jQuery: "change" event on file input element does not fire if the file selection is triggered by an element other than the file input

Question

RE:

• Jquery: change event to input file on IE
• Any alternative to jQuery change() to detect when user selects new file via dialog box in IE8?

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The above questions dealt with getting the 'change' event to fire consistently across browsers after a file selection has been made. This is has been resolved as evidenced by the example at http://jsfiddle.net/7wR2L/

My situation is a tad different. It seems this issue rears its ugly head in another context.

Based on design constraints, I have to use a non-file-input element ('a' tag) to trigger the "click" event on the file input element. So far from my tests, it looks like the file input is unable to fire a "change" notification when a file is selected in this way.

Please take a look at the example at http://jsfiddle.net/rudylattae/7wR2L/8/

Test environment(s):

Windows Server 2008 R2

• Chrome 7.0.517.44 - PASS
• Firefox 3.6.9 - FAIL
• IE 8.0.7600.16385 64bit - FAIL

Windows XP Pro (2002 - SP3)

• Chrome 8.0.552.28 beta - PASS
• Firefox 3.5.14 - FAIL (does not even trigger the file selector)
• IE 8.0.6001.18702 - FAIL

Answer 1

With MSIE use the onpropertychange-Event, example: http://jsfiddle.net/7wR2L/14/

As jQuery does'nt support this event you have to assign it without jquery(inline or use attachEvent )

In other browsers try using mutation-events, maybe they'll work there. See a related topic on mutation-events from yesterday, to have a little example how they work: How to capture change on page title from a firefox extension

Answer 2

Try to use modern version of jQuery.

Described problem with change event in Internet Explorer was fixed in jQuery >= 1.6.4.