Hi, I am trying to download a file using the Send HTTP Request

skumar over 11 years ago

Hi,

I am trying to download a file using the Send HTTP Request smart service and my approach is :

1. Send HTTP request.
2. Store response body into a PV
3. Convert response body into Appian Document using "Appian Document from Base64 String" Smart Service.

It successfully downloads images or audio files but not word, excel or pdf files.

What changes do I need to make in my process in order to download these files too ?...

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0 Eduardo Fuentes
Appian Employee
over 11 years ago

Does it give you an error?
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0 skumar over 11 years ago

Hi Eduardo,

It doesn't give any error. I worked a lot on this and found that images and audio files are received as inline content in response of http request while word, excel, pdf etc. comes as an attachment. Is this the reason why these files are not downloaded ?

If yes, then how do I fix this issue ?
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0 Stefan Helzle
A Score Level 3
over 11 years ago

I think that has to do with how the HTTP server sends the files. Are you able to check the HTTP headers the server generates and how the differ for images and word files?
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0 skumar over 11 years ago

Yes, I am able to check headers.

for images: Content-Disposition = inline
for word files : Content-Disposition = attachment

Every file with "Content-Disposition = inline" is successfully download but it can't download file with "Content-Disposition = attachment"
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0 Stefan Helzle
A Score Level 3
over 11 years ago

All the other headers are the same? Are you able to modify the webserver config? If so you should be able to change these headers.

@Appian: What headers are supported by this smart service? Please add this to the docs.
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0 Eduardo Fuentes
Appian Employee
over 11 years ago

This is not an out of the box smart service so we'll have to have the author of the plug-in confirm.
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0 Eduardo Fuentes
Appian Employee
over 11 years ago

Also keep in mind the plug-in comes with the source code so you can either increase the logging level or review the source code for more information.
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0 skumar over 11 years ago

Just an update...

I tried to download doc and xls files using the same mechanism. These files were successfully downloaded. It seems that the smart service cannot be used to download office 2007 format files.
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0 Patty Isecke
Appian Employee
over 11 years ago

Checkout: forum.appian.com/.../e-71342
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0 skumar over 11 years ago

Thanks Patty,

This thread was very helpful.

Changing the Return Content Type works for us.

Thanks,
Sandeep
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