Handling file uploads with JavaScript and Google Gears, is there a better solution?
- by gnarf
So - I've been using this method of file uploading for a bit, but it seems that Google Gears has poor support for the newer browsers that implement the HTML5 specs. I've heard the word deprecated floating around a few channels, so I'm looking for a replacement that can accomplish the following tasks, and support the new browsers. I can always fall back to gears / standard file POST's but these following items make my process much simpler:
Users MUST to be able to select multiple files for uploading in the dialog.
I MUST be able to receive status updates on the transmission of a file. (progress bars)
I would like to be able to use PUT requests instead of POST
I would like to be able to easily attach these events to existing HTML elements using JavaScript. I.E. the File Selection should be triggered on a <button> click.
I would like to be able to control response/request parameters easily using JavaScript.
I'm not sure if the new HTML5 browsers have support for the desktop/request objects gears uses, or if there is a flash uploader that has these features that I am missing in my google searches.
An example of uploading code using gears:
// select some files:
var desktop = google.gears.factory.create('beta.desktop');
desktop.openFiles(selectFilesCallback);
function selectFilesCallback(files) {
$.each(files,function(k,file) {
// this code actually goes through a queue, and creates some status bars
// but it is unimportant to show here...
sendFile(file);
});
}
function sendFile(file) {
google.gears.factory.create('beta.httprequest');
request.open('PUT', upl.url);
request.setRequestHeader('filename', file.name);
request.upload.onprogress = function(e) {
// gives me % status updates... allows e.loaded/e.total
};
request.onreadystatechange = function() {
if (request.readyState == 4) {
// completed the upload!
}
};
request.send(file.blob);
return request;
}
Edit: apparently flash isn't capable of using PUT requests, so I have changed it to a "like" instead of a "must".
