Directory Uploads of Iptanus File Upload Plugin

From version 4.18.1, Iptanus File Upload Professional supports directory uploads: visitors can add whole folders to the upload form, alongside individual files.

Switch it on with the Directory Upload option in the shortcode composer, or by adding allowdir=”true” to the shortcode.

Note: the Multiple Files Upload option must be switched on as well, or directory uploads will not work.

Once it is on, folders can be added to the form in two ways: by dragging them onto it, or by choosing them with the Select Files button.

Adding folders by dragging

Select one or more folders and files on your computer and drag them onto the upload form.

The plugin pulls every file out of the folders you dropped and adds them to the form. Files inside nested folders are added too.

Adding folders with the Select Files button

Pressing Select Files opens a dialog for choosing files or folders. Browsers do not allow both in the same dialog — it is one or the other.

The plugin therefore uses keyboard keys and gestures to tell it which dialog you want, and marks the difference with a blue dot in the top-left corner of the button:

With no key held down, the button selects files. There are three ways to switch it to folders:

1. Hold the Control key. The blue dot appears while it is held, and the dialog asks for a folder rather than files.
2. Press Alt and Control together. This switches folder selection on until you press the combination again.
3. Tap with two or three fingers on the button, on a touch screen. This also stays on until you tap the same way again.

Forcing folder selection

As the site administrator, you can make the button select folders and nothing else. Switch on Force Only Directory Selection in the shortcode composer, or add forcedir=”true” to the shortcode.

With that set, the keys and gestures above no longer apply — the button always asks for a folder.

Browsers allow only one folder to be chosen per dialog. Once it is chosen, a message asks the visitor to confirm:

After the confirmation, the plugin pulls every file out of the folder and adds it to the form, including files in nested folders.

What works on which device

• The two keyboard options need a physical keyboard. They do not work with on-screen ones.
• Alt + Control exists for macOS, where Control with a button click may not work.
• Tapping is for tablets and phones, which have a touch screen but no physical keyboard. Folder selection is not fully supported on those devices, though: even with it switched on, many will still offer only files.

Styling the button

The blue dot is drawn through these CSS selectors, which you can use to restyle the button yourself:

input[type=”button”].file_input_button.directory_upload, input[type=”button”].file_input_button_hover.directory_upload

Directory selection is not yet an official standard, although every major browser supports it. If the specification changes, the plugin will follow it in a new release.

For more information or technical support, please contact us.

The Iptanus team