Downloading files not stored in database?

Rails
1

Hello list,

I am trying to add functionality to my application that will allow users
to download files that are not stored in a database.

All the examples I have found find the file by ID. which I can not do.
Here is my code from the view:

Browse files for download

<% form_for(:download, :url=>{ :controller=>"download", :action=>"download"}, :html => {:multipart => true}) do |f| %> <% @files = Dir.glob("/home/resource_portal/website/public/data/upload/*") %> <% @files.each do |file| %> <% end %>
Files
<%= link_to file, :controller => "download", :action => :download %>
<% end %> I dont think I need the form_for line at the top, but the fiew is still rendering ok, so have just left it in for now.

If I could get the text that is shown for each link stored in to a
variable I could parse it to the upload method in the controller (I
think). I would then be able to use this variable in the send_file
method, instead of specifying a path manually.

Any ideas on how to do this or better suggestions would be great.

Cheers,
Jen.

Below is code from my controller so far. I have commented out the
send_file line for now, so I could test the view rendered ok.

class DownloadController < ApplicationController
require ‘grit’
include Grit
#First check the user is logged in
before_filter :authenticate
#First get a list of files from git, so the user can decide what to
download.
def index
download = Download.new
render ‘download’
end
def download
#Create string for the directory
directory = “/home/resource_portal/website/public/data/upload/”
#send_file(directory + params[:file], :disposition => :attachment)
end
end