How to Create Download Link

Question

What\'s the best way to create a download link? Is there a better way than the following?

I was thinking of using link_to \"Download\", :controller => ..., :act

Answer 1

You could just have your download logic in your show action and give it:

<%= link_to "Download", document_path(document) %>

I'm pretty sure that the :controller / :action / :id method of linking is frowned upon.

Answer 2

I add the download action as a restful route in a resources block. Here's typical code for me:

routes.rb

  resources :things do
    member do
      get :download
    end
  end    

model:

  has_attached_file :document,
    :path => ':rails_root/assets/documents/:id/:basename.:extension'
  attr_protected :document_file_name, :document_content_type, :document_file_size

controller:

  def download
    send_file @thing.document.path, :type => 'application/pdf', :filename => @thing.permalink
  end

view:

  <%= link_to 'Download', download_thing_path(@thing) %>

This keeps the user on the same page, and just initiates the download with my suggested name (I use permalink).

What do you mean by dynamically generated? Are they uploaded by you or created by your application on the fly?

Answer 3

I've just created a Download .mp3 link and used in my .htaccess file.

<Files *.mp3>
  ForceType application/octet-stream
  Header set Content-Disposition attachment
</Files>

I found this to be easier than any other solution.