How to serve a file with JSP?

Question

This may sound totally stupid, but is a case of real life :(

I\'m able to display a HTML table with a \"virtual\" link name.

Something like this:

Answer 1

Please, please, please don't do this.

You're doing a disservice to your users.

HTTP is amazingly rich in terms of what it can do with files. Caching, chunking, random access, etc.

Take a look at something like FileServlet, and hammer that to fit. Yes, it's a Servlet, rather than a JSP, but this is what you want to do to be a good HTTP citizen.

Some containers have other options you can use, you can hack Tomcats DefaultServlet, etc.