CakePHP page with no headers/footers - cakephp

Question

In a download page for a blob from a database, how would I make it so that no other output is sent? Right now it's sending the header, debug info, and a footer. How do I make it so that none of that is sent, just for that view?

Answer 1

you can create an clear layout (e.g. empty.ctp ) in you layouts folder, only with
<?php echo $content_for_layout ?>
and then in you action where you're getting your blob data use that layout
$this->layout = 'empty.ctp';
and also to disable debugging, in your controllers use
Configure::write('debug',0);
if you're unable to create new layout you could try this.
$this->layout = null;
$this->render("view_name");

Answer 2

If you're using this to download files, you should use the Media view in cakePHP
http://book.cakephp.org/view/1094/Media-Views
$this->view = 'Media';
$params = array(
'id' => 'example.zip',
'name' => 'example',
'download' => true,
'extension' => 'zip', // must be lower case
'path' => APP . 'files' . DS // don't forget terminal 'DS'
);

Answer 3

CakePhp 2.3 users :
use Sending files from the Book
CakePhp 2.x users :
use '$this->viewClass' instead of '$this->view'
copy-paste ready full solution, right in any controller file:
<?php
public function download($file) {
$fsTarget = APP.WEBROOT_DIR.DS.'files'.DS.$file; // files located in 'files' folder under webroot
if (false == file_exists($fsTarget)){
throw new NotFoundException(__('Invalid file'));
}
$pathinfo = pathinfo($fsTarget);
$this->viewClass = 'Media';
$params = array(
'id' => $file,
'name' => $pathinfo['filename'], // without extension
'download' => true,
'extension' => $pathinfo['extension'], // must be lower case
'path' => dirname($fsTarget) . DS // don't forget terminal 'DS'
);
$this->set($params);
}
Hope this helps!