file uploader applet

[harmmeijer]

http://java.sun.com/sfaq/

point 3 and 11 say that an applet running in a browser cannot read from a file from the client's disc or start another programm on the client's machine.
Sure this is a verry strong securety setting (unlike active x) but like active x you can enable it for "trusted" sites (in IE).

Does anybody know how to write a file uploader applet that uploads files from the client harddisc to the server that the applet originated from? (using URLConnection POST).

I thought this could come in handy when a user wants to drag and drop a list of files on the applet and let the apllet upload the files (and use some compression before uploading).

I was thinking of creating a swing app that does this but it should run as an applet or the applet should start this app and it looks like that won't work.



Greetings, Harm Meijer

 

[sedj]

You dont need an applet to upload files from client to server. It can be done in a browser using the <input type=file> tag.

 

[harmmeijer]

Hmmm, as far as I know <input type=file does not allowe the user to drag and drop entire folders on it.
Nor does it provide any way to set the value programatically (there is a way to set a value but the container of the html file (IE) does not allowe it).
The first option is too bad, I am happy the value of the input type file cannot be programmed though as this would make the Internet a whole lot less popular.

I have found that I have to sign the applet to allowe it to read from files. Then do set a policy for those signed applets:

http://java.sun.com/security/signExample12/

Greetings, Harm Meijer

 

[sedj]

I realise you cannot drag-and-drop using the file input tag. But considering the extreme expense to a user of downloading an applet, making sure it works, getting through a firewall, making sure applets are allowed to be viewed, setting the security policies and so on, I reckon its easier to use the built-in browser methods. Most of the companies we operate with won;t even let an applet through their firewall ...