Download Helper

The Download Helper lets you download data to your desktop.

Loading this Helper

This helper is loaded using the following code:

$this->load->helper('download');

Available Functions

The following functions are available:

force_download([$filename = ''[, $data = ''[, $set_mime = FALSE]]])
Parameters:
  • $filename (mixed) – Filename
  • $data (mixed) – File contents
  • $set_mime (bool) – Whether to try to send the actual MIME type
Return type:

void

Generates server headers which force data to be downloaded to your desktop. Useful with file downloads. The first parameter is the name you want the downloaded file to be named, the second parameter is the file data.

If you set the second parameter to NULL and $filename is an existing, readable file path, then its content will be read instead. You may also set $filename as an associative array with a single element, where the key of that element would be the local file you are trying to read and where the value is the name of the downloadable file that will be sent to browser. An example of this is provided below.

If you set the third parameter to boolean TRUE, then the actual file MIME type (based on the filename extension) will be sent, so that if your browser has a handler for that type - it can use it.

Example:

$data = 'Here is some text!';
$name = 'mytext.txt';
force_download($name, $data);

If you want to download an existing file from your server you’ll need to do the following:

// Contents of photo.jpg will be automatically read
force_download('/path/to/photo.jpg', NULL);

If you want to download an existing file from your server, but change the name of the actual file sent to browser, you will need this:

// Contents of photo.jpg will be automatically read and sent as my-photo.jpg
force_download(array('/path/to/photo.jpg' => 'my-photo.jpg'), NULL);