Replace input type=file by an image

Question

Hi,
Like a lot of people, I'd like to customize the ugly input type=file, and I know that it can't be done without some hacks and/or javascript. But, the thing is that in my case the upload file buttons are just for uploading images (jpeg|jpg|png|gif), so I was wondering if I could use a "clickable" image which would act exactly as an input type file (show the dialog box, and same $_FILE on submitted page).
I found some workaround here, and this interesting one too (but does not work on Chrome =/).

What do you guys do when you want to add some style to your file buttons? If you have any point of view about it, just hit the answer button ;)

Cheers,
Nicolas

Answer 1

I would use SWFUpload or Uploadify. They need Flash but do everything you want without troubles.

Any <input type="file"> based workaround that tries to trigger the "open file" dialog by means other than clicking on the actual control could be removed from browsers for security reasons at any time. (I think in the current versions of FF and IE, it is not possible any more to trigger that event programmatically.)

Answer 2

technically, you can upload files only using a file input field (unless you use flash, java etc)

And you can't trigger it's click via script, either.

so you will have to actually display the element to the user and your only hope is to hack the CSS to make the field appear as a button, but I don't think it's possible to hide the user input field without deactivating the control

Answer 3

Actually it can be done in pure css and it's pretty easy...

<label class="filebutton">
Browse For File!
<span><input type="file" id="myfile" name="myfile"></span>
</label>

label.filebutton {
    width:120px;
    height:40px;
    overflow:hidden;
    position:relative;
    background-color:#ccc;
}

label span input {
    z-index: 999;
    line-height: 0;
    font-size: 50px;
    position: absolute;
    top: -2px;
    left: -700px;
    opacity: 0;
    filter: alpha(opacity = 0);
    -ms-filter: "alpha(opacity=0)";
    cursor: pointer;
    _cursor: hand;
    margin: 0;
    padding:0;
}

The idea is to position the input absolutely inside your label. set the font size of the input to something large, which will increase the size of the "browse" button. It then takes some trial and error using the negative left / top properties to position the input browse button behind your label.

When positioning the button, set the alpha to 1. When you've finished set it back to 0 (so you can see what you're doing!)

Make sure you test across browsers because they'll all render the input button a slightly different size.

You can see an example here (Add Track button): http://rakmastering.com/upload/