Referencing Files using Perl

I simply want to reference a file without using redirect

[Lennie]

The only way my book instructs me how to reference a file is print redirect(uri....). However, I want to know what other options are available for referencing files on my site.

For example:

If I have a cgi file to verify access to certain files for display/downloading. What commands do I enter to send that file or display that file. If I use print redirect, it accomplishes this, but access must be to the world for redirect to work, so there I can't reference files that I have protected.

It's evidently very common in sites where there are downloads, but there is no mention in my book. How do I accomplish this.

[moltar]

print "Location: [widgets.com...]

You can't really protect your file...

What you could also do is read the file and then print the contents of it. This is not easy to implement and would really load the server. I don't think your ISP would give you props for that.