The comment of xdumaine prompted me to think into another direction, thank you for that!
It did take some time for the Ajax request to load, but I also discovered some JavaScript (e.g. knockout binding) errors along the way after I put a ConversionDelay
on the pdf creator object
pdfConverter.ConversionDelay = 5; //time in seconds
So here is my solution for this moment, which works for me now:
To start the process a bound click event:
model.downloadInvoice = function (invoice) {
var url = '/invoice/preview/' + invoice.Id() + '?isDownload=true';
window.open('/invoice/pdfDownload?url=' + url);
};
which result in a GET
resquest on the controller action
public FileResult PdfDownload(string url)
{
var pdfConverter = new PdfConverter { JavaScriptEnabled = true };
// add the Forms Authentication cookie to request
if (Request.Cookies[FormsAuthentication.FormsCookieName] != null)
{
pdfConverter.HttpRequestCookies.Add(
FormsAuthentication.FormsCookieName,
Request.Cookies[FormsAuthentication.FormsCookieName].Value);
}
pdfConverter.ConversionDelay = 5;
var absolutUrl = ToAbsulte(url);
var pdfBytes = pdfConverter.GetPdfBytesFromUrl(absolutUrl);
return new FileContentResult(pdfBytes, "application/pdf");
}
The Pdf creator is requesting this action on the controller, with isDownload = true
(see bound click event):
public ActionResult Preview(string id, bool isDownload = false)
{
return PartialView("PdfInvoice", new InvoiceViewModel
{
IsDownload = isDownload,
InvoiceId = id
});
}
Which returns this partial view:
PartialView:
// the actual div with bindings etc.
@if (Model.IsDownload)
{
//Include your javascript and css here if needed
@Html.Hidden("invoiceId", Model.InvoiceId);
<script>
$(document).ready(function () {
var invoiceId = $("#invoiceId").val();
DownloadInvoiceView.Start(invoiceId);
});
</script>
}
JavaScript for getting the invoice and apply the knockout bindings:
DownloadInvoiceView = function() {
function _start(invoiceId) {
$.get("invoice/GetInvoice/" + invoiceId, function(response) {
var viewModel = new DownloadInvoiceView.ViewModel(response.Data);
ko.applyBindings(viewModel, $("#invoiceDiv").get(0));
});
};
return {
Start: _start
};
}();
DownloadInvoiceView.ViewModel = function (data) {
var model = this;
var invoice = new Invoice(data); //Invoice is a Knockout model
return model;
};