How to create downloadable link to text file?

Question

The purpose is to download the dumped backup.sql file after running the sql dumping script (from PHP). Normally, the dumped .sql file is outputted (written) on the server. Then when i make a href link to that file like <a href="backup.sql">Download File</a>, the file is opening inside the browser on clicking, instead of being downloading.

• i just want to make a simple HREF LINK (to such a text file) which show up with "Save as.." dialog on simple Left Click.

How it could be done?

Answer 1

Or you could just use the new HTML5 property download in the anchor tag of your html.

The code will look something like

<a download href="path/to/the/download/file"> Clicking on this link will force download the file</a>

It works on firefox and chrome latest version. Should I mention that I didn't check it in IE? :P

Answer 2

Add the following lines to your .htaccess file.

<Files "backup.sql">
ForceType applicaton/octet-stream
Header set Content-Disposition attachment
</Files>

Answer 3

Another option is serving it with in a .php file eg download.php

have this in download.php

    $path = "backup.sql"
    header("Content-Type: application/octet-stream");    //

    header("Content-Length: " . filesize($path));    

    header('Content-Disposition: attachment; filename='.$path);

    readfile($path); 

then

<a href="download.php">Download File</a>