code and examples may be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from the author, Roderick W. Divilbiss of Overland Park, Kansas, United States of America.

How can you begin a download in a pop-up page?