download list of files

[Marc Pelletier]

Hello all,

I am a desktop programmer getting my feet wet on the web. I am trying to
build a .net website that will keep a set of local files synchronized with
a master set on the web.

Using a cookie I can keep track of when the user last synced and build a
file list in my asp.net code that displays which files need downloading.

Next I want to put a button on the page that will download all of the files
sequentially and put them in the appropriate local directories. I do NOT
want a save dialog opening for each file, as there may be dozens of files
at a time. The first time a user connects there could be 500 files!

Can this be done using javascript alone, or do I need to create some sort
of ActiveX object?

Thanks for any advice and direction...
Marc Pelletier

[RobG]

Marc Pelletier wrote:

Hello all,

I am a desktop programmer getting my feet wet on the web. I am trying to
build a .net website that will keep a set of local files synchronized with
a master set on the web.

Using a cookie I can keep track of when the user last synced and build a
file list in my asp.net code that displays which files need downloading.
Yes, you can but it will be very unreliable. How do you deal with
situations where the user deletes their cookie file? How do you
guarantee that because the user 'synced' at a particular time that
they actually downloaded and installed the files, or that the files
are still on their system?

Next I want to put a button on the page that will download all of the files
sequentially and put them in the appropriate local directories. I do NOT
want a save dialog opening for each file, as there may be dozens of files
at a time. The first time a user connects there could be 500 files!
You have no control over where the user puts the files, or whether
the file 'Save As' dialogue appears. You could use a self-extracting
archive that knows where to put the files, but that would likely be
platform-specific and so may suit an intranet but certainly not a
publicly accessible web site.
Can this be done using javascript alone,
No.
or do I need to create some sort
of ActiveX object?
You need something, it need not be ActiveX. This situation is
usually handled by the user downloading an installer that checks
their system, connects to the server and downloads what it thinks
are the required files, then puts them where they need to be.

There are ftp clients that do this sort of stuff, but the security
implications are horrendous.

Thanks for any advice and direction...
Marc Pelletier

--
Rob