ruby on rails how to download csv file using javascript

Question

Some clarifications first.

I'm trying everything on local development environment.

In my UsersController I have a summary_csv method that builds a csv file and stores it in the /tmp/your-csv-file.csv location .

Once the system checks that the file is ready for download, I have a summary_csv.js.erb file that runs some javascript to help the user download the file, specifically, in summary_csv.js.erb, I try to do window.location="/users/download_csv"; and there is a download_csv method in the Users controller.

So I want the download to happen, but not sure about 2 things:

1. How should I configure routes.rb for this download_csv method so that the download happens without throwing some kind of 'missing views' error? (at this point I don't care whether user has to directed to another view or can stay on the same page).

2. What should go into the body of download_csv method so that window.location="/users/download_csv"; will initiate the download, for the file located at /tmp/your-csv-file.csv?

Answer 1

1) Put a get method inside users resource and collections like this

resources :users do
  collection do
    get 'download_csv'
  end
end

2) You just need to send_file, passing your file path to it, since it's ready.

Result

def download_csv
  send_file(
    "/tmp/your-csv-file.csv",
    filename: "your_custom_file_name.csv",
    type: "text/csv"
  )
end