# Upload file without using file\_field

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/upload-file-without-using-file-field/163218>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [March 18, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/upload-file-without-using-file-field/163218 "2009-03-18T11:59:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/sudhi)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/upload-file-without-using-file-field/163218/1 "2009-03-18T11:59:50Z")

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Hi,

I wanted to have a textbox which would have the file name specified and  
on submit in the controller I wanted to save this file on the server  
file system. Any pointers would helpful.

Please note I do not want to use file\_field since that does not match my  
requirement…

My requirement is something like

upload c:\1.txt upload c:\2.txt

Button Submit

On submit upload the 2 files to server

Thanks,  
Sudhindra

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**Author:** ![sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/sudhi)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 12:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/upload-file-without-using-file-field/163218/2 "2009-03-18T12:48:54Z")

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Sudhi  
Perhaps you can use hidden file\_field and populate it with javascript  
from  
the text\_field?

James.

2009/3/18 Sudhi K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/sudhi)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/upload-file-without-using-file-field/163218/3 "2009-03-18T13:18:53Z")

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or you could parse the string inside that text\_box and loop through  
the several entries.

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**Author:** ![sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/sudhi)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/upload-file-without-using-file-field/163218/4 "2009-03-18T15:36:16Z")

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MaD wrote:

> or you could parse the string inside that text\_box and loop through  
> the several entries.

Hi,

Thanks for the inputs, but I am a newbie to ROR. I want to understand  
what exactly happens in the background when I use a file\_field? Is it  
complex to have a file upload working without a file\_field(Hidden  
atleast)?

Regards,  
Sudhindra

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@sudhi](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/sudhi)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/upload-file-without-using-file-field/163218/5 "2009-03-18T18:48:26Z")

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So the user is typing in filenames directly? If that’s the case, what  
you’re asking is impossible - and for very good reasons. Javascript  
can’t access client-side files; it can’t even serialize file input  
tags (thus the issues with AJAX submission of file fields).

–Matt J.

On Mar 18, 6:59 am, Sudhi K. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid)