Where did you install Firefox from? Help Mozilla uncover 3rd party websites that offer problematic Firefox installation by taking part in our campaign. There will be swag, and you'll be featured in our blog if you manage to report at least 10 valid reports!

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Firefox loses path of File Input control

  • 2 replies
  • 55 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by zzxc

more options

I have a File Input control in my form. Using JavaScript, I try to retrieve the full pathes file name of the user's selection. In fileInput.value, I can see (for example) C:\SomeFile.txt. But, the very next line I try to extract that value, like this:

var FullPathFileName = fileInput.value;

In FullPathFileName, I get only SomeFile.txt.

Using FireBug, I hover over that line of code. Hovering over fileInput.value, it shows the full path. Hovering over FullPathFileName, it shows only the file name.

Why does this happen, and how can I stop it? I really need the fully pathed file name.

User Agent

Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.0.04506.30; .NET CLR 3.0.4506.2152; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; MS-RTC LM 8)

I have a File Input control in my form. Using JavaScript, I try to retrieve the full pathes file name of the user's selection. In fileInput.value, I can see (for example) C:\SomeFile.txt. But, the very next line I try to extract that value, like this: var FullPathFileName = fileInput.value; In FullPathFileName, I get only SomeFile.txt. Using FireBug, I hover over that line of code. Hovering over fileInput.value, it shows the full path. Hovering over FullPathFileName, it shows only the file name. Why does this happen, and how can I stop it? I really need the fully pathed file name. == User Agent == Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 7.0; Windows NT 5.1; .NET CLR 1.1.4322; .NET CLR 2.0.50727; .NET CLR 3.0.04506.30; .NET CLR 3.0.4506.2152; .NET CLR 3.5.30729; MS-RTC LM 8)

All Replies (2)

more options

This is a security restriction, so as not to expose the full path on the filesystem to javascript. It prevents javascript on websites from gaining potentially sensitive information from filesystem paths.

more options

See: Bug 143220 - [FIX]Script can get the value of a file control, including the path (#c49 #c50)

[tiki-view_forum_thread.php?comments_parentId=200996&forumId=1 File Input don't return full path in Javascript] (input type=file)