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javascriptsave-asexeccommanddata-uri

Cross-browser Save As .txt

Is there a JavaScript library that allows to save strings as txt files, and works cross-browser?

In the past, I have been using Downloadify, but I am looking at another option for a couple reasons:

  • I hope to find a pure JavaScript solution, without the need for Flash
  • it seems that Downloadify is not updated anymore (no update in the past 18 months)
  • I am experiencing an issue with Downloadify in IE 9, where strings are cut off
Solution

  • As far as I know, the only way is to use data: URLs to force a download:

    var data = "This is a test";
window.location.href = "data:application/x-download;charset=utf-8," + encodeURIComponent(data);

    Two catches here:

    • It won't work in MSIE because its support of data: URLs is very limited (supposedly for security reasons). So you will still need Downloadify there.
    • You cannot specify a file name, the suggested file name will depend on the browser used. And file type will be "unknown" (you cannot use a known MIME type because the browser won't offer to download the file then).

    Bonus reading: there was a W3.org discussion in February 2010 on fixing the second problem: http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/uri/2010Feb/thread.html#msg58. However, this doesn't seem to have made it into any specification so far, let alone browser implementations.