> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.superoffice.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to download a new document

> How to download a document

The following code example demonstrates how to download the created document to a local directory and open it.

## Code

```csharp theme={null}

private void DownloadDocument(int documentId)
{
  // create an DocumentAgent object and retrieve a document
  using(DocumentAgent agent = new DocumentAgent())
  {
    DocumentEntity documentEntityExisting = agent.GetDocumentEntity(documentId);

    // check if the document exists
    if (documentEntityExisting != null)
    {
      // generate the file name for the downloaded document
      string extentionOfOriginalDocument = Path.GetExtension(documentEntityExisting.Name);
      string fileName = "tempFile" + extentionOfOriginalDocument;

      // download the document to the temporary folder
      agent.CreateTempFile(fileName, agent.GetDocumentStream(documentEntityExisting));

      // read the path for the temporary folder from the config file
      string tempFilePath = Path.Combine(SuperOffice.Configuration.ConfigFile.Documents.TemporaryPath, SoContext.CurrentPrincipal != null ? SoContext.CurrentPrincipal.Associate : "ALL");

      // full path for the downloaded document
      string fullPath = Path.Combine(tempFilePath.Replace("\\\\", "\\"), fileName);

      // open the document using the open shell command
      if (File.Exists(fullPath))
      {
        // create a process
        System.Diagnostics.Process myProcess = new System.Diagnostics.Process();

        // pass the file name with extension to open the file
        myProcess.StartInfo.FileName = fullPath;
        myProcess.StartInfo.WindowStyle = System.Diagnostics.ProcessWindowStyle.Normal;
        myProcess.Start();
      }
      else
      {
        MessageBox.Show("The document has not been downloaded properly.");
      }
    }
    else
    {
      MessageBox.Show("The document you are trying to open does not exist in the server.");
    }
  }
}
```

## Walk-through

The first step retrieves the document using an **agent** instance, `DocumentAgent`. The `DocumentAgent.GetDocumentEntity` method is invoked to get a `DocumentEntity` instance, which contains all properties of the document you are going to download - such as header and description.

You must also provide a **name** for the file. This name becomes the temporary file name where the file is downloaded, built up, and opened.

<Note>
  Make sure the extensions of both the original and the downloaded document are the same.
</Note>

Now you are ready to download the document. Use the `DocumentAgent.CreateTempFile` method to execute the download.

The example uses the `System.Diagnostics.Process` class to open the file. This ensures that the default application assigned to open this file type is launched to view the document.


## Related topics

- [How to create a new document in SO_ARC](/en/api/web-services/howto/document/services-create.md)
- [Create new document](/en/document/learn/create.md)
- [How to update a document in SO_ARC](/en/api/web-services/howto/document/services-update.md)
- [What's new in SuperOffice 12](/release-notes/12/index.md)
- [Edit documents](/en/document/learn/edit.md)
- [NetServer Downloads element (SuperOffice only)](/en/onsite/web-config/downloads.md)