How to generate PDF in new window using itext in Struts2

Question

 <action name="PDF" class="OwnerDetail" method="createPDF">
     <result name="success" type="stream">
        <param name="contentType">application/pdf</param>
        <param name="inputName">inputStream</param>
        <param name="contentDisposition">attachment;filename="RegistrationSummaryReport.pdf"</param>
        <param name="bufferSize">1024</param>
    </result>
</action>

The above code generates PDF as an attachment. But I need to open the PDF in a new window. Kindly provide your suggestions

Answer 1

You need to change the contentDisposition. This is an HTTP header, so this is needed when using other technologies than Struts2 too (Servlets, for example).

Content-Disposition has two main values that are interesting for your case:

• attachment : asks the user which is the action needed between downloading the file, or opening it with a Desktop application.

• inline (default): tries opening the file in a new tab (or window) with a browser plugin. If a plugin is not found for that Content-Type, it asks the user to choose a Desktop application for opening it.

Then you need simply:

<param name="contentDisposition">
    inline;filename="RegistrationSummaryReport.pdf"
</param>

or just

<param name="contentDisposition">
    filename="RegistrationSummaryReport.pdf"
</param>

---

EDIT

As suggested in a comment by @BrunoLowagie, I may have omitted an important part.

While it's true that you need inline to open the document in the browser, it's also true that a further step (that I've taken for granted, while it may be not) is needed to open that document in another Tab/Window instead that on the current one, : you need to call the action by specifying the target attribute, or by using javascript window.open():

<s:url var="myUrl" action="downloadPdf" namespace="/foobar" />

<!-- In a new Tab/Window without javascript -->  
<s:a href="%{myUrl} target="_blank">
    download
</s:a>

<!-- In a new Tab/Window with javascript -->    
<s:a href="javascript:window.open('%{myUrl}');>
    download
</s:a>

Read more on this related answer.