How to Return a File using Servlet

[MohanRaj Gurubatham]

Hi,
A servlet using which I need to return a file which will automatically invoke the Save As.. window or any other downloading application.
Give direct application link to the user is not needed here.
This some what similar to Java site. In this site for downloading any SDKs or any files we will not be given with the direct URL. A servlet will lead to the file after few clicks. I need to setup the same functionality in my program.
Please clear me this doubt with good examples.
Thank you in-advance.

[Rene Larsen]

Try this:

response.setContentType("text/plain");
response.setHeader("Content-disposition", "attachment; filename=somename.old");
ServletOutputStream out = response.getOutputStream();
out.println(....);
return;

Rene
[ October 10, 2002: Message edited by: Rene Larsen ]

[MohanRaj Gurubatham]

Hi,
This is my code...
/* @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ */
import javax.servlet.*;
import javax.servlet.http.*;
import java.io.*;
import java.net.*;
public class SendFileN extends HttpServlet {
public void init(ServletConfig conf) throws ServletException {
super.init(conf);
}
public void doGet(HttpServletRequest req, HttpServletResponse res) throws ServletException, IOException{
// ##########################################################################
BufferedInputStream bis = null;
BufferedOutputStream bos = null;
String fileURL="http://localhost/webstore/resources/java/app/CConverter111111.jad";
try {
URL url =new URL(fileURL);
URLConnection connection = url.openConnection();
connection.setDoInput( true );
connection.setDoOutput( true );

res.setContentType("text/plain");
res.setHeader("Content-disposition", "attachment; filename=CConverter111111.jad");
ServletOutputStream out = res.getOutputStream();

bis = new BufferedInputStream(connection.getInputStream());
bos = new BufferedOutputStream(out);

byte[] buff = new byte[2048];
int bytesRead;

while(-1 != (bytesRead = bis.read(buff, 0, buff.length))) {
bos.write(buff, 0, bytesRead);
}
out.println();
return;

} catch(final MalformedURLException e) {
System.out.println ( "MalformedURLException." );
throw e;
} catch(final IOException e) {
System.out.println ( "IOException." );
throw e;
} finally {
if (bis != null)
bis.close();
if (bos != null)
bos.close();
}
}
}
/* @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ */
When I run this servlet sometime I am getting the expected result. But some time it prints the file contents in the browser itself.
Please fix this.
Thank you in advance.

[Juanjo Bazan]

Originally posted by MohanRaj Gurubatham:
[QB]When I run this servlet sometime I am getting the expected result. But some time it prints the file contents in the browser itself.
QB]

This happens because setting the ContentType as "text/plain" makes the browser believes it can open it, so it does.
If you always want to automatically invoke the 'Save As..' window try to mislead the browser with a diferent content type it can not manage:
res.setContentType("application/octet-stream"); ,for instance.
HTH

[MohanRaj Gurubatham]

Hi,
I am sorry for not informing you in the previous reply itself that I have tried with the content type as application/octet-stream also.
Here also I am getting the same problem.Please fix this.
Thank you in advance.

[Mario Rendon]

it depends on the Client not in the
server .
i mean .
if you put context type, what you are doing is to suggest the browser wich application to use .
if the browser doesn't know the application you are suggesting then opens the "Save as" window.
if the browser find's how to manage the info you are sending according to the context type you're putting
then it tries to manage it .