Copy files from user system - javascript

I want to create an extension which copys from a folder from a path to another path using javascript in a google chrome extension (else I can't access the user system I think)
I've already found this out that I have to add "file://*" in the manifest in order to access those files and of course there is the File API in HTML5.
But how can I copy the files? From html5rocks I know how to read them, but I couldn't find out how to copy them.

Unfortunately, you cannot access an arbitrary location on the user's filesystem (for writing).
Both, the related HTML5 APIs and the chrome.fileSystem API do not allow to modify or save files to arbitrary location on the user's filesystem. Your app/extension will be allowed to operate within a confined, sandboxed environment (virtual filesystem).
There are a few related answers here, in StackOverflow, e.g.:
here, here and here
More info on the APIs:
File API Specification
Introduction to the FileSystem API
chrome.fileSystem API

Related

Rename and move files in local system using website

I am developing a website with frontend react and backend as django where users can generate names of files in a particular format. Now this files will be in their local system or their local servers we can say. I need to rename the file and move that to a source folder. Is that possible using a website? I have heard this is possible but now sure how. Anybody knows how this can be done?
Browsers accessing the local files system is considered as a security threat!
Imagine websites having the freedom to access all your files and images!
however for certain use-cases, this can be enabled on the browser itself, to enable websites from accessing file system.
however it is supported by google chrome only (as far as i know) you can use the FileSystem.API you can check this here Can i Use: FileSystem

Get filenames for all files in a chrome extension directory?

I'm writing a chrome extension which will add custom images to a webpage. I want the users to put all their images in the "backgrounds" folder, and I want my extension to be able to retrieve the file names of every file in the "backgrounds" directory in the extensions folder. It seems like there is no way to do this in chrome extensions. When I try to use the chrome fileSystem API, I get this error:
There were warnings when trying to install this extension:
'fileSystem' is only allowed for packaged apps, but this is a extension.
How can I do this?
You can get read-only access to your extension's folder with chrome.runtime.getPackageDirectoryEntry, with which you can work using the HTML5 FileSystem API.
However, this will not allow you to do what you want to do.
While you're developing an extension, it will work fine, as Chrome does not mind changes to the extension's folder - they are expected.
However, when the extension is deployed to users, Chrome will maintain a cryptographic hash of the extension folder's contents. In case there are any external modification to the files, the extension is considered compromised and is forcibly disabled.
So you should consider other approaches instead, such as:
using the above HTML5 FileSystem API to have a virtual persistent filesystem to which you can let the user "upload" files through your UI;
storing data as blob:/data: URIs in chrome.storage or IndexedDB;
asking the user to put the files in a cloud drive your extension can access using its usual API.

A Chrome extension that displays a random picture from the chosen local folder for every new tab

I am new to building Chrome extensions. I want it to be able to allow the user to choose a local folder and one random picture from there should be displayed for every new tab.
As of now, I have the images in the extension folder and have hardcoded the image names for access.
I read the following SO questions around this:
Open (Import) file in a chrome extension
Access Local Files using a Google Chrome Extension
But I am not sure which one to implement and if they are the way to go.
It's not possible* with an extension to maintain a persistent access to a folder in a filesystem. Chrome Apps can do it, extensions cannot.
Your best bet is to allow upload of files into a virtual filesystem. But it will not allow modifying the pictures without interacting with your extension again.
Alternatively, you could integrate with some cloud provider, i.e. monitor a folder in Dropbox.
* P.S. Regarding NPAPI, yes, it's being deprecated, but there is an alternative: you can have a Native Host program that your extension talks to. However, it makes it very awkward to distribute the extension - Native Host can't be submitted to Chrome Web Store. But in principle that can give you the full power of a native app.

How to make a user-accessible file on the user's filesystem with a chrome extension

I'm making an extension that among other things edit a javascript file in an external editor (one on the user's computer). The extension has the javascript file saved in chrome.storage but it will ofcourse be a lot easier for the user to write code in their own editor.
This is why I decided to find something that creates a file on the user's filesystem which the user can find and edit it themselves, and if any changes are made, sync that back up to the extension (either by periodically checking or by using some listener).
I have looked around but nothing really seems to fit what I'm trying to do. Chrome's fileSystem API only works for chrome apps, not chrome extensions and the HTML5 fileSystem API does not allow for a simple filesystem URL to be requested and opened, instead it obfuscates the stored file and makes it practically impossible to edit that file easily.
Something else I looked at which might be more promising is letting the user edit one of the files in the directory where the extension is stored and somehow retrieving that content. This is however going to be a bit tough to implement with chrome's all the hash checking going on in chrome extensions not to mention the general modifying of those files' contents by the extension (possibly by hacking around by specifying your own update URL and "updating" a dummy javascript file that is going to be written to).
Is there any way to simply ask for a location to store a file and then allow the user to edit that file and sync it back up?
No, extensions are sandboxed from the real filesystem.
As you said, it's possible to read extension's own files; however, this is read-only for the extension and modifying those files on a deployed extension will result in Chrome detecting extension "tampering" and immediate disabling as a precaution.
The only way for a Chrome extension to escape the sandbox is, as wOxxOm suggested, a Native Host module. Note that this cannot be distributed in Chrome Web Store with the extension; it needs a separate installer.
Alternatively, you could use some sort of cloud storage with API to access it; e.g. a user could store something in a Dropbox subfolder, and your extension can authorize access to it via Dropbox API. Unfortunately, there is no "native" solution like syncFileSystem for Apps.

How can retrieve a file from window.PERSISTENT storage?

I have downloaded a image file using third party api and written in window persistent storage
name called pogo.png how can I retrieve and execute.
For debugging the Filesystem API, you have a few options:
1.Use this this extension to view/remove files.
2.See the tips here: tips That includes viewing stored files very easily using the filesystem: URLs.
3.Drop the Filesystem Playground demo (http://html5-demos.appspot.com/static/filesystem/filer.js/demos/index.html) into your origin. You can use that to view/rename/delete files/folders easily.
4.Chrome DevTools now has support for the Filesystem API in Chrome Canary...at least viewing the files stored under an origin. To use that, right now you need to enable Developer Tools experiments in about:flags, restart, hit the gear in the devtools (lower right corner), and enable the 'FileSystem inspection' under the experimental tab.

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