Using DS to read a file on my unix server

You are limited to what JavaScript can do unless you create a program (in C# for example) that you call with JavaScript and pass the information back to add to your form. I had a client that wanted to see if a folder existed on their server (for attachments when approving Requisitions) so they created a program in C# to make this determination and then I displayed a link to that folder if it existed.

There is an ActiveX object for files, but your company probably doesn't allow it to be used, it can be "dangerous", otherwise you will have to find a server side solution. A perl script, jsp or other type of cgi program. There is authentication to consider as well. If the files are on the persistdata directory you can use the FileMgr servlet.

Very interesting responses....David, how did you display a link to a folder from a DS text box on a unix server? I can create a unix script that will determine if a file is there or not but I dont know how to pass it to DS.

From what I've seen you should be able to use something like: http://server:port/directory/filename

That is too broad a statement to apply.  If the file is on the application server and that is a different box it will not work, you can map directories across servers as that is what eRecievables doees, but it is not automatic.

 

 Also is it that they want to read the data and integrate it into a displayed form,  just referencing it as a url will open a window displaying the file in it's native format.  ie.  if it is a csv or xml it displays as a spreadsheet with all the rows and colums.