Force download a pdf link using javascript/ajax/jquery

Question

suppose we have a pdf link "http://manuals.info.apple.com/en/iphone_user_guide.pdf"(just for example and to let u know that file is not on my server, i only have the link)...now i have to provide a button on my site that will download the file.

i have tried various things like window.open, href etc. methods but it open the link on other window. i know thats because now all browser comes with a adobe plugin which opens it in another window, but still isnt there any way i give the user the option of download rather than opening it, through client side scripting ..

plz help.. thanks

Answer 1

Here is a Javascript solution (for folks like me who were looking for an answer to the title):

function SaveToDisk(fileURL, fileName) {     // for non-IE     if (!window.ActiveXObject) {         var save = document.createElement('a');         save.href = fileURL;         save.target = '_blank';         save.download = fileName || 'unknown';          var evt = new MouseEvent('click', {             'view': window,             'bubbles': true,             'cancelable': false         });         save.dispatchEvent(evt);          (window.URL || window.webkitURL).revokeObjectURL(save.href);     }      // for IE < 11     else if ( !! window.ActiveXObject && document.execCommand)     {         var _window = window.open(fileURL, '_blank');         _window.document.close();         _window.document.execCommand('SaveAs', true, fileName || fileURL)         _window.close();     } } 

source: http://muaz-khan.blogspot.fr/2012/10/save-files-on-disk-using-javascript-or.html

Unfortunately this is not working for me with IE11, which is not accepting new MouseEvent. I use the following in that case:

//... try {     var evt = new MouseEvent(...); } catch (e) {     window.open(fileURL, fileName); } //... 

Answer 2

Use the HTML5 "download" attribute

<a href="iphone_user_guide.pdf" download="iPhone User's Guide.PDF">click me</a> 

2021 Update: Now supported in all major browsers! see: caniuse.com/#search=download

If you need to support older browsers, or you're looking for an actual javascript solution (for some reason) please see lajarre's answer