How (In javascript, Jquery, or Ajax & such) can I load a local text file or xml file into a variable?

Question

First, I know <input type="file" value="c:\\blah.txt"> won't work. I have tried Ajax, and other things, but Google has security, so I can't. How could I possibly load a local file in JavaScript (Not PHP)? No, i'm not trying to steal people's data.

Or, if none of this will work, is it possible to pass data from a command prompt to a HTML/JavaScript file/page without a complicated server setup? (The command prompt reads the file, and gives it to the HTML).

What I am not trying to do:

<script type="text/javascript" src="//www.mydomain.com/scriptfile.js">

One of my failed tries:

$.ajax({
    type: "GET",
    url: path,
    dataType: "script",
});

I have tried to use the script and text type for both JS and text files, but no luck. I keep getting Google security errors in the console.

What I am trying to do:

I want to load a file.txt in the "File" format. Lets say I have var x = /path/to/localfile/text.txt.

Then, I want to do basically:

var x = "c:\\folder\\test.txt";
$.ajax({
    async: false,
    type: "GET",
    url: x, //<------
    dataType: "text",
    contentType: "application/x-www-form-urlencoded;charset=UTF-8",
    success: function (data) {
        alert(data);
        //parse the file content here
    }
});

Basically, I want to load a file from a variable name, and send the data of the text file to variable y.

But how ever many methods I try, they don't work.

Are you using local webserver? Because you don't need to supply full path.. — ItayB, May 09 '15 at 03:24
I am just running the html file in a normal google chrome window, so it is local. — CyberDude, May 09 '15 at 03:25
Ajax will not work unless you are using the http protocol, It sounds like you are using the file protocol — undefined, May 09 '15 at 03:35
@CyberDude Which browser attempting to load local file with ? Is protocol of local `html` page `file:` ? — guest271314, May 09 '15 at 03:45
@CyberDude Which browser attempting to load local file with ? — guest271314, May 09 '15 at 03:56
@Anonymous _"What I AM trying want to do: Load load a file.txt in the "File" format:"_ Not certain this is actual requirement ? — guest271314, May 11 '15 at 20:04
@Anonymous Yes, you are correct. Perhaps missing something, here; as requirement appear possible - though not without adjusting browser preferences. See http://stackoverflow.com/questions/30135589/how-in-javascript-jquery-or-ajax-such-can-i-load-a-local-text-file-or-xml#comment48381455_30135589 . Perhaps ask OP if this is also part of requirement ; i.e.g., to _not_ change any browser settings ? — guest271314, May 11 '15 at 20:09
@CyberDude Is requirement to a) access local files utilizing `file:` protocol , `$.ajax("local/file")` ? b) _not_ adjust browser settings to implement a) ? — guest271314, May 11 '15 at 20:13

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered May 09 '15 at 04:03

1

This is impossible, for now. If you want to load local file in web project you can use java applet. Javascript gives access only to cookies and web storage.

answered May 09 '15 at 04:03

mr mcwolf

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_"This is impossible, for now."_ ? Can be achieved at chrome , chromium by adjusting launch flags – guest271314 May 09 '15 at 04:08
This is a "hack". It is posible to load local file in script tag ( – mr mcwolf May 09 '15 at 04:09

How (In javascript, Jquery, or Ajax & such) can I load a local text file or xml file into a variable?

What I am not trying to do:

What I am trying to do:

1 Answers1

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