Download a local file using `<a href= "file://link/to/my/file" ` not working on chrome

Question

The link How can I create a link to a local file on a locally-run web page? doesn't help me, since the problems are not the same

I have the folowwing html code

<a href = "file://link/to/my/local/file/my file.xltx" target="_blank"> Download my file </a>

written inside index.php file

In IE, it works fine, but when coming to Chrome, it doesn't work

I want to force Chrome (or any other browser) to download the file using php script only, whithout using chrome extension or configuration

Can any one help me ? Thanks in advance

Remarks

• I tried curl method, but the problem is that the php script is server side, so the target location will be relative to server not to client
• When I copy paste file://link/to/my/local/file/my file.xltx the the chrome adress bar, it works fine