Download a file with an ajax call

Question

I am using PHPExcel to read an excel template, populate the data, and ask the user to download the file.

generate_excel.php

$objPHPExcel = PHPExcel_I         


        

Answer 1

Found a way to do this, although I'm not sure if this is an ideal approach.

I added a hidden iframe in the page. When the ajax call returns, it returns the url of the created data. I used javascript to redirect the iframe to that url which automatically triggers the download action.