Question

I’m trying to create a web service for my existing java project. In my java project, it is able to process a document when entered the file path location and insert it into a Postgresql database. I made a dynamic web project (using Tomcat 6, RESTful web service, and jersey). So far in the web project, it has an “Choose File” button on a localhost browser which allows me to choose a file. Afterwards, I can “Submit” the document; however right now it just uploads the document to a different location on my computer. Would it be possible for me to “Choose File” and then pass the file path location to my java project which will process it and insert it into my database? If so, how will I be able to do so?

Any ideas are much appreciated, thank you for your time!

Elilsabeth

Answer 1

In a Java servlet you need to implement the doPost method. In that method, use the FileUpload API from Apache http://commons.apache.org/fileupload/ to access any uploaded files from the client.

Here is something to get you started:

protected void doPost(HttpServletRequest request, HttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException, IOException {
     DiskFileItemFactory disk = new DiskFileItemFactory();
     disk.setRespository(new File(TEMP_STORAGE));

     ServletFileUpload upload = new ServletFileUpload(disk);
     upload.setFileSizeMax(MAX_FILE_SIZE);
     List<FileItem> files = upload.parseRequest(request);

     //...get actual file with files.get(index).getInputStream() and process them....
     .....
}

But read their documentation before implementing anything

On the client side, have a form with this kind of markup:

<form enctype="multipart/form-data" ...