Before You Started with ActiveX/Java Uploader

Introducing ActiveX/Java Uploader

ActiveX/Java Uploader is a powerful upload component designed for Web 2.0 projects as well as image-oriented and upload-enabled solutions. It provides rich functionality which allows to solve a lot of specific tasks and makes it possible to meet requirements posed both for the upload workflow and the upload tool.

The most significant ActiveX/Java Uploader features are client-side image processing, including such actions as resizing, rotating, cropping, and watermarking. User-friendly upload is indicated with a progress bar and is provided with an ability to resume broken uploads without resending files which were already uploaded. Moreover, there is a possibility to customize ActiveX/Java Uploader GUI elements as well as the uploaded data format.

Hence, if ActiveX/Java Uploader is the tool you need, let us describe it in a more detailed fashion. To begin with ActiveX/Java Uploader, you need to download Upload Suite SDK from http://www.aurigma.com/downloads/upload-suite location. Here the SDK is available in the following packages:

  • UploadSuite.exe, Windows-only installer
  • UploadSuiteNoSetup.zip, ZIP archive

The steps to install both packages are listed in the Installation and Deployment Notes topic.

The present article considers the process of embedding ActiveX/Java Uploader into a project. The main advantage of ActiveX/Java Uploader is that it is designed for the integration with both work-in-progress and completed projects.

Embedding ActiveX/Java Uploader into Project

Upload Suite SDK includes several tools intended to insert ActiveX/Java Uploader into a web page. Each tool has its own pros and cons; this allows you to choose the one which meets your requirements better. Carefully read descriptions of these tools below; it would help you to make the right decision.

ActiveX/Java Uploader ASP.NET

ActiveX/Java Uploader ASP.NET was developed especially for the ASP.NET server platform. It represents a set of ASP.NET server controls which allow to deploy and configure ActiveX/Java Uploader in Microsoft Visual Studio in design mode. Its another advantage is that it significantly simplifies handling uploaded data and saves you the trouble of parsing POST request yourself. This tool is intended most of all for ASP.NET developers; here it enables them to use ActiveX/Java Uploader in a straight-forward way just as the other ASP.NET server controls.

So, if you are going to use ActiveX/Java Uploader in an ASP.NET application, this tool is the best choice. See Quick Start with ActiveX/Java Uploader ASP.NET to get started.

ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP

This tool can be used with PHP platform only. ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP contains a collection of PHP classes intended for deploying and configuring ActiveX/Java Uploader as well as handling uploaded data. ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP has nearly the same functionality as ActiveX/Java Uploader ASP.NET.

Thus, ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP is the best solution for PHP applications. Read the Quick Start with ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP topic and see for yourself.

ActiveX/Java Uploader JavaScript

Contrary to the first two tools, this one is compatible with any HTTP-compliant server platform. It is a base for both ActiveX/Java Uploader ASP.NET and ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP. ActiveX/Java Uploader JavaScript is more complicated in comparison with the ones previously described; it requires configuring ActiveX/Java Uploader parameters manually and does not provide any facility for handling uploaded data. However, it is more flexible and can be used not only with ASP.NET or PHP. See the Quick Start with ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP topic for more information.

Evaluating ActiveX/Java Uploader

After you insert ActiveX/Java Uploader into a page, try to upload some files. Most likely, the upload process will not start and the following message will appear:

No valid license key for current DNS/IP address specified. If you see this message, please contact site administrator.

To get rid of this message and allow ActiveX/Java Uploader to upload files, you should register a license key. This key can be trial or full. Full keys are required for a production purpose and will be considered below.

Trial keys allow to evaluate ActiveX/Java Uploader on any domain during the 30-day period. Another limitation of the evaluation version is the trial message which is shown whenever you start the upload. You can find the detailed instructions on how to obtain and register trial license keys in the Registering ActiveX/Java Uploader topic.

Moreover, there are two alternative ways to evaluate ActiveX/Java Uploader. The first one is to use it on localhost domain where it always works as a full version. The second way is to register development keys which can be used for development purposes only. To obtain development keys just create support case and request them.

Integrating ActiveX/Java Uploader with Project

ActiveX/Java Uploader is designed to be easily integrated with the existing solution, including both look and feel and uploaded data format. It provides rich functionality to replace buttons by your images, customize colors, fonts and other appearance settings. See the Customizing Appearance in ActiveX/Java Uploader topic for details. As for the uploaded data, you can adapt the POST request format for comparability with your server-side API. Here you can add your custom fields as well as rename and remove default ones. Find the detailed information about this feature in the Uploading Additional Data Uploading Additional Data in ActiveX/Java Uploader ASP.NET Uploading Additional Data in ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP , Configuring POST Format, and POST Field Reference topics.

Moving Project to Production Server

First of all, before moving ActiveX/Java Uploader-enabled project to your production server you need to obtain and register full license keys. These keys should be associated with the domain name or IP address of your server. Carefully read the Registering ActiveX/Java Uploader topic before purchase keys.

Secondly, you need to copy ActiveX/Java Uploader redistributable files along with your application code to the production server. Depending on the way you have embedded ActiveX/Java Uploader into your project you should use the following files:

  • For ActiveX/Java Uploader ASP.NET use Aurigma.ImageUploader.dll file.
  • For ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP use /ImageUploaderPHP folder.
  • For ActiveX/Java Uploader JavaScript use /Scripts folder.

Probably, you might need to configure your server a bit before publishing your solution. For instance, to grant read and write permissions for folders you are going to upload files to or set the limitation for maximum POST request length. Find details in the Configuring ActiveX/Java Uploader ASP.NET and Configuring ActiveX/Java Uploader PHP topics.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter a problem during installation, evaluation, or upload; try to find a solution in the knowledge base available in the Troubleshooting section. It contains information on how to resolve typical problems which may occur with ActiveX/Java Uploader.

If this information does not help and the problem still occurs, feel free to create a support case and report us about it.

See Also

Manual