How to download a file through ajax request in asp.net MVC 4

Question

Below is my code :

ActionResult DownloadAttachment(student st)
{          
    var file = db.EmailAttachmentReceived.FirstOrDefault(x => x.LisaId == st.Lisaid);

    byte[] fileBytes = System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes(file.Filepath);
    return File(fileBytes, System.Net.Mime.MediaTypeNames.Application.Octet, file.Filename);                 
}

This is the script which i'm using

$(function () {
    $("#DownloadAttachment").click(function () {
        $.ajax({
            url: '@Url.Action("DownloadAttachment", "PostDetail")',
            contentType: 'application/json; charset=utf-8',
            datatype: 'json',
            type: "GET",
            success: function () {
                alert("sucess");
            }
        });    
    });
});      

How to return the file for download pursing above code?

Answer 1

I think there is no need of Ajax call you can do simply using hyperlink as below example.

View Code

<a href="@Url.Action("DownloadAttachment", "PostDetail", new { studentId = 123 })">Download Form</a>

Controller Method

public ActionResult DownloadAttachment(int studentId)
{          
    // Find user by passed id
    var file = db.EmailAttachmentReceived.FirstOrDefault(x => x.LisaId == studentId);    
    byte[] fileBytes = System.IO.File.ReadAllBytes(file.Filepath);    
    return File(fileBytes, System.Net.Mime.MediaTypeNames.Application.Octet, file.Filename);                           
}