HTTP 204 error when sending File in response REST - file

Question

This is my write to excel method which returns javax.ws.rs.core.Response
public Response writeToExcel(UserDeatilsVOWrapper listBook) {
XSSFWorkbook workbook = new XSSFWorkbook();
XSSFSheet spreadsheet = workbook.createSheet("Resource Information");
int rowCount = 0;
createHeaderRow(spreadsheet);
for (UserDetailsVO detailsVO : listBook.getUserDetailsList()) {
Row row = spreadsheet.createRow(++rowCount);
writeBook(detailsVO, row);
}
Response response = null;
try (FileOutputStream outputStream = new FileOutputStream(new File("ResourceInformation.xlsx"))) {
workbook.write(outputStream);
// header required to enable download pop-up and set file name
Response.ok().header("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=" + "ResourceInformation.xlsx").build();
}
catch (IOException e) {
// TODO Auto-generated catch block
e.printStackTrace();
}
return response;
}
This is my web service:
#POST
#Path(WebServiceConstants.DOWNLOAD_EXCEL)
#Consumes(MediaType.APPLICATION_JSON)
public Response getFile(UserDeatilsVOWrapper wrapper) {
Response respose=new ExportToExcel().writeToExcel(wrapper);
return respose;}
I get a HTTP204 error. I'm using postman. I know, I'm doing a big mistake in write to excel method and when trying to send file along with response.
Also is there any possible way to write a file object on REST response without saving file on server? I'm doing terrible in here. any help is appreciated.

Answer 1

I do not see where you set your file to the response. Normally you would do something like this
File file = new File("ResourceInformation.xlsx"))
// Do your excel-writing here...
ResponseBuilder response = Response.ok((Object) file);
response.header("Content-Disposition", "attachment; filename=" + "ResourceInformation.xlsx");
return response.build();