Upload file to HTML5 page using keyboard shortcuts

Question

I know that it is possible to upload files using drag and drop with the HTML5 File API. Can this also be done by copying a file from the file explorer and paste it into a web page using CTRL-V/CMD-V or by pasting from the right click context menu?

Answer 1

You can't do that.

You can get the file path easily with this :

$(document).on('paste',function(e){
    var path = e.originalEvent.clipboardData.getData("text");
});​

So you may show it to the user.

But you can't change yourself the value of an <input type=file>.

That's a security measure : imagine if your script could change the path of the file to be uploaded just before the user submits the form (or even without user interaction as is now possible with other form elements) ? As for every important security protection, there is no known "workaround" for modern browsers.