Re: File upload in HTML forms

John Franks (john@math.nwu.edu)
Tue, 11 Oct 94 20:47:09 CDT


In article <9410112133.AA23070@nebelsparc.xsoft.sd.xerox.com> you write:
>> > * On the client end, support a FORM field which can accept input of
>> > arbitrary MIME content (not just text/plain from the keyboard). The
>> > most natural way would be to upgrade the behavior of TEXTAREA.
>>
>Paul,
>
>I just thought of another appearent problem with the upgraded TEXTAREA. What if the user wants to send multiple 100MB binary image files? How would the user put 10 or 20 of them into an upgraded TEXTAREA? Does the server have to decide for the user exactly how many files the user can send to the server?
>
>Ernesto
>

I think you may have not understood Paul's suggestion. I believe the
idea is that when the client has a TEXTAREA window there is an option
for the user to type in it as is done now, or pop open a dialog box
to enter the name of a file to send and the content-type. If you
want to upload 10 or 20 files it is presumably up to you to get them
in an acceptable MIME multipart format.

This seems like something that could realistically happen. It is
important to keep in mind that unless the changes called for are
really minimal they just aren't going to happen. At this point it
is not clear that all (or a majority) of browser writers can be
persuaded to make even minimal changes.

John Franks