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Uploading Multiple Files

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:43 pm
by evilmonkey
One of HTML's greatest pitfalls (at least in my opinion) is the fact that user cannot upload more than one file at a time (short of creating a new file box for each file). This is quite frustrating, and as such, I'm looking for a way to get around that. I want the user to be able to select a few files, perhaps even a whole folder and dump it on the server. Now, I know this is possible (facebook does it, my local photolab does it), but I have no idea how. Google turned up a number of solutions, but they all involved Java (a big no-no) and all cost money. Is there a way to aviod this?

Thank you!

Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:25 pm
by JellyFish
Why not just use multiple upload fields?

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 7:38 am
by evilmonkey
Because users may want toupload a ridiculous amount of files (Have you seen how many pictures people put on facebook? :P )

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 7:52 am
by feyd
User zips, user uploads zip, server unzips and validates all files, server places files in appropriate location(s).

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 7:55 am
by Chris Corbyn
evilmonkey wrote:Because users may want toupload a ridiculous amount of files (Have you seen how many pictures people put on facebook? :P )
Provide say 5 fields for the sake of accessibility then use JavaScript to "enhance" the page by adding new input fields once the user has filled all the exisiting ones. Seems reasonable to me :)

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 6:45 pm
by evilmonkey
feyd wrote:User zips, user uploads zip, server unzips and validates all files, server places files in appropriate location(s).
That is actually a good idea, and one of the ones I'm currently entertaining. But I'm also looking for a solution where a user can select a bunchof files and click a button, without the user having to go through the 'zip' hassle.

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 9:28 pm
by feyd
The only way around the browser's file field is an extension or active content such as an ActiveX, Java, or some other client side embedded object.

Posted: Mon Oct 16, 2006 11:15 pm
by alex.barylski
First: I just watched call for help the other day and they showcased a web site (can't remember the name) but it provided drag and drop file upload...using Flash 8 I think...search around google for uploading using Flash and see what you can come up with ;)

Second: Install a FTPd on your client computer and connect to the FTP server to generate a local file listing or use FSO ActiveX object?