How can I send a really big string using ajax?

Question

I'm trying to send a pretty big string (about 3 milion and a half characters) using ajax. The code works fine with small strings but if I try to use the string I need to pass it won't work. The string I use is an encoded base64 Excel file.

This is the code I use to send the string:

$.ajax({
      url: "", //The page I call
      type: "GET",
      data: { base64: "....."},//here goes the string I need to pass
      dataType: 'text',
      success: function (response) {
      alert("successful");
      },
      error: function () {
          alert("error");
      }
});

This code works with smaller strings but not with mine. Again the string I'm trying to pass is about 3 milion and a half characters and could even be bigger.

The backend code is the following:

[HttpGet("Test")]
        public async Task<string> testHelloWorld(string saluto)
        {

            try
            {
                string testString = "Funziona";
                Console.Write(testString + ": " + saluto + "\n");
                return testString;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                Log.Error("API(Test) - Exception", ex);
                return null;
            }
        }

Is there a way to send this string??

"it won't work." What errors do you get? Anything on console? etc — phuzi, Jul 17 '19 at 12:25
@phuzi When I type the string into VS it won't even read that as a string, even tho there are no escape characters or " — Synapsis, Jul 17 '19 at 12:26
@TommasoBertoni I'll update my question in a sec including backend — Synapsis, Jul 17 '19 at 12:27
@Synapsis because of this https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3091485/what-is-the-limit-on-querystring-get-url-parameters?lq=1 for instance. — mtkachenko, Jul 17 '19 at 12:29
@mtkachenko I'll try to use post and let you know if this is correct. — Synapsis, Jul 17 '19 at 12:34
@mtkachenko ok that worked. Thanks for the help. Can you post an anser with your solution so I can put it as the correct answer? — Synapsis, Jul 17 '19 at 12:36

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 17 '19 at 12:39

2

Use POST instead of GET because very often there is a limit for length of query string configured on web-server.

answered Jul 17 '19 at 12:39

mtkachenko

5,389
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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jul 17 '19 at 12:33

For GET request, HTTP itself doesn't impose any hard-coded limit, but browsers have limits ranging on the 2kb - 8kb. The limit is dependent on both the server (Apache, IIS, NGINX, ...) and the client (browser) side.

Use POST request for big string. If it still causes problems, try to compress the data.

Renan Araújo · Answer 3 · 2019-07-17T12:33:53.743

0

Change your ajax to POST and change the jsonSerialization max lenght on the web.config file.

The default value is 2097152 characters. Change it to 2147483644 (int max lenght) and check again.

<configuration> 
   <system.web.extensions>
       <scripting>
           <webServices>
               <jsonSerialization maxJsonLength="2147483644"/>
           </webServices>
       </scripting>
   </system.web.extensions>
</configuration>

Using GET, the max url lenght is 2083 characters.

edited Jul 17 '19 at 12:33

answered Jul 17 '19 at 12:28

Renan Araújo

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39
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OP is sending GET request, don't think the question has anything to do with JSON – phuzi Jul 17 '19 at 12:30
Thanks for the help, but it hasn't anything to do with that :) – Synapsis Jul 17 '19 at 12:36

How can I send a really big string using ajax?

3 Answers3