Set an excel file as response in REST Service

Question

I used the below example to test. REST Api works, but it gives result in stream format. But,I expect result with file option. I used this example to ingrate with Angular JS framework.

@GET
  @Path("/get")
  @Produces("application/vnd.ms-excel")
  public Response getFile() {
    LOG.info("get - Function begins from here");

    File file = new File("/home/test/file.xls");

    ResponseBuilder response = Response.ok((Object) file);
    response.header("Content-Disposition",
      "attachment; filename=new-excel-file.xls");
    response.header("Content-Type","application/octet-stream");
    return response.build();

  }

Solution

application/octet-stream is defined as "arbitrary binary data" in RFC 2046, so given that the file is an excel one change response.header("Content-Type","application/octet-stream"); for response.header("Content-Type","application/vnd.ms-excel");

take a look at this answer about octet stream mime type, might be useful, and this one about excel mime type.

Comments

[Srini]

Yes, thanks for quick answer. I have removed response.header("Content-Type","application/octet-stream"); and tried,but still it does not give file save dialog box.

[th3morg]

@user1702169 I believe the behavior of how the file is handled is by browser, not by something you can set on the server side of an API.

[Jon Hanna]

@th3morg sure you can, just set the Content-Disposition header, as in the first answer this answer links to.