# URL encoding in Ignition **URL:** \ **Category:** Ignition\ **Tags:** scripting, perspective\ **Created:** [March 12, 2025, 8:06am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562 "2025-03-12T08:06:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ajay\_Gupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Ajay\_Gupta](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Ajay_Gupta)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 8:06am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/1 "2025-03-12T08:06:04Z")
Hi everyone, I have a webdev mounted folder which has pdf files. I access these files through URL. One of the files has name "test - (Copy).pdf". When I generate the URL and try to open it, I get the error "HTTP error 404 not found". I tried encoding the url using urllib with percent-encoding but still getting the same error. 2 encoded names that I tried: - test%20-%20(Copy).pdf - test%20-%20%28Copy%29.pdf What am I doing wrong? How can I solve this issue? What is the best method to encode for any special characters? I'll really appreciate any advice in this matter. A sample code would be the best. Thanks, Ajay ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 11:27am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/5 "2025-03-12T11:27:15Z")
Use [java.net.URLEncoder](https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/11/docs/api/java.base/java/net/URLEncoder.html) ---
**Author:** ![Ajay\_Gupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Ajay\_Gupta](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Ajay_Gupta)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 11:52am UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/6 "2025-03-12T11:52:13Z")
Thanks for your suggestion. Do you have a sample code for this? Below is the code that I am using which gives me "test+-+%28Copy%29.pdf" at the end. The generate URL does not work. I still get the same 404 error. Is there any limitation on the special characters that I should consider? Appreciate your help in this. ```python from java.net import URLEncoder from java.nio.charset import StandardCharsets def encode_url(): try: url = "https://ServerAddress:443/system/webdev/ProjectName/FileSystem/NetworkDrives/MyFolder/test - (Copy).pdf" # Encode only the path component that needs encoding base_url = "https://ServerAddress:443/system/webdev/ProjectName/FileSystem/NetworkDrives/MyFolder/" file_name = "test - (Copy).pdf" # Use URLEncoder to encode the file name encoded_file_name = URLEncoder.encode(file_name, StandardCharsets.UTF_8.toString()) # Form the complete encoded URL encoded_url = base_url + encoded_file_name print("Encoded URL:", encoded_url) return encoded_url except Exception as e: # Print any exceptions that occur print("An error occurred:", e) # Call the function to encode the URL encoded_url = encode_url() print encoded_url ``` ---
**Author:** ![pturmel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/pturmel/32/3295_2.png) [@pturmel](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/pturmel)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 12:35pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/7 "2025-03-12T12:35:22Z")
That looks about right. Look in your gateway logs for possible error messages. ---
**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 12:46pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/8 "2025-03-12T12:46:07Z")
This looks like a bug in the WebDev module to me. You shouldn't even have to manually URL-encode anything, your browser will do that before it sends the request anyway. ---
**Author:** ![victordcq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f6c823/32.png) [@victordcq](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/victordcq)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 1:13pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/9 "2025-03-12T13:13:16Z")
And your code works on a basic named file? ---
**Author:** ![Ajay\_Gupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Ajay\_Gupta](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Ajay_Gupta)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/10 "2025-03-12T13:59:40Z")
Yes, it works with basic named files. ---
**Author:** ![Ajay\_Gupta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f05b48/32.png) [@Ajay\_Gupta](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Ajay_Gupta)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 2:04pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/11 "2025-03-12T14:04:24Z")
I don't encode usually but since it was not working, I started exploring options. URL encoding is something that came to my mind first. Even that is not helping. I got to know from one of my colleagues that special characters in names poses this problem in Ignition when it comes to generating URLs. I want to explore my options before I go to removing the special characters (like "()") from the filename, host the file to some other location with new name and get the URL from there. If there is a way, please let me know. I appreciate your response in this regard. > [@URL encoding in Ignition](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/7): > > That looks about right. Look in your gateway logs for possible error messages. @pturmel I don't get any error neither in browser console nor in Gateway log. Thanks, Ajay ---
**Author:** ![Kevin.Herron](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kevin.herron/32/7259_2.png) [@Kevin.Herron](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Kevin.Herron)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2025, 2:06pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/url-encoding-in-ignition/103562/12 "2025-03-12T14:06:05Z")
I think it's broken. Open a support ticket and report a bug.