Use javascript to get the directory of a file

Question

I am using an input of type=file and I am trying to figure out how to extract the file location from it. I am using this code:

file = $("#uploadFiles").attr("files")[0];
var fileName = file.fileName;
var formData = 'uploadFile=' + fileName;

and when i alert formData, it says "uploadFile=temp.jpg"

What I want is the alerted message to be something like:

"uploadFile=C:\user\doug\documents\pictures\temp.jpg"

But I don't know the attribute of the file object to put in for file.fileName

alex · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-12 03:16:26Z

3

Generally, you can only rely on the filename being accessible - used mainly as a preliminary extension checking (e.g. (jpe?g|png|gif)$) on the client side (which only serves to benefit the user, to stop them from uploading a 5mb file that will be not validate on the server anyway).

You can access whatever the browser will give you with...

jQuery

$('file[type=input]').val();

JavaScript

document.getElementById('file-input').value;

edited Jan 12, 2011 at 3:16

answered Jan 12, 2011 at 3:10

alex

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SLaks · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-12 02:59:24Z

3

For security reasons, this is completely impossible in modern browsers.

answered Jan 12, 2011 at 2:59

SLaks

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1 Comment

zzzzBov Over a year ago

unless you're working on a local script, in which case it is possible on some browsers (at least Firefox) to request additional permissions, such as File IO.

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