in reply to download a file from non-web space

when you read the file to display it, save it off in the "webspace" as a world-readable file then create a simple HREF to it on the dynamic page. give it an extension that will get the browser to produce a file dialog for saving locally.

there's a bit more to consider, especially if a multi-user site...make sure you clean up occasionally, all those file could eat some serious space.