Directory-picker for form input using Java servlets or JavaScript -

i'd create directory-picker form input element, allow users select network directory selected , passed target server process. idea users browse network share, visible user's machine , web server, , select folder request processed server application. i'd function <input type="file"> tag would, allowing folder selection instead of files.

i have read html file-picker input not support behavior, might possible using java servlets or javascript, though have found no code demonstrates this. possible create form element this? using spring mvc 3, , intranet application, security not issue. new java-based web development, don't know start here.

you have interface users move in , out of directories

the servlet or spring-mvc controller part of pretty simple (excluding exceptions , such).

@requestmapping(value = "/network/*") @responsebody  // serialize json since using javascript  public list<string> getdirectory(@requestparam("direction") string direction, httpservletrequest request) {     list<string> paths = new linkedlist<string>();      string path = request.getrequesturi();     path = path.substring(path.indexof("/network") + 8); // gets after /network      if ("up".equals(direction)) { // want go 1 folder         file parent = new file(path).getparentfile(); // parent, might return null have check         paths.addall(arrays.aslist(parent.list()));     } else if ("into".equals(direction)) {         file directory = new file(path); // files in current directory         paths.addall(arrays.aslist(directory.list()));     }      return paths; } 

you make ajax requests to

http://www.your-intranet.com/network/var/this/path/wanted?direction=into 

to retrieve json list of files , folders inside it. or

http://www.your-intranet.com/network/var/this/path/wanted?direction=up 

equivalent to

http://www.your-intranet.com/network/var/this/path?direction=into 

depending on want path extraction logic (probably on server since knows if right or not).

the ui part of little harder , won't it, have parse json , decide if want show folder icon or file icon different buttons different operations.

you have play around paths depending on linux or windows os.