Trigger a click on <a href="" /> through Javascript (cross-browser solution)

Question

I have an <a href="" class="auto_download" /> and would like to trigger, through Javascript a click (currently using jQuery; but some JS equivalent is ok too).

$('auto_download')[0].click();

Actually it works correctly if the <a href="" /> has a target="_blank" attribute; but the pop-up is blocked from the major browsers.

So, to avoid the issue, I removed the target=_blank" and it now does NOT work anymore. I guess this is related to some security policy of the browsers regarding what can be automatically clicked.

I've read different questions, I've seen many different solutions on SO, but couldn't find one that could be really cross-browser.

there's been a lot of issues around this subject, unfortunately there's no correct answer that matches all the cases — Amin Jafari
– Amin Jafari, Commented Nov 3, 2014 at 13:00
What exactly are you trying to do? An automatic refresh of the page? A form submitting? If you give us some additional details, maybe there's another (better) way to do this ;) — iMacTia
– iMacTia, Commented Nov 3, 2014 at 13:02
@iMacTia the <a href="" /> links to a PDF file/attachment, that the user can download manually. But I've been asked also to automatically trigger the link after page loading, to let the user to download the file without having to search for the link. — Kamafeather
– Kamafeather, Commented Nov 3, 2014 at 13:11

Rajaprabhu Aravindasamy · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-03 13:02:46Z

4

The code you have used,

$('.auto_download').click();

Would actually invoke the click handler attached to it. It wont make a physical click action over it. If you want to make a physical click then do,

$('.auto_download')[0].click();

But this wont be supported in touch device.

answered Nov 3, 2014 at 13:02

Rajaprabhu Aravindasamy

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Rajaprabhu Aravindasamy · Accepted Answer · 2014-11-03 13:03:03Z

1

Try pure js:

document.getElementByClassName("auto_download")[0].click();

edited Nov 3, 2014 at 13:03

Rajaprabhu Aravindasamy

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answered Nov 3, 2014 at 13:02

DripDrop

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