Return xml file from spring MVC controller

Question

I have tried a lot to return a file from the controller function.

This is my function:

@RequestMapping(value = "/files", method = RequestMethod.GET)
@ResponseBody public FileSystemResource getFile() {
     return new FileSystemResource(new File("try.txt")); 
}

I got this error message:

Could not write JSON:
No serializer found for class java.io.FileDescriptor and no properties discovered to create BeanSerializer
(to avoid exception, disable SerializationFeature.FAIL_ON_EMPTY_BEANS) )
(through reference chain:
org.springframework.core.io.FileSystemResource[\"outputStream\"]->java.io.FileOutputStream[\"fd\"]);
nested exception is com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.JsonMappingException: No serializer found for class java.io.FileDescriptor and no properties discovered to create BeanSerializer
(to avoid exception, disable SerializationFeature.FAIL_ON_EMPTY_BEANS) )
(through reference chain: org.springframework.core.io.FileSystemResource[\"outputStream\"]->java.io.FileOutputStream[\"fd\"])

Does anyone have an idea how to solve it?

And, how should I send from the client (JavaScript, jQuery)?

On the client I used the simple the jQuery get: jQuery.get("http://localhost:8086/vos-api/StreamProcessingDiagrams/v1/setting/createFOO", function( data ) { jQuery( ".result" ).html( data ); }); — Rat
– Rat, Commented Jul 22, 2015 at 14:23

MichaelCleverly · Accepted Answer · 2015-07-22 14:36:06Z

7

EDIT 2: First of all - see edit 1 in the bottom - that't the right way to do it. However, if you can't get your serializer to work, you can use this solution, where you read the XML file into a string, and promts the user to save it:

@RequestMapping(value = "/files", method = RequestMethod.GET)
public void saveTxtFile(HttpServletResponse response) throws IOException {

    String yourXmlFileInAString;
    response.setContentType("application/xml");
    response.setHeader("Content-Disposition", "attachment;filename=thisIsTheFileName.xml");

    BufferedReader br = new BufferedReader(new FileReader(new File(YourFile.xml)));
    String line;
    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();

    while((line=br.readLine())!= null){
        sb.append(line);
    }

    yourXmlFileInAString  = sb.toString();

    ServletOutputStream outStream = response.getOutputStream();
    outStream.println(yourXmlFileInAString);
    outStream.flush();
    outStream.close();
}

That should do the job. Remember, however, that the browser caches URL contents - so it might be a good idea to use a unique URL per file.

EDIT:

After further examination, you should also just be able to add the following piece of code to your Action, to make it work:

response.setContentType("text/plain");

(Or for XML)

response.setContentType("application/xml");

So your complete solution should be:

@RequestMapping(value = "/files", method = RequestMethod.GET)
@ResponseBody public FileSystemResource getFile(HttpServletResponse response) {
    response.setContentType("application/xml");
    return new FileSystemResource(new File("try.xml")); //Or path to your file 
}

edited Jul 22, 2015 at 14:36

answered Jul 22, 2015 at 13:54

MichaelCleverly

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12 Comments

MichaelCleverly Over a year ago

That's not how I read the question. I think everybody knows that a ResponseBody in spring returns an XML/JSON body; but OP asks how to return a file. I give an example of that, and I think it's a bit unjustified that you give me minus for that. You should provide a solution for him instead.

Sotirios Delimanolis Over a year ago

I think everybody knows that a ResponseBody in spring returns an XML/JSON body It can provide much more than that.

MichaelCleverly Over a year ago

I really think that you should provide a solution yourself. However - I think my answer to the question "How do you return a file in Spring MVC" is answered with a nifty piece of code - and I hope OP can use it.

Rat Over a year ago

MichaelCleverly, first - this worked well, but I need to use an exist file and not to download it, only to get it on ajax request. (and it should be XML...)

MichaelCleverly Over a year ago

I added a small edit. That should be added to your original solution

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