Exposing downloaded file location to server

[Liam27]

Here's the problem I have. I am working an a company's intranet that is used for colabroration between different departments. They currently share files (usually Word docs but any type of file they want). It was asked to me if it were possible to simplify the uploading/downloading process. Currently, if a user wants a file stored in a server, they go to the file download page, click the file they want, and it does a simple HTTP file transfer. They are responsible for keeping track of where the file is on the HD of the client machine. After they make any changes to the document, they upload the file by browsing to the document and clicking upload.

What they want is to be able to just click an upload button and the file would be uploaded automatically. I know that ASP by itself cannot do this, but I'm wondering if any ASP developers know of any BHO's or ActiveX components that would do this, such as create a directory on the client, and always upload files to that location by default, instead of the temp inet files folder. Or if there is a way to know which temp folder the document is in and be able to retrieve that document from the server using that location. ANY idea's would be great, no matter how complicated or confusing.

[Rohit Kukreti]

Hi Liam27,

Therez a third party control for upload in asp called ASP Upload.
But, u'll have to pay them up for the control. I feel its quite good 1. Site address is http://www.aspupload.com/

This i think shud take care of ur need to upload files to desired directory.

Hope this helps.

bye,
Rohit

[coolbiz]

You can write your own ActiveX control to do the file management. Another option is to use third party online collaboration tools such as MS Sharepoint Server.

-Cool Bizs

[Liam27]

Thanks for the replys. As for uploading, I have that covered. I am using SoftArtisans's FileUp for ASP. The real problem I am having is finding out where a downloaded file is on the client machine, to automate the upload process, so that they don't have to click a browse button to find the file themselves. It is mostly management types who use this site, and they want the uploading to be thought-free.

What I am trying to achieve is to have an anchor beside the file name called 'check out'. When they click on that, it opens the download file dialog. This is what I am trying to manage. If they click open, it saves the file to the temp internet files. I want to change this behavior so that it downloads to a different directory of my choosing.

The user makes any changes to the file they want, and re-saves the file in it's original location.

The next time they come to the page, instead of saying 'check out' on the anchor, it says 'check in' if the user who checked it out is the one viewing the page. If they click 'check in' it automatically tries to upload the file from the directory I had specified the file to download to. That way the user won't have to remember where they saved the file to.

The upload part of the problem is taken care of. It's the downloading part that I am having problems with. Thanks for all the input again though. It's nice to see some people out there helping out.

[coolbiz]

From what I understand of what you want to do, you cannot look at the upload/download parts separately. Meaning, since Upload logic has to know where the file was stored during Download, they must interact with each other somehow.

When you say Download File Dialog, this points to the prompt that you get that asks either to OPEN or SAVE the file right? Or is it another custom control that you're using.

The point is, you'll need something that can keep track of where the file was downloaded to. This can be done by using some kind of component. You can either develop your own or try to find one on the net.

My 2 cents,
-Cool Bizs