Returns a 404 error when linking into a file

what is the output of $exam->file_path?

Hi @deansatch , thank you for quick response. Please see the update. Thanks

and does that path exist inside your public folder?

public/file/1/pdf/Examination part 1.pdf

@deansatch Yes. I've already created the path, and put the file in it.

do you have a route already set up similar for a page e.g.

'file/{id}/pdf/{pdf_id}'

I would comment out most or all of your routes and if it works start uncommenting them one by one

@deansatch No I haven't. I just want to access the exact pdf file without any route. Because sometimes I'm having a problem when viewing pdf file if I use <object> or <iframe>. Sometimes it returns a blank page, that's why I'm decided to use the exact file instead.

Could you try without spaces in the filename?

Try creating a route for your pdf...something like /pdf and then in that closure or referenced controller use:

<iframe src="{{ route('pdf') }}" frameborder="0"></iframe>

Route::get('pdf', function(){

      return response()->file(public_path('file/1/pdf/Examination part 1.pdf') );

});

try url encoding the filename so that you are not getting spaces and other invalid characters in there

Hi @Snapey . How can I do that? Can you give me an example? thanks.

urlencode($exam->file_path)

URL Encoding is not working. If I try to paste the result in the url bar, It returns a 404 error.

have you tried renaming the file so it has no spaces? Ensured the path is correct? In the address bar it would not include '/public/'. What does the full url look like?

Yes I've already tried to rename it without spaces. '/public' folder is needed here because all of my pdf files are stored there. The full url looks like this: http://localhost/school/public/files/1/PDF/exams/fillable/ExaminationPart1.pdf

Remove public from the url and try again. If this is a laravel project public would be your public root i.e. if http://localhost/ loads your laravel home page then it is actually pointing to your public folder.

https://laravel.com/docs/5.5/structure#the-public-directory

Indeed. I've also include my pdf files in public directory.

I'm not sure you understood what I meant with my last post:

You have something like:

/app/
/bootstrap/
/config/
/database/
/public/files/1/PDF/exams/fillable/ExaminationPart1.pdf
/resources/
/routes/
/storage/

http://localhost/ in the browser address bar will load /public/index.php

So http://localhost/files/1/PDF/exams/fillable/ExaminationPart1.pdf in the address bar will load /files/1/PDF/exams/fillable/ExaminationPart1.pdf

Oh Sorry about that, that's exactly how it looks like in my setup.

Sorry I posted the wrong url on the 2nd last line - I've updated it so that it is now correct.

So where does the 'school' directory come into this?

@deansatch school is the name of my project folder.

Have you tried any of the things I have suggested? Have you tried loading the url without public in it?

What is the url that successfully loads your home page?

Hi @deansatch . Yes, I tried to remove the public. But still getting the error. Anyway, I know the solution now :)

My pdf file contains hash sign (#) that treats the file as id not the exact file name. Example, if you have a file name like Examination #1.pdf, just remove the # sign so it will not be treated as an ID in the url.

Thats what urlencode takes care of

>>> urlencode('Examination #1.pdf')
=> "Examination+%231.pdf"

So when you said you tried all our suggestions like urlencode, renaming etc... you actually didn’t?