Java applet to drag, drop and upload multiple files

By bigbman on 19 May 2006 at 21:43 UTC

We need a better interface for uploading multiple files - mainly images. Based on what I know and what I've read, there may be some potential in Java applets. What I'm thinking of is an applet that:

* allows you to drag and drop files (from explorer) on to the web page, showing you thumbnails (in the case of images or vids)
* will zip multiple files together for a single, optimized upload
* will upload this data using the drupal api either:
- Directly via an http call
- via AJAX, simply updating the form that posts the upload (I think this is the best solution)
* and finally, shows progress of the upload (again) either via the applet, or AJAX and Javascript

The AJAX solution would simply require the Java Applet to collect files dropped into the applet, zip them up, and send the information (on the location of the temp zip file) to an AJAX method that would update an upload form with the location of the file. Then, you'd use other existing AJAX helper methods to run a JavaScript\AJAX progress bar while uploading.

So, the question is, how possible is this? What are the limitations with using a Java Applet (assuming it is signed - for file access) with Drupal? Would the AJAX solution work?

Someone shoot me down before I get my hopes up too high!!! Obviously this solution has HUGE potential in the realms of image\photo galleries and other digital albums.

Fire Away!

Comments

The limitation is that Java

boris mann commented 19 May 2006 at 22:02

The limitation is that Java applet's suck ass :P

Bubbleshare.com (not a Drupal site) uses the newest Flash 8 plugin to do multiple file uploads.

And actually, WebDAV is probably the easiest way to do lots of file management.

I just found out how

bigbman commented 19 May 2006 at 23:52

I just found out how rediculously expensive it is to sign a java applet (regardless of how much it sucks). :o(

It's looking like I won't be able to do any drag\drop or filesystem operations without that. Does that sound right?

I'd love to use Flash instead, but doesn't a Flash applet need to be signed in the same way? I didn't event think that Flash allowed file operations like this.

What's WebDAV, and how is this useful to me? A link to some resources would be great.

Thanks for your reply.

OK, it looks like you can

bigbman commented 19 May 2006 at 23:53

OK, it looks like you can self-sign applets to allow file permissions. The client's Browser will get a security prompt, but I don't mind that very much. Does this sound right?

Gallery2 has one already.

lyfo commented 22 May 2006 at 15:52

I just installed Gallery2 into Drupal using the latest module - it was easy and the integration is great. It has many options for uploading including a java applet. Check it out!

ehhhh, I tried Gallery, and

bigbman commented 22 May 2006 at 18:16

ehhhh, I tried Gallery, and I don't really like it. I need something more simple, extendable, and tied into Drupal. I'm going to start working on an applet this week.

I have begged for this for a while...

Veggieryan commented 23 May 2006 at 02:55

see these
http://drupal.org/node/53053
http://drupal.org/node/51413
http://drupal.org/node/53054
http://drupal.org/node/57018

I really think this should be a field for CCK.
It should allow EITHER many files attached to one node OR to make a node of each file and OPTIONALLY associate it with the parent node.
This is some serious stuff.
see http://plone.org/products/plonejupload
for a really slick implementation in plone
we should just cut and paste it into drupal.
cck is the way though.
think about it.
.. example.
i have a ccmixter.org type music sharing, remix collaboration site.
i first create a content type for a song. then, i create a content type for an album. i choose to make all files uploaded into nodes of the type song... all of which are automatically related as children to the album node.
A user creates an album and uploads many songs at once.... wahlah!
Additionally, another custom content type "song project" can be associated with any song... when the user uploads the samples and sequencer files for a song they are made into "resource" nodes as children of the song project node...
Another content type, a remix can also be associated to multiple songs.
This can work for alot of things... video editing collaboration like echo chamber. Book or magazine authoring and editing, project management, IMAGE GALLERIES... (my users HATE uploading one at a time!)

whew!
where do we begin?
thanks!
ryan.
www.thefractal.org

Let me work on this for a

bigbman commented 23 May 2006 at 06:20

Let me work on this for a while before I get serious. I've got an applet working that accepts drag and drop. The next step is to have it display image thumbnails and file icons, and upload the list of files to an AJAX server which will update the page's form via javascript. I plan on making this applet fully customizeable, so keep checking in on this post. I should have a prototype working in a week or two.

are you an angel?

Veggieryan commented 23 May 2006 at 17:52

surely you have been sent from heaven to ensure that my lazy and computer-challenged users will upload media!

please email me any code you want tested.
i will put it through the ringer.

god speed!
yes!
ryan.

I like your ideas

bigbman commented 23 May 2006 at 18:20

I like your ideas veggieryan. My plans (at least for myself) is to use this idea for a custom 'album' module that will allow uses to upload content (using the image, audio and video modules) using my drag and drop applet, and Ajax. The idea will be to create extremely simple and generic albums that support images, audio and video content\nodes. I've been using AcidFree for a while now, and I love it, but I feel the UI needs a lot of work, and I'd like to see it support external content types - using the node api.

Anyways, this is all talk right now. I'm going to make sure I can make this java applet work, then I'll get started on an 'album' module. If everything starts to look good, I'll be very open to starting a project in CVS.

I'll keep you guys updated!