<p>I have a directory to which a process uploads some <code>.pdf</code> files. This process is out of my control.</p>

<p>I need to make those files available through the website using Tomcat.</p>

<p>I have a directory <code>/var/lib/tomcat5/webapps/test1</code> available to the web and I can see the files in it with a browser.</p>

<p>So, I created a symbolic link pointing at the directory with the <code>.pdf</code> files:
<code>/var/lib/tomcat5/webapps/test1/files/</code>, but I can't see anything in that directory.</p>

<p>How can I enable symlinks in the <code>test1</code> directory only?  I don't want to enable symlinks everywhere, just so that directory with <code>.pdf</code> files is available to the web.</p>

Create a context.xml file in a
```
META-INF
```
directory in your web app containing:
```
```
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<Context path="/myapp" allowLinking="true">

</Context>
```
```
more here:
http://www.isocra.com/2008/01/following-symbolic-links-in-tomcat/