Retain string formatting in the response from asp.net mvc2 action method

Question

I'm trying to show test run log (text file in a windows server) to the user if he/she clicks a link.

So far I'm able to return the string but the formatting is lost (no newlines) when displayed in the browser.

public string GetTestLog(...)
{ 
    return File.ReadAllText(logFileUrl);
}

How can I keep the formatting of the string?

amit_g · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-30 18:09:16Z

1

You could return the file with test/plain contentType and then it should render properly as a text file...

public ActionResult GetTestLog(...)
{
    return new FileContentResult(File.ReadAllBytes(logFileUrl), "text/plain");
}

If you are rendering it as HTML, you have to replace all newlines with <br/> or enclose it in a TEXTAREA or PRE.

answered Mar 30, 2012 at 18:09

amit_g

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Comments

Tim M. · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-30 18:07:29Z

0

You can display the output inside ah HTML PRE tag to preserve the original formatting.

answered Mar 30, 2012 at 18:07

Tim M.

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