how to show "browse for folder" dialog in html/javascript?

[strutsng]

<input type="file"> only allows the user to browse for files.

How about "browse for folder" dialog? Can html/javascript do that? I
couldn't find any syntax for that. If not, please advise what are the
other approaches.

please advise. thanks!!

[David Dorward]

st******@gmail.com wrote:

<input type="file"> only allows the user to browse for files.

How about "browse for folder" dialog? Can html/javascript do that?

No.

--
David Dorward <http://blog.dorward.me.uk/> <http://dorward.me.uk/>
Home is where the ~/.bashrc is

[Jukka K. Korpela]

st******@gmail.com wrote:

<input type="file"> only allows the user to browse for files.
It defines a form field (or "control"). The rest is up to the browser, the
rest of the page, and the server to which the form data might be submitted,
as well as JavaScript that might mess around with it.

In particular, whether and how it allows the user to browse for files is
browser-dependent.
How about "browse for folder" dialog?
On all browsers that I have used, I have been able to browse for folder as
well when filling out a form with a file input field.
Can html/javascript do that?
You haven't explained what "that" is, and you haven't told what you
_really_ want to achieve.
If not, please advise what are the other approaches.

It's usually difficult to suggest solutions to problems before the problems
are known.

--
Yucca, http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/
Pages about Web authoring: http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/www.html

[strutsng]

Jukka K. Korpela wrote:

How about "browse for folder" dialog?

On all browsers that I have used, I have been able to browse for folder as
well when filling out a form with a file input field.

I want "browse for folder" dialog to show in a web page, see
http://www.codeguru.com/vb/controls/...cle.php/c3023/

If we do <input type="file">, we can only see the files, we couldn't
see the folder, I think html tag doesn't support that.

So the next question is what is the approach to this problem?

[web.dev]

[e-mail] wrote:

Jukka K. Korpela wrote:

How about "browse for folder" dialog?
On all browsers that I have used, I have been able to browse for folder as
well when filling out a form with a file input field.

I want "browse for folder" dialog to show in a web page, see
http://www.codeguru.com/vb/controls/...cle.php/c3023/

That dialog box is used in applications in which in this case is
written in Visual Basic.
If we do <input type="file">, we can only see the files, we couldn't
see the folder, I think html tag doesn't support that.
Not true. You can see files *and* folders. You are even able to
traverse directories. However, you will not be able to select a folder
as input.

So the next question is what is the approach to this problem?

None.

[strutsng]

Yes, if I use <input type="file">, I couldn't select a folder as input,
I can only select a single file as input. So there is no solution to
select a folder as input?

please advise more... thanks!!

[Jukka K. Korpela]

st******@gmail.com wrote:

Yes, if I use <input type="file">, I couldn't select a folder as input,
You could, in a system that treats a folder as a file. So what?
I can only select a single file as input.
That's a common flaw in browsers (Opera being the most notable exception),
but that's completely different.
So there is no solution to
select a folder as input?
In a system that treats a folder as a file, there is.
please advise more... thanks!!

Analyze what your problem really is (what is it that you are actually
trying to accomplish), explain it in plain English, and select the most
appropriate group. (Crossposting is an almost sure sign of not having
analyzed your problem.)

--
Yucca, http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/
Pages about Web authoring: http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/www.html

[Jonathan N. Little]

Jukka K. Korpela wrote:

st******@gmail.com wrote:

Yes, if I use <input type="file">, I couldn't select a folder as input,
To OP, that's because if I am not mistaken the purpose of the file field
it select a file for upload, not a folder of files.

You could, in a system that treats a folder as a file. So what?

And which system is that? In DOS, Windows and Linux the directory is
just a file on the filesystem with a special directory attribute, right?
Still cannot select the folders with the file input browse dialog...
I can only select a single file as input.

That's a common flaw in browsers (Opera being the most notable exception),
but that's completely different.

Is this new for Opera? The 7.54 version that I have on W2K for testing
cannot select more than one file. Anyway isn't the browse box, at least
on Windows, the OS's common 'file open' dialog and not part of the
browser? (Just checked on Linux, it is not the same, but Windows it
certainly is!)

So there is no solution to
select a folder as input?

In a system that treats a folder as a file, there is.

please advise more... thanks!!

Analyze what your problem really is (what is it that you are actually
trying to accomplish), explain it in plain English, and select the most
appropriate group. (Crossposting is an almost sure sign of not having
analyzed your problem.)

To OP, You could use the file input field to browse and select each
file, and then use JavaScript to append each section to a list or array.
--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

[Joakim Braun]

"Jonathan N. Little" <lw*****@centralva.net> skrev i meddelandet
news:fc*****************@monger.newsread.com...

Jukka K. Korpela wrote:

st******@gmail.com wrote:

Yes, if I use <input type="file">, I couldn't select a folder as input,

<snip>
To OP, You could use the file input field to browse and select each
file, and then use JavaScript to append each section to a list or array.

But there would then be no way of uploading the files, right?

--
Joakim Braun

[Jonathan N. Little]

Joakim Braun wrote:

"Jonathan N. Little" <lw*****@centralva.net> skrev i meddelandet
news:fc*****************@monger.newsread.com...

Jukka K. Korpela wrote:

st******@gmail.com wrote:

Yes, if I use <input type="file">, I couldn't select a folder as input,

<snip>

To OP, You could use the file input field to browse and select each
file, and then use JavaScript to append each section to a list or array.

But there would then be no way of uploading the files, right?

--
Joakim Braun

Well yes if the client has JavaScript disabled! ;-)

I would think you would need more JavaScript to enter list/array into a
form input that would be passed to some server-side script to do the
actual uploading...
--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

[Joakim Braun]

"Jonathan N. Little" <lw*****@centralva.net> skrev i meddelandet
news:Mm*****************@monger.newsread.com...

Joakim Braun wrote:

"Jonathan N. Little" <lw*****@centralva.net> skrev i meddelandet
news:fc*****************@monger.newsread.com...

Jukka K. Korpela wrote:

st******@gmail.com wrote:

>Yes, if I use <input type="file">, I couldn't select a folder as

input,

<snip>

To OP, You could use the file input field to browse and select each
file, and then use JavaScript to append each section to a list or array.

But there would then be no way of uploading the files, right?

<snip>
Well yes if the client has JavaScript disabled! ;-)

I would think you would need more JavaScript to enter list/array into a
form input that would be passed to some server-side script to do the
actual uploading...

I believe for security reasons you typically can't set the value of a file
input at all. As the file input is the standard mechanism for uploading
files (there may be other, platform-specific technologies), saving file
names in an array won't be very helpful when it comes to uploading anything
later.

--
Joakim Braun

[Randy Webb]

Jonathan N. Little said the following on 10/2/2005 8:27 AM:

Joakim Braun wrote:

"Jonathan N. Little" <lw*****@centralva.net> skrev i meddelandet
news:fc*****************@monger.newsread.com...

Jukka K. Korpela wrote:

st******@gmail.com wrote:

> Yes, if I use <input type="file">, I couldn't select a folder as
> input,
<snip>

To OP, You could use the file input field to browse and select each
file, and then use JavaScript to append each section to a list or array.

But there would then be no way of uploading the files, right?

--
Joakim Braun

Well yes if the client has JavaScript disabled! ;-)

It wouldn't work even with Javascript enabled.
I would think you would need more JavaScript to enter list/array into a
form input that would be passed to some server-side script to do the
actual uploading...

If what you are describing is possible in javascript, then anybody could
simply set the value of a hidden field to whatever file they wanted off
your PC and upload it automatically. That is not allowed (and what you
are describing) for that very reason. File inputs are very limited in
javascript context for a reason - security.

--
Randy
comp.lang.javascript FAQ - http://jibbering.com/faq & newsgroup weekly

[Jonathan N. Little]

Randy Webb wrote:
<snip>

Well yes if the client has JavaScript disabled! ;-)

It wouldn't work even with Javascript enabled.

Firstly, I am not saying the OP should do this, I think it is a bad
idea. However are you saying that you cannot build a file list of local
files using JavaScript and the file input? Because this simple codes
builds such a list....

<code>
<form>
<textarea name='abc' rows=30 cols=50></textarea>
<input type=file onchange="this.form.abc.value+=';' + this.value; return
true;">
</form>
</code>

I would think you would need more JavaScript to enter list/array into
a form input that would be passed to some server-side script to do the
actual uploading...

If what you are describing is possible in javascript, then anybody could
simply set the value of a hidden field to whatever file they wanted off
your PC and upload it automatically. That is not allowed (and what you
are describing) for that very reason. File inputs are very limited in
javascript context for a reason - security.

Now JavaScript cannot be used to upload files, but the list sent to a
server-side script could use the list a as a queue, right? Am I
mistaken? Again, I do not think this is a very good idea...purely
curiosity and a 'what if' question.

--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

[Woo William]

For security reasons <input name=="folder" type="file"> is limited. I'm
quessing you want to browse folder from the a web page. It won't work,
but there is always a workaround. Use regular expression to get the
parent folder:
ex:

var sFolder = ""
var sFile = oMyForm.folder.value
var oRe = new RegExp("(.+)\\\\([a-z0-9_\-]+\.[a-z0-9_\-]{3,})","ig")
if(sFile.match(oRe)) sFolder = RegExp.$1
The Shell.Application control enables you to browse but it can only be
used in WSH, HTA Application or on ASP sites.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de.../en-us/shellcc
/platform/shell/programmersguide/shell_basics/shell_basics_programming/o
bjectmap.asp
If you

*** Sent via Developersdex http://www.developersdex.com ***

[Randy Webb]

Jonathan N. Little said the following on 10/2/2005 11:28 AM:

Randy Webb wrote:
<snip>

Well yes if the client has JavaScript disabled! ;-)
It wouldn't work even with Javascript enabled.

Firstly, I am not saying the OP should do this, I think it is a bad
idea. However are you saying that you cannot build a file list of local
files using JavaScript and the file input? Because this simple codes
builds such a list....

<code>
<form>
<textarea name='abc' rows=30 cols=50></textarea>
<input type=file onchange="this.form.abc.value+=';' + this.value; return
true;">
</form>
</code>

You can not programattically set the value of an input type="file" using
Javascript. You can read it's value, but, you can not set it's value.
And in order to upload, you have to set it's value.

I would think you would need more JavaScript to enter list/array into
a form input that would be passed to some server-side script to do
the actual uploading...
If what you are describing is possible in javascript, then anybody
could simply set the value of a hidden field to whatever file they
wanted off your PC and upload it automatically. That is not allowed
(and what you are describing) for that very reason. File inputs are
very limited in javascript context for a reason - security.

Now JavaScript cannot be used to upload files, but the list sent to a
server-side script could use the list a as a queue, right?

It would still take user interaction. But, if you set the file name
server-side and send the page back to the browser, it will not have the
file set in the type="file" input. Try it :)

Think about the implications if you could set it:

<form name="myForm">
<div style="display:none">
<input type="file" value="Whateverfileyouwantontheserver">
</div>

<input type="text" name="usersName">

.... more legitimate inputs ....

</form>

When the user submitted the form, you could get what ever file you
wanted off the users computer. That is a very huge security risk and
because of it, you can not set the value of a file input.
Am I mistaken?
Yes.
Again, I do not think this is a very good idea...purely
curiosity and a 'what if' question.

Nothing wrong with curiosity :)

--
Randy
comp.lang.javascript FAQ - http://jibbering.com/faq & newsgroup weekly

[Jonathan N. Little]

Randy Webb wrote:
<snip>

You can not programattically set the value of an input type="file" using
Javascript. You can read it's value, but, you can not set it's value.
And in order to upload, you have to set it's value.

Not trying to be argumentative, just trying understand here, agreed you
cannot set the input type="file" programattically, but you can use said
input to collect the list of local files for upload, right? That's what
my little demo does. Next that list can be sent via form field (not
type="file"), right?

I would think you would need more JavaScript to enter list/array
into a form input that would be passed to some server-side script to
do the actual uploading...


If what you are describing is possible in javascript, then anybody
could simply set the value of a hidden field to whatever file they
wanted off your PC and upload it automatically. That is not allowed
(and what you are describing) for that very reason. File inputs are
very limited in javascript context for a reason - security.

Now JavaScript cannot be used to upload files, but the list sent to a
server-side script could use the list a as a queue, right?

It would still take user interaction. But, if you set the file name
server-side and send the page back to the browser, it will not have the
file set in the type="file" input. Try it :)

I did not say without user interaction, and I did not say that the file
list or that form initiate the file upload, just send the list.
Think about the implications if you could set it:

<form name="myForm">
<div style="display:none">
<input type="file" value="Whateverfileyouwantontheserver">
</div>

<input type="text" name="usersName">

... more legitimate inputs ....

</form>
Yes this would be wildly dangerous!!!!
When the user submitted the form, you could get what ever file you
wanted off the users computer. That is a very huge security risk and
because of it, you can not set the value of a file input.

I'm just saying the form could send the file list data then the
receiving CGI on the server can make the fit connection and upload the
files. It's this how those cookie-cutter server-side site building apps
lik work, or webmail form's attachment routines work?
--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

[Jukka K. Korpela]

"Jonathan N. Little" <lw*****@centralva.net> wrote:

You could, in a system that treats a folder as a file. So what?
And which system is that? In DOS, Windows and Linux the directory is
just a file on the filesystem with a special directory attribute,
right?

More or less so.
Still cannot select the folders with the file input browse dialog...
That depends on the browser, as almost anything in file input. I was simply
pointing out that it's up to the browser to decide what is a "file" that
can be submitted.

I can only select a single file as input.

That's a common flaw in browsers (Opera being the most notable
exception), but that's completely different.

Is this new for Opera?

It's been in Opera as long as I remember. Since version 3.60 or so.
Now that I test Opera 8.02, I notice that they seem to have removed the
functionality. Oh well. Why would a browser try to compete by being better
and by conforming to specifications? (Please tell me I'm wrong. But using
Ctrl or Shift that used to work in Opera's file input dialog for multiple
selections seems to be dysfunctional now.
The 7.54 version that I have on W2K for testing
cannot select more than one file. Anyway isn't the browse box, at least
on Windows, the OS's common 'file open' dialog and not part of the
browser?
Typically yes, but it can be invoked with different parameters.
To OP, You could use the file input field to browse and select each
file, and then use JavaScript to append each section to a list or
array.

It's rather pointless to suggest solutions before we know the real problem,
and inherently unreliable solutions at that.

--
Yucca, http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/
Pages about Web authoring: http://www.cs.tut.fi/~jkorpela/www.html

[Dr Clue]

st******@gmail.com wrote:

<input type="file"> only allows the user to browse for files.

How about "browse for folder" dialog? Can html/javascript do that? I
couldn't find any syntax for that. If not, please advise what are the
other approaches.

please advise. thanks!!

For your protection , browsers are a bit restricted in
their script access to your local computer's resources.
You really would not want scripts from the web browsing
your hard drive now would you? :)

Browser security boils down to a fairly
strict policy that restricts "cross-domain scripting"

In general a script can only act upon data originating
frome the same domain that the script itself came from.

Your PC is considered to be a separate domain, and therefore
much is done to keep scripts from poking arround at your
data.

That all being said, there are probably "other approaches"
that might midigate the problem to some extent, but it
depends on exactly what your up to and the context in which
the page is being viewed.

In this NG the default context is the web. If your
using the browsers in a more controlled environment
there are more options.

In the end though , file picking in browsers has
traditionally been sorta ugly.
--
--.
--=<> Dr. Clue (A.K.A. Ian A. Storms) <>=-- C++,HTML, CSS,Javascript
--=<> Internet Programming since 1994 <>=-- DHTML NSAPI TCP/IP
--=<> http://resume.drclue.net <>=-- AJAX, SOAP, XML, HTTP
--=<> http://www.drclue.net <>=-- SERVLETS,TCP/IP, SQL
--.

[Randy Webb]

Jonathan N. Little said the following on 10/2/2005 1:52 PM:

Randy Webb wrote:
<snip>

You can not programattically set the value of an input type="file"
using Javascript. You can read it's value, but, you can not set it's
value. And in order to upload, you have to set it's value.

Not trying to be argumentative, just trying understand here, agreed you
cannot set the input type="file" programattically, but you can use said
input to collect the list of local files for upload, right? That's what
my little demo does. Next that list can be sent via form field (not
type="file"), right?

That gets the list of files to the server, not the files themselves. In
order to upload the files, they have to be set as the value of a file
input. And the user has to do that, you can't do it programatically.
Whether you attempt it from the server or the client.

> I would think you would need more JavaScript to enter list/array
> into a form input that would be passed to some server-side script
> to do the actual uploading...

If what you are describing is possible in javascript, then anybody
could simply set the value of a hidden field to whatever file they
wanted off your PC and upload it automatically. That is not allowed
(and what you are describing) for that very reason. File inputs are
very limited in javascript context for a reason - security.
Now JavaScript cannot be used to upload files, but the list sent to a
server-side script could use the list a as a queue, right?

It would still take user interaction. But, if you set the file name
server-side and send the page back to the browser, it will not have
the file set in the type="file" input. Try it :)

I did not say without user interaction, and I did not say that the file
list or that form initiate the file upload, just send the list.

Getting the list is of no use without the files though, is it?
If you attempted to set the file values on a post back from the server,
you run into the example I showed. And you can't do that.

Think about the implications if you could set it:

<form name="myForm">
<div style="display:none">
<input type="file" value="Whateverfileyouwantontheserver">
</div>

<input type="text" name="usersName">

... more legitimate inputs ....

</form>

Yes this would be wildly dangerous!!!!

And that is why it is not allowed. It's not allowed by the server, it's
not allowed to be done in the browser. It is just not allowed to be done.

When the user submitted the form, you could get what ever file you
wanted off the users computer. That is a very huge security risk and
because of it, you can not set the value of a file input.

I'm just saying the form could send the file list data then the
receiving CGI on the server can make the fit connection and upload the
files. It's this how those cookie-cutter server-side site building apps
lik work, or webmail form's attachment routines work?

I have never used either so I couldn't answer that. Can you give URL's
to either?

I have read in the last week or so where an XMLHTTPRequestObject might
be able to upload files but I would think that would be a security
violation as well, for the same reasons.

--
Randy
comp.lang.javascript FAQ - http://jibbering.com/faq & newsgroup weekly

[Jonathan N. Little]

Randy Webb wrote:

Jonathan N. Little said the following on 10/2/2005 1:52 PM:

Randy Webb wrote:
<snip>

You can not programattically set the value of an input type="file"
using Javascript. You can read it's value, but, you can not set it's
value. And in order to upload, you have to set it's value.

Not trying to be argumentative, just trying understand here, agreed
you cannot set the input type="file" programattically, but you can use
said input to collect the list of local files for upload, right?
That's what my little demo does. Next that list can be sent via form
field (not type="file"), right?

That gets the list of files to the server, not the files themselves. In
order to upload the files, they have to be set as the value of a file
input. And the user has to do that, you can't do it programatically.
Whether you attempt it from the server or the client.

>> I would think you would need more JavaScript to enter list/array
>> into a form input that would be passed to some server-side script
>> to do the actual uploading...
>
>
>
>
>
>
> If what you are describing is possible in javascript, then anybody
> could simply set the value of a hidden field to whatever file they
> wanted off your PC and upload it automatically. That is not allowed
> (and what you are describing) for that very reason. File inputs are
> very limited in javascript context for a reason - security.
>

Now JavaScript cannot be used to upload files, but the list sent to
a server-side script could use the list a as a queue, right?


It would still take user interaction. But, if you set the file name
server-side and send the page back to the browser, it will not have
the file set in the type="file" input. Try it :)

I did not say without user interaction, and I did not say that the
file list or that form initiate the file upload, just send the list.

Getting the list is of no use without the files though, is it?
If you attempted to set the file values on a post back from the server,
you run into the example I showed. And you can't do that.

Think about the implications if you could set it:

<form name="myForm">
<div style="display:none">
<input type="file" value="Whateverfileyouwantontheserver">
</div>

<input type="text" name="usersName">

... more legitimate inputs ....

</form>

Yes this would be wildly dangerous!!!!

And that is why it is not allowed. It's not allowed by the server, it's
not allowed to be done in the browser. It is just not allowed to be done.

When the user submitted the form, you could get what ever file you
wanted off the users computer. That is a very huge security risk and
because of it, you can not set the value of a file input.

I'm just saying the form could send the file list data then the
receiving CGI on the server can make the fit connection and upload the
files. It's this how those cookie-cutter server-side site building
apps lik work, or webmail form's attachment routines work?

I have never used either so I couldn't answer that. Can you give URL's
to either?

Neither had I, but I had seen folks with Hotmail and Yahoo accounts and
the webmail , essentially a form in a browser, seem to use the
input=’file’ to browse for attachments and would build a list on the
page similar to what I was describing. Just speculating, but that was
how I thought they did it.

I have read in the last week or so where an XMLHTTPRequestObject might
be able to upload files but I would think that would be a security
violation as well, for the same reasons.

Never used function, just learning PHP, but there are a slew of PHP
functions for FTP. Onced logged on the server, did not think the
fopen() command that reads the local file had to get the filename from a
form's input=’file’. You can hand type source, or hardcode in script to
then be uploaded via ftp_fput(), right?

--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

[Martin Kurz]

Jonathan N. Little schrieb:

I'm just saying the form could send the file list data then the
receiving CGI on the server can make the fit connection and upload
the files. It's this how those cookie-cutter server-side site
building apps lik work, or webmail form's attachment routines work?

I have never used either so I couldn't answer that. Can you give URL's
to either?

Neither had I, but I had seen folks with Hotmail and Yahoo accounts and
the webmail , essentially a form in a browser, seem to use the
input=’file’ to browse for attachments and would build a list on the
page similar to what I was describing. Just speculating, but that was
how I thought they did it.

No way. I've seen lots of browser based applications. There are generally two
methods submitting files to the server:

First one is by using the HTML-File-Input-Field. There's only one possibility
uploading files with this: The user has to browser for each single file and
submit the form.

The second one is using something like a java applet doing the upload. If the
user allows the applet to browse the local disc and submit data (there's allways
a security warning from Java-Sandbox when trying this), you can upload mutliple
files or a folders content by this applet (have a look for JUpload on
sourceforge ie).

But because of security restrictions in browsers, there's no way in setting the
file by JS or predefining the file on the server (like allready multiple times
mentioned).

I have read in the last week or so where an XMLHTTPRequestObject might
be able to upload files but I would think that would be a security
violation as well, for the same reasons.

Never used function, just learning PHP, but there are a slew of PHP
functions for FTP. Onced logged on the server, did not think the fopen()
command that reads the local file had to get the filename from a form's
input=’file’. You can hand type source, or hardcode in script to then be
uploaded via ftp_fput(), right?

Even if you're having the filename an dpath on teh server, really getting the
file from the client by using file something like FTP requires three things:
First, the client must have a connectable FTP-Server running. Second: You're in
need of an account to connect to the FTP-Server on the client. And the third
thing: you have to find the right file (FTP-Path != absolute Filepath).

So in very few cases, you could transfer data to the server this way. But in
allmost all cases, this won't working.

martin

[Amit C]

Hiii..
I am also facing a similar problem.
My Problem :
I want the user to select one particular file, and the rest of the
files of similar formats should be uploaded automatically.without user
selecting them. I know that we cant assign value to the file control.
So I created ActiveX Object WScript.Shell. object and used the method
sendkeys() to write the path of the file to a hidden file control. Now
I was able to upload a 100 file together when the client and server
were in the same domain.
Now, My server will reside in different domain,. so the IE which
accesses the server is not allowing the form to get submitted.

I hope I have been clear in expressing the problem,
Hoping for a quick reply.
Thanks in Advance.

Martin Kurz wrote:

Jonathan N. Little schrieb:

I'm just saying the form could send the file list data then the
receiving CGI on the server can make the fit connection and upload
the files. It's this how those cookie-cutter server-side site
building apps lik work, or webmail form's attachment routines work?

I have never used either so I couldn't answer that. Can you give URL's
to either?

Neither had I, but I had seen folks with Hotmail and Yahoo accounts and
the webmail , essentially a form in a browser, seem to use the
input='file' to browse for attachments and would build a list on the
page similar to what I was describing. Just speculating, but that was
how I thought they did it.

No way. I've seen lots of browser based applications. There are generally two
methods submitting files to the server:

First one is by using the HTML-File-Input-Field. There's only one possibility
uploading files with this: The user has to browser for each single file and
submit the form.

The second one is using something like a java applet doing the upload. If the
user allows the applet to browse the local disc and submit data (there's allways
a security warning from Java-Sandbox when trying this), you can upload mutliple
files or a folders content by this applet (have a look for JUpload on
sourceforge ie).

But because of security restrictions in browsers, there's no way in setting the
file by JS or predefining the file on the server (like allready multiple times
mentioned).

I have read in the last week or so where an XMLHTTPRequestObject might
be able to upload files but I would think that would be a security
violation as well, for the same reasons.

Never used function, just learning PHP, but there are a slew of PHP
functions for FTP. Onced logged on the server, did not think the fopen()
command that reads the local file had to get the filename from a form's
input='file'. You can hand type source, or hardcode in script to then be
uploaded via ftp_fput(), right?

Even if you're having the filename an dpath on teh server, really getting the
file from the client by using file something like FTP requires three things:
First, the client must have a connectable FTP-Server running. Second: You're in
need of an account to connect to the FTP-Server on the client. And the third
thing: you have to find the right file (FTP-Path != absolute Filepath).

So in very few cases, you could transfer data to the server this way. But in
allmost all cases, this won't working.

martin