javascriptfirefoxfile-io

In Firefox, Write to a File using Javascript?


Situation:
I have created a installation setup(local) that returns a URL e.g. ved.test.com which is mapped to an IP 11.22.33.44.
Thus to make the web application accessible after installation, user has to make an entry in the hosts file under C:\WINNT\system32\drivers\etc directory explicitly.

Approach:
After the installation application gets completed, application writes the file using JavaScript.

Problem:
Writing a File using JavaScript is supported in IE. I need a Solution for Firefox. Code used:-

<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" />
<title>Write To A File</title>
<script language="javascript">
    function WriteToFile()
    {
    /* The below statement is supported in IE only */
    var fso = new ActiveXObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject");
    var s = fso.CreateTextFile("C:\\Test.txt", true);
    s.WriteLine('IE Supports Me!');
    s.Close();
    }
</script>
</head>
    <body onLoad="WriteToFile()">
</body>
</html>

Have also referred the link in SO:
How to read and write into file using JavaScript?

Kindly provide a solution that supports writing a file using JavaScript that runs in Firefox browser.


Solution

  • You can't do this, for hopefully obvious security reasons. JavaScript has no access to the file system...in IE it's not JavaScript, but ActiveX doing this...it just has a JavaScript API exposed.

    The problem isn't that Firefox doesn't do this...it's that IE ever allowed it :)