How to download a file from server?

Question

Hi everyone,
I need to download a file from my server to client machine. I got a sample code from ur forum and I modified it slightly.
//Snippet of code:
public void doGet(HttpServletRequest req, HttpServletResponse res)throws
     ServletException, IOException{
int bytesRead=0;
     int count=0;
     byte[] b1=new byte[1];
     //OutputStream out=res.getOutputStream();
     res.setContentType("application/html");
     //Create an input stream from file URL.
     String fileURL="http://localhost:8080/webapps/upload/upload.html";
     BufferedInputStream bis=null;
     BufferedOutputStream bos=null;
     boolean download=false;
     res.setHeader("Content-disposition", "attachment; filename=upload.html " );
     try{
     URL url=new URL(fileURL);
     URLConnection connection=url.openConnection();
     InputStream in=connection.getInputStream();
     bis=new BufferedInputStream(in);
     FileOutputStream fileout=new FileOutputStream("upload.html");
     bos=new BufferedOutputStream(fileout);
     while(-1 != (bytesRead = bis.read())){
     try{
     bos.write(bytesRead);
     bos.flush();
     }//end of try forwhile loop
     catch(SocketException e){
     setError(e);
     break;
The code is getting compiled, when I run the appln using the URL,
http://localhost:8080/upload/servlet/DownloadFile
it opens a pop up dialog box, asking whether to "open", "save" or "cancel" buttons. When I try to open a file, I'm getting a blank page.
I'm not getting the contents of the file.
So pls can anyone tel me wht's wrong in the code or do i need to add few more lines in my code?
Also pls let me know, how can I download any files of type .doc, html, .txt, .zip, or any type, without mentioning the file type?
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Do not use a FileOutputStream (that will save it locally to the server). Call HttpServletResponse.getOutputStream(), which will send it back to the browser. Also remember to call close() on the stream at the end.
- Saish