Another gmail feature..

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10-08-2006, 10:24 PM
krembo

Another gmail feature..

Hi all,
well, when there is an unanswered question there is only one place i come to..
This time I wonder about the "attach file" link in gmail.

It is interesting since clicking this link opens a hidden browse dialog box.

Basically, IE does not lets you set a value for file input field, and also does not allows you to initiate an "onclick();" event on it. It is a security matter.
If you try to do it and submit a form, the focus will be automatically set on the file input until you PRESS YOURSELF the browse button and select the file yourself.

Gmail comes over it. It lets you initiate the browse dialog from another link and then submit the form.

How do they do it?

btw: is it possible to change the label on the brose button from "browse.." to something else?
10-08-2006, 11:45 PM
krembo

Look at the following code

when pressing the "aaa" button it opens the browse dialog and sets the value of the real file field. but when the submit is pressed, it clears the file field and sets the focus on it. the second "File_2" field works fine.

So how does google do this? They lets you open the browse screen from a link and the explorer handles it just fine!

<form name="form" action="?action=save" method="post" encType="multipart/form-data">

<input name="File_1" type="file" >

<input name="file" type="text">

<input name="Submit" type="submit" class="button" value="aaa" onClick="document.form.File_1.click(); document.form.file.value=document.form.File_1.value; return false;">

<input name="submit" type="submit" class="button" value="Upload" onclick='document.form.File_1.disabled=true;'>

<input name="File_2" type="file" >

</form>
10-09-2006, 12:33 AM
djr33

gmail is insane. They have a chat built into it. And a heck of a lot of other stuff.
Have you even seen the source? There's nothing to it. It's a blank page.... just calling, with ajax, a heck of a lot of other pages.
Crazy.
Sorry, but not sure about this.
Maybe they just throw the focus to the browse button and fake the enter key?
10-09-2006, 01:23 AM
tech_support

Quote:

Originally Posted by djr33

gmail is insane. They have a chat built into it. And a heck of a lot of other stuff.
Have you even seen the source? There's nothing to it. It's a blank page.... just calling, with ajax, a heck of a lot of other pages.
Crazy.
Sorry, but not sure about this.
Maybe they just throw the focus to the browse button and fake the enter key?

Competition, Competition, Competition. G-Mail vs. Windows Live Mail :D
10-09-2006, 06:29 AM
djr33

Ew. Windows. Windows Live. It's like hotmail? Meh.
10-09-2006, 06:34 AM
tech_support

http://ideas.live.com/programpage.as...e-4911fb2b2e6d
10-09-2006, 06:35 AM
djr33

Heh. A whole 2gb. That's what gmail started with. And now they're nearing 3.

windows is stupid. Probably IE only as well. Heh.
10-09-2006, 06:38 AM
tech_support

No, now it's FireFox compatiable (after 2 months!)
10-09-2006, 06:38 AM
tech_support

Forgot to mention: Invitation only. LOL
10-09-2006, 06:39 AM
djr33

I'm surprised.
Not bad, considering.
10-09-2006, 07:23 AM
krembo

ok kids, that's enough...
stop the ie vs opera vs firefox stupied wars. they don't bring us anywhere. they are just a bunch of browsers, nothing more, nothing less. for me it's the same if the NYT and the WashingtonPost has fought over their paper and printing technique.

Anyway, a good javascript to use on gmail pages is as follows:

javascript:window.clipboardData.setData('Text', window.frames[0].frames[3].document.body.innerHTML).

Since gmail builds their pages with ajax and JS this will bring you the output of the page after all the functions.
The idea is taken from the gmail skin:
http://persistent.info/archives/2004...gmail-skinning

And now back to the topic - does anyone has any idea how to use a link in order to open a browse dialog and to keep this dialog value ok so the form will submit it?
10-09-2006, 07:27 AM
tech_support

Quote:

stop the ie vs opera vs firefox stupied wars. they don't bring us anywhere. they are just a bunch of browsers, nothing more, nothing less.

FireFox is more secure.
Internet Explorer is not.

FireFox is cool.
Internet Explorer is lame.

And since when did I mention Opera?

Edit: And check out Twey's sig - You might find more reasons to avoid IE there
10-09-2006, 07:58 AM
djr33

Heh. I'm with Tech on this.
However, yes, we're off topic.

Note: gmail was invitation only for the longest time, but now it lets you sign up, but only with a cell phone, which is kinda a pain.

And, sorry, I really have no idea about the browse question. Someone may in a bit. We'll see. I'm curious now.
10-09-2006, 08:20 AM
tech_support

Quote:

btw: is it possible to change the label on the brose button from "browse.." to something else?

No you can't.
10-09-2006, 08:24 AM
tech_support

G-Mail doesn't require a cell phone number now.

Look at the source:

HTML Code:

<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <title>Gmail</title> <link rel="alternate" type="application/atom+xml" title="Gmail Atom Feed" href="feed/atom" /> <script src="?view=page&name=browser&ver=o9cia6293i3x"></script> </head> <noscript><font face=arial>JavaScript must be enabled in order for you to use Gmail in standard view. However, it seems JavaScript is either disabled or not supported by your browser. To use standard view, enable JavaScript by changing your browser options, then <a href="">try again</a>. <p>To use Gmail's basic HTML view, which does not require JavaScript, <a href="?ui=html&zy=n">click here</a>.</p></font><p><font face=arial>If you want to view Gmail on a mobile phone or similar device <a href="?ui=mobile&zyp=n">click here</a>.</font></p></noscript> <script>  </script> </html>

Can you believe that theres no DOCTYPE?
10-09-2006, 08:42 AM
djr33

Ha. Gmail is better than a doctype. :p
10-09-2006, 09:04 AM
krembo

Any JavaScript guru around?
10-09-2006, 09:31 AM
tech_support

Try this:

HTML Code:

<html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252"> <title>Attach File  Remove</title> <script> function toggleElement(elementId,mode) { element = document.getElementById(elementId) element.style.display = mode } </script> </head> <body> <div id="attach"> <a href="javascript:toggleElement('browseFile','block');javascript:toggleElement('removeLink','block')">Attach File</a><br /> <input type="file" style="display:none" id="browseFile"><span id="removeLink" style="display:none"> <a href="javascript:toggleElement('browseFile','none');toggleElement('removeLink','none')">Remove</a></span> </div></body> </html>
10-09-2006, 09:58 AM
krembo

tech_support, if this was the answer, i would never ask the question :-)
I don't want to show and hide a div. this is a trick for beginners.
What google does is that they launch the browse dialog box when pressing the link. This can be done by using the

onclick="FileFieldID.click();"

but again, the value it stores is erased immidiently as you press the submit form button since the user did not manually clicked the button himself.

Google has managed to sort this problem somehow, and the question is - HOW??!
10-09-2006, 10:03 AM
tech_support

I don't know what you mean :confused:
10-09-2006, 07:29 PM
krembo

1 Attachment(s)

I warned you this is a problem for pros...

Look at the attached file - to make things short:

There is a Text link which opens the Browse dialog box
10-09-2006, 08:02 PM
djr33

5520 unread messages in your inbox? Impressive... heh.

And, just for the record, I'm not sure of the answer, though I did understand the question, as I said before.

Perhaps javascript can help? I mean.... you have the value there, then it dissapears when sent.... so grab it before it dissapears.... fairly simple, I'd think, but I'm probably missing something.
10-09-2006, 09:36 PM
krembo

Yes you are missing something.
Im not interested in the value but in the uploaded file. The value which disappears is in the real <input type=file> but since it did not get there with a "real user click" it will not let you subit the form and upload the file.
10-09-2006, 11:29 PM
blm126

http://sheetaljain.com/blog/2005/10/...inputfile.html

I did a google search for "file input Attach File Gmail" 5th result
10-10-2006, 03:37 AM
tech_support

Quote:

I warned you this is a problem for pros...

Please don't be so rude. I'm trying to help and your saying it's only for pro's.
10-10-2006, 03:38 AM
djr33

Pros would have searched google, for that matter. :p
10-10-2006, 03:41 AM
tech_support

Oh yes, Google. What about Windows Live Search? Ever tried that? Awful.
10-10-2006, 04:17 AM
djr33

ha.
:p
//amusing, though we are actually off topic.
10-10-2006, 04:20 AM
tech_support

Ah yes. Be on topic.
10-11-2006, 01:04 PM
krembo

blm126 - You are a google professional! Well, this is one good title you earned :D

I did search google for the answer but could not find it! Thanks alot!!!
tech_support - if you think that I was rude, I want to apologize..Didn't mean to :)
10-12-2006, 05:31 AM
tech_support

Ah it's ok. Doesn't matter really.