Edit a txt file using javascript/jquery

Question

I want to modify a .txt (overwrite completely) using javascript/jquery. I am currently using the code written below and it is working fine in IE.

    var fso = new ActiveXObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject");
    var s = fso.OpenTextFile(dir + "modules.txt", 2, true, -2);
    s.WriteLine(tobewritten);
    s.Close();
    fso = s = null;

How can the same be done in Mozilla firefox.

Please note that I am running my application locally and not hosted on a webserver.

possible duplicate of In Firefox, Write to a File using Javascript? — CodingIntrigue
– CodingIntrigue, Commented Oct 4, 2013 at 12:27
this is a secutity issue in IE I think and you can't do it anywhere else like that. — Sina R.
– Sina R., Commented Oct 4, 2013 at 12:27
If this would be possible, anyone could edit any file on your pc. — Joren
– Joren, Commented Oct 4, 2013 at 12:27
If you're running the application locally, why are you writing it in JavaScript? — Blazemonger
– Blazemonger, Commented Oct 4, 2013 at 12:48

Fenixp · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-04 12:26:48Z

4

It can't. All in-browser JavaScript is sandboxed, so it will never actually allow you to access any local directory.

You can only get around this 'limitation' (I put that in quotes because it's very much purposeful) is to use a browser plugin, like running in-browser Java code or similar, and then use that to access local files.

answered Oct 4, 2013 at 12:26

Fenixp

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Gurpreet Singh · Accepted Answer · 2013-10-04 13:16:24Z

0

It is possible using HTML5 FileSystem API.

You should be able to achieve following:

Reading and manipulating files: File/Blob, FileList, FileReader
Creating and writing: Blob(), FileWriter
Directories and file system access: DirectoryReader, FileEntry/DirectoryEntry, LocalFileSystem

More information available here. & here.

Note: This is only supported by modern browsers yet. In fact most of the features are supported in chrome only. Unfortunately firefox doesn't support writing files using FileAPI but they are likely to implement this in future according to this.

Check browser support.

edited Oct 4, 2013 at 13:16

answered Oct 4, 2013 at 12:30

Gurpreet Singh

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3 Comments

Blazemonger Over a year ago

That "check browser support" link explicitly says that Firefox doesn't support this technique, which is the only thing the OP asked for.

Blazemonger Over a year ago

Why is your updated link more correct than the original one? Looks to me like the FileWriter API is what the OP needs.

Gurpreet Singh Over a year ago

These links are bit confusion actually. After doing some googling I found out writing is still not supported by firefox. I'll Update.

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