$FILES and directory names

pikachu

Hi,

Am using <input name='userfile' type='file'/> to browse and select a file in one form in one php file.

When I submit and move to the next php file, how do I get the full path of the selected file out of $FILES?

I can get the file name OK but I want the full path.

Been digging for ages but am at the can't see the wood for the trees stage now. Any help appreciated.

Many thanks,
David

laserlight

The full path for the file clientside?

hmm... not sure if you even can.

In any case, you could try a:
print_r($_FILES);

or more specifically:
print_r($_FILES['userfile']);

pikachu

Hi laserlight,

Tried that but there's no directory names component visible if you print_r($_FILES['userfile']).

The problem is basically to let someone click a button and browse directories (can be on the client or the network) and pick a file (but I want the full path returned not just the basename).

Any other ideas more than welcome if I can't do it the way I thought I could.

Thanks,
David

mtimdog

question, why do you need the full path to the file on the clientside/network? Are you uploading the name of the file itself or the whole file?

pikachu

Hi,

It's just the full path filename I want to store in a mysql db, not the file itself...

The <input name='userfile' type='file'/> looked perfect as it throws up a wee file browser, lets you navigate properly, and then fills in the full path to the file.

Only when you submit and go to my next php page the only bit of that filename I can get at via $_FILES is the basename and not the path.

So it's just the fullpath name of the file I'm after, not the file. But I want to be able to choose the file in the same way as type=file...

Cheers,
David

laserlight

Oh, so using input="file" is a hack, then?

From w3c.org's HTML 4.01 specification:

User agents may use the value of the value attribute as the initial file name.

So there isnt any requirement for the full path to be given, anyway.

I dont think it can be done, at least not with PHP in a Web environment.

pikachu

It's not really a hack, and it is a requirement (i.e. mine!).

When you use type=file etc and select a file it populates the text box with the full path of the file, so it does know it, therefore it seems rather stupid you can only get at a bit of it in PHP i.e. the base file name.

I'll keep digging anyway, perhaps Javascript. Seems such a simple and obvious thing to want to do too.

Other ideas still welcome....!

Thanks anyway,
David

laserlight

When you use type=file etc and select a file it populates the text box with the full path of the file

It doesnt have to do that.
I believe Mozilla Firefox only populates with the base filename.

I've read something elsewhere about this helping to preserve security, though I cant remember the source, or the details.

pikachu

Mmmm. Can't seem to do it client side either.

I now know all about "File Upload" objects.

Will need to start raking for a File Dialog box that lets you catch the fullpath... or just ask users to type in the full path name (yuk).

Cheers,
David

Weedpacket

Originally posted by pikachu
Seems such a simple and obvious thing to want to do too.

Not really. Who cares where on their hard drive J. Random User happens to have a file they're uploading at the moment they decide to upload it?

webmaster1721

This should work for you:

<?php

$localFileName = $_POST['fileName'];

/ or /

$localFileName = $fileName;

Weedpacket

Originally posted by webmaster1721
This should work for you:

<input type="file" name="fileName" />

<?php

$localFileName = $_POST['fileName'];

/ or /

$localFileName = $fileName;

?>

Originally posted by pikachu
Tried that but there's no directory names component visible if you print_r($_FILES['userfile']).