How to start a file download in vaadin without button?

Question

I know that it is really easy to create a FileDownloader and call extend with a Button. But how do I start a download without the Button?

Answer 1

I found a solution myself. Actually two. The first one uses the deprecated method Page.open()

public class DownloadComponent extends CustomComponent implements ValueChangeListener {
private ComboBox cb = new ComboBox();

public DownloadComponent() {
    cb.addValueChangeListener(this);
    cb.setNewItemsAllowed(true);
    cb.setImmediate(true);
    cb.setNullSelectionAllowed(false);
    setCompositionRoot(cb);
}

@Override
public void valueChange(ValueChangeEvent event) {
    String val = (String) event.getProperty().getValue();
    FileResource res = new FileResource(new File(val));
    Page.getCurrent().open(res, null, false);
}
}

The javadoc here mentions some memory and security problems as reason for marking it deprecated

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In the second I try to go around this deprecated method by registering the resource in the DownloadComponent. I'd be glad if a vaadin expert comments this solution.

public class DownloadComponent extends CustomComponent implements ValueChangeListener {
private ComboBox cb = new ComboBox();
private static final String MYKEY = "download";

public DownloadComponent() {
    cb.addValueChangeListener(this);
    cb.setNewItemsAllowed(true);
    cb.setImmediate(true);
    cb.setNullSelectionAllowed(false);
    setCompositionRoot(cb);
}

@Override
public void valueChange(ValueChangeEvent event) {
    String val = (String) event.getProperty().getValue();
    FileResource res = new FileResource(new File(val));
    setResource(MYKEY, res);
    ResourceReference rr = ResourceReference.create(res, this, MYKEY);
    Page.getCurrent().open(rr.getURL(), null);
}
}

Note: I do not really allow the user to open all my files on the server and you should not do that either. It is just for demonstration.