[OSCOM] File Uploader was Re: drag-n-drop solutions for ajax

On Thu, 5 May 2005, Paul Everitt wrote:
> I wrote a Firefox extension once to do this.  You could drag and drop 
> from the OS (I tried on Mac and Windows) and it would be sent with an 
> async HTTP PUT to the server.

Yes, that's just the sort of thing I'm looking for.

On Thu, 5 May 2005, kit blake wrote:
> But for IE there would need to be a signed control. That's not fun, but it's 
> not an insurmountable barrier.

Indeed.  Does that still leave Safari users out, though?


On Wed, 4 May 2005, Martin Bähr wrote:
> roxen and sTeam can, and do, because they abstract the protocol away 
> from the server itself. so there is no seperate ftp server, but one 
> server that speaks multiple protocols (http, ftp, webdav...)

With this approach you rely on existing client side applications (ftp, 
webdav etc.).  That addresses the cross-platform issue neatly, but I think 
leaves a gap in integrating the upload with the web application context. 
I don't know of any way to tell a webdav client for example 'upload a file 
to this folder'.  Actually I think there is a way to do this with 
Javascript in IE, but it's specific to that platform; doesn't work with 
other browsers or WebDAV clients.

> sTeam also has an application launcher that makes access to files on the
> server seamless with your favourite editor. that helps a lot towards
> reducing the need to importing lots of files after an initial import of
> the data.

Yes, that's definitely another piece of the puzzle.  Presumably when you 
'Save' it takes care of copying the updated file back to the server?  For 
the applications I'm working on though, we're uploading mostly PDF files, 
so an editor isn't that useful.


Here's my first cut at a set of design goals for this file-uploader 
component:

1) needs a simple GUI

2) should work cross-platform, cross-browser

3) requires access to client filesystem

4) shouldn't introduce security issues for client's system

5) should integrate easily with various web application environments 
(java, .net, php, other scripting languages)

6) should load fairly quickly (don't delay user's work process)

7) upload one or multiple files

8) support a file selection dialogue, and also drag-and-drop

9) the web application can control the file destination or context.  e.g. 
navigate to a specific page, click 'upload files', pick the files to 
upload, they end up on that particular page.

10) advanced feature: synchronize file hierarchies; pick a local folder 
hierarchy to match the remote hierarchy; component detects all files newer 
on the client system and creates a 'push list'.


How about Java Web Start as a technology to build this in?

Oliver

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