Question

Flex 3 Upload a Bytearray as a JPEG upload to a server via HTTP Post

Asked by: Baxter68

I have a Flex application that allows users to build simple slides, a la Powerpoint, by entering text, uploading images and selecting from a clip art library. At the end of the process, I'm writing the contents of the canvas object to a ByteArray and would like to upload it to an ASP.net webserver. I have scripts on the server that accept user uploads via FileReference, for uploading backgrounds and images, but am running into a wall trying to upload the final image. What I need is something like what happens with the filereference class, but with internal data, rather than the user picking a file. What would be ideal would be direct access to the data and filename vars in place of the browse() method, but that's not supported that I can see.

I have somewhat of a hack working (code below), where I base64 encode the bytearray and send it as the value of a POST var. I can handle this on the ASP end, but I'm thinking there's probably a cleaner way to do this built into flex that I'm missing. I need to send several other variables along with the image, so doing a binary transfer won't really work.

Is there something I'm missing or a simpler way to do this?

//write the canvas to a bitmap
var finalBitmap:BitmapData = new BitmapData(MainCanvas.width,MainCanvas.height);
finalBitmap.draw(MainCanvas);
				
// write the bitmap to a bytearray
var jpgEncoder:JPEGEncoder = new JPEGEncoder();
var imgArray:ByteArray = jpgEncoder.encode(finalBitmap);
				
trace("Arr len: " + imgArray.length);
				
// encode the array for web transfer
var imgEncoder:Base64Encoder = new Base64Encoder();
imgArray.position = 0;
imgEncoder.encodeBytes(imgArray);
				
// set up the variables for the POST
var uploadVars:URLVariables = new URLVariables();
uploadVars.user_name = "Test+File";
uploadVars.final_file = imgEncoder.flush();
 
// prep the request
imgUploadRequest = new URLRequest(FILE_UPLOAD_URL);
imgUploadRequest.method = URLRequestMethod.POST;
imgUploadRequest.data = uploadVars;
				
// and send it, setting up listeners for results. TODO -- Add a timeout listener
imgUploader = new URLLoader();
imgUploader.dataFormat = URLLoaderDataFormat.VARIABLES;
imgUploader.addEventListener(ProgressEvent.PROGRESS, UploadFinal_progress);
imgUploader.addEventListener(Event.COMPLETE, UploadFinal_complete);
 //imgUploader.addEventListener(IOErrorEvent.IO_ERROR, UploadFinal_Error); imgUploader.load(imgUploadRequest);

                                  
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Asked On
2009-07-11 at 13:17:48ID24562708
Tags

Flex

,

Actionscript

,

Flash

Topics

Adobe Flex

,

ActionScript

,

Adobe Flash

Participating Experts
1
Points
500
Comments
4

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Answers

 

by: Jones911Posted on 2009-07-11 at 13:24:44ID: 24832081

You can use a form post to accomplish this.  I can't find a ASP example but there is a php example:  http://blog.kukiel.net/2009/03/sending-binary-from-flash-10-to-php.html

 

by: Baxter68Posted on 2009-07-11 at 13:45:05ID: 24832132

That may be the best way to do it. That sample is doing exactly my current code does. Base64encode the bytearray and send it as a post var along with others.

I was thinking there might be a "cleaner" way to do it, like a built-in flash object I was missing, but that might be the way to go, thanks!

 

by: Jones911Posted on 2009-07-11 at 13:47:37ID: 24832137

You could very well setup WebOrb for .NET and send it over AMF but that may be too much work and this solution might be easier.  Here is the link to webOrb anyway:  http://www.themidnightcoders.com/products/weborb-for-net/overview.html

 

by: Baxter68Posted on 2009-07-11 at 14:11:17ID: 31602476

Thanks for that, I think I'll stick to the passing as base64 text way. The WebOrb is a good tip, I'll have to look at that for future stuff. Thanks for the assistance!

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