Detect when browser receives file download

Question

I have a page that allows the user to download a dynamically-generated file. It takes a long time to generate, so I\'d like to show a \"waiting\" indicator. The problem is,

Answer 1

If you're streaming a file that you're generating dynamically, and also have a realtime server-to-client messaging library implemented, you can alert your client pretty easily.

The server-to-client messaging library I like and recommend is Socket.io (via Node.js). After your server script is done generating the file that is being streamed for download your last line in that script can emit a message to Socket.io which sends a notification to the client. On the client, Socket.io listens for incoming messages emitted from the server and allows you to act on them. The benefit of using this method over others is that you are able to detect a "true" finish event after the streaming is done.

For example, you could show your busy indicator after a download link is clicked, stream your file, emit a message to Socket.io from the server in the last line of your streaming script, listen on the client for a notification, receive the notification and update your UI by hiding the busy indicator.

I realize most people reading answers to this question might not have this type of a setup, but I've used this exact solution to great effect in my own projects and it works wonderfully.

Socket.io is incredibly easy to install and use. See more: http://socket.io/