Open PDF file in a new browser window

Question

I have a PDF file on the harddrive and I call a function from BalusC :
public static void downloadPDF(FacesContext facesContext, String path, String fileName)
util.Logger.append("Path = " + path );
util.Logger.append("file name = " + fileName);
ExternalContext externalContext = facesContext.getExternalContext();
HttpServletResponse response = (HttpServletResponse) externalContext.getResponse();
File file = new File(path, fileName);
BufferedInputStream input = null;
BufferedOutputStream output = null;
try
//open file
util.Logger.append("1");
input = new BufferedInputStream(new FileInputStream(file), 10240);
//Init servlet response
util.Logger.append("2");
response.reset();
util.Logger.append("3");
response.setContentType("application/pdf");
util.Logger.append("4");
response.setContentLength((int)file.length());
util.Logger.append("5");
response.setHeader("Content-disposition", "inline; filename=\"" + fileName + "\"");
util.Logger.append("6");
output = new BufferedOutputStream(response.getOutputStream(), 10240);
util.Logger.append("7");
//write file contents to response
byte[] buffer = new byte[10240];
int length;
util.Logger.append("8");
while ((length = input.read(buffer)) > 0)
output.write(buffer, 0, length);
util.Logger.append("9");
//finalize task
output.flush();
util.Logger.append("10");
catch (IOException e)
util.Logger.append("reporting.Utilities :: downloadPDF :: " + e.getMessage());
finally
util.Logger.append("finally");
close(output);
close(input);
//inform JSF that it doesn't need to handle response
//this is very important, otherwise you will get the following exception in logs:
//java.lang.IllegalStateException: cannot forward after response has been comitted
facesContext.responseComplete();
private static void close(Closeable resource)
if (resource != null)
try
resource.close();
catch (IOException e)
e.printStackTrace();
This works like a charm, but the problem is that the PDF is opened in current window instead of a new one. I checked posts on this problem on this forum but i haven't found any answer to my problem. As you can see i added some 'idiot' logs just to make sure i have no errors. I see them all in my log file and there is absolutely no error. I simply see the PDF in the same window.
Can anyone help me, please?
Thank you.
(Pls tell me if you need any other information)

Answer 1

My problem is that the parent form has 4 buttons and a grid.
3 buttons are Add/Edit/Delete for records in the grid. Only the 4th button is the Print report and this is the only one i need to open in another page.
Even if I create another page and I navigate to it, setting target of newly created page to open a new window will bring me the problem of having 2 windows to close once users wants to close the PDF which is kind of awkward.
What is your advice?
Thank you
Marius