Display or download PDF from node.js server

node-pdf-generator.js

var restify = require('restify')
  , port = process.env.PORT || 3000
  , Phantom = require('phantom')
  , tmpdir = require('os').tmpdir()
  , fs = require('fs');

var server = restify.createServer();

function setResponseHeaders(res, filename) {
  res.header('Content-disposition', 'inline; filename=' + filename);
  res.header('Content-type', 'application/pdf');
}

server.get('/downloads/:filename', function(req, res, next) {
  var filename = req.params.filename;
  file = tmpdir + filename;
  setResponseHeaders(res, filename);

  Phantom.create(function(phantom) {
    phantom.createPage(function(page) {

      // Render PDF and send to browser
      function dispatchPDF() {
        page.render(file, function() {
          fs.createReadStream(file).pipe(res);
          phantom.exit();
        });
      };

      page.set('content', "<p>hello i am content</p>");
      page.set('paperSize', '5in');
      page.set('onLoadFinished', dispatchPDF);
    });
  });
});

server.listen(port, function() {
  console.log("Listening on port %s...", port);
});

I created node-cheat:

var express = require('express'),
        fs = require('fs'),
        app = express();
    app.get('/', function (req, res) {
        var filePath = "/files/my_pdf_file.pdf";

        fs.readFile(__dirname + filePath , function (err,data){
            res.contentType("application/pdf");
            res.send(data);
        });
    });

    app.listen(3000, function(){
        console.log('Listening on 3000');
    });

For complete repo:

Clone node-cheat pdf_browser run node app followed by npm install express.

Happy Helping!

Another example, using express:

var express = require('express');
var path = require('path');

app.get('/downloadFile', function (req, res) {
   var file = path.join(__dirname, 'file.pdf');
   res.download(file, function (err) {
       if (err) {
           console.log("Error");
           console.log(err);
       } else {
           console.log("Success");
       }
   });
});

var server = app.listen(3000, function () {
   console.log('Listening on', server.address().port);
});

What you have shown is for the local files stored in the root folder. But what if I want this pdf - https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/75264/8/08_chapter%201.pdf

You can go for implementing download-pdf library in your web app. It will take an url and get it downloaded to your preferred location.