How can I trigger the click event of another element in ng-click using angularjs?

Question

I'm trying to trigger the click event of the <input type="file"> element from the button.

<input id="upload"
    type="file"
    ng-file-select="onFileSelect($files)"
    style="display: none;">

<button type="button"
    ng-click="angular.element('#upload').trigger('click');">Upload</button>

It's common practice to hide the uglified beast known as <input type=file> and trigger it's click event by some other means.

Answer 1

If your input and button are siblings (and they are in your case OP):

<input id="upload"
    type="file"
    ng-file-select="onFileSelect($files)"
    style="display: none;">

<button type="button" uploadfile>Upload</button>

Use a directive to bind the click of your button to the file input like so:

app.directive('uploadfile', function () {
    return {
      restrict: 'A',
      link: function(scope, element) {

        element.bind('click', function(e) {
            angular.element(e.target).siblings('#upload').trigger('click');
        });
      }
    };
});

Answer 2

So it was a simple fix. Just had to move the ng-click to a scope click handler:

<input id="upload"
    type="file"
    ng-file-select="onFileSelect($files)"
    style="display: none;">

<button type="button"
    ng-click="clickUpload()">Upload</button>



$scope.clickUpload = function(){
    angular.element('#upload').trigger('click');
};

Answer 3

I had this same issue and this fiddle is the shizzle :) It uses a directive to properly style the file field and you can even make it an image or whatever.

http://jsfiddle.net/stereosteve/v5Rdc/7/

/*globals angular:true*/
var buttonApp = angular.module('buttonApp', [])

buttonApp.directive('fileButton', function() {
  return {
    link: function(scope, element, attributes) {

      var el = angular.element(element)
      var button = el.children()[0]

      el.css({
        position: 'relative',
        overflow: 'hidden',
        width: button.offsetWidth,
        height: button.offsetHeight
      })

      var fileInput = angular.element('<input type="file" multiple />')
      fileInput.css({
        position: 'absolute',
        top: 0,
        left: 0,
        'z-index': '2',
        width: '100%',
        height: '100%',
        opacity: '0',
        cursor: 'pointer'
      })

      el.append(fileInput)


    }
  }
})

<div ng-app="buttonApp">

  <div file-button>
    <button class='btn btn-success btn-large'>Select your awesome file</button>
  </div>

  <div file-button>
    <img src='https://www.google.com/images/srpr/logo3w.png' />
  </div>

</div>