html - Why can't I click a link to open a file from an MVC web page -

i've got simple mvc web page pops dialogue box list of hyperlinks files. they're prefixed "file://" , links work if copied clipboard , pasted browser window. however, within dialogue, clicking on linked files returns... nothing.

nothing @ happens. behavior identical in firefox, internet explorer, , chrome. no warnings, errors, etc.

visually dialogue looks this:

if "inspect element" on 1 of links, example, top 1 "javascript notes.txt", looks this:

this valid hyperlink. mentioned above, can copy link address bar of browser , linked file opens fine. can copy full html of element notepad, wrapped in tags , save .html file, , link works fine there. links don't work in dialogue--from browser.

i'm displaying links in kendo grid currently. thinking might problem, got rid of grid temporarily , tried displaying them in plain html . same problem--clicking on links produces no result @ all.

am fighting deeper here? like, i'm using jquery dialogue show list. jquery dialogues block hyperlinks working?

tia help.

as per amy's comment on original question, browsers seem block file:// links when opening page retrieved via http. workaround implemented came excellent article linked below: coded simple action method in controller returns not view file, , changed hyperlinks invoke controller method via http. works charm.

see: http://rachelappel.com/upload-and-download-files-using-asp-net-mvc/