get source and name of selected file with angularjs - angularjs

Question

Is there a way to get name, path and size of selected file in input field using angularJS,
before uploading it?
<input type="file" ng-model="fileContent" on-read-file="showContent($fileContent)" />
$scope.showContent = function($fileContent){
$scope.content = $fileContent;
};
Can anyone help to solve this please?

Answer 1

The HTML5 File API will give you a File object for each file that you're attempting to upload. This File object will have a size and name property which will give you the file size in bytes and the name of the file.
There's no property for the physical path to the file on the users machine, though.
You can read more about this on MDN: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Using_files_from_web_applications
More information on the File object here: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/File
Here's a working example: http://jsfiddle.net/fmeLz9cd/
Given an input of type file with an id fileSelected, here's an example of accessing the properties through the File API:
$('#fileSelected').on('change', function (evt) {
var files = $(evt.currentTarget).get(0).files;
if(files.length > 0) {
$('#fileName').text(files[0].name);
$('#fileSize').text(files[0].size);
$('#filePath').text($('#fileSelected').val());
}
});
Update
Since you've requested an AngularJS specific example, here's the same code working in an angular app:
http://jsfiddle.net/vyc6jq84/1/
<div ng-app="fileDemo">
<input type="file" fd-input />
</div>
var app = angular.module('fileDemo', []);
app.directive('fdInput', [function () {
return {
link: function (scope, element, attrs) {
element.on('change', function (evt) {
var files = evt.target.files;
console.log(files[0].name);
console.log(files[0].size);
});
}
}
}]);

Answer 2

You cannot, unless the server helps. Angular is running in your browser, and cannot read the filesystem of the server or of the browser's computer. If you want to get a file, you need the server to implement something that will do so.
Now, if it is a static file, and already is served up by the server, then you could read it via $http.
$http.get(filename).success(function(data){
// data contains the file content
});
But it may be interpreted based on the file type, etc. And this entirely presumes the file is already being served by the server.