How to keep input type=file field value after failed validation in ASP.NET MVC?

Question

I\'ve got a simple form in an MVC app I\'ve made. It contains a file field so users can upload an image. It all works great.

Problem is, if the form submit fails val

Answer 1

I fail to agree with "impossible" being marked as correct answer. In case anybody is still in search of a possibility, here is the work around that worked for me. I'm using MVC5. The idea is to use a session variable. I got the idea from ASP.Net Form.

My Model/ViewModel (only relevant properties):

public partial class emp_leaves
    {
        public string fileNameOrig { get; set; }
        public byte[] fileContent { get; set; }

        public HttpPostedFileBase uploadFile { get; set; }
    }

In my controller (HttpPost): //Check

[HttpPost]
[ValidateAntiForgeryToken]
public ActionResult Edit(emp_leaves emp_leaves)
{
    if (emp_leaves.uploadFile != null && emp_leaves.uploadFile.ContentLength>0 && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(emp_leaves.uploadFile.FileName))
    {
        emp_leaves.fileNameOrig = Path.GetFileName(emp_leaves.uploadFile.FileName);
        emp_leaves.fileContent = new byte[emp_leaves.uploadFile.ContentLength];
        emp_leaves.uploadFile.InputStream.Read(emp_leaves.fileContent, 0, emp_leaves.uploadFile.ContentLength);
        Session["emp_leaves.uploadFile"] = emp_leaves.uploadFile; //saving the file in session variable here
    }
    else if (Session["emp_leaves.uploadFile"] != null)
    {//if re-submitting after a failed validation you will reach here.
        emp_leaves.uploadFile = (HttpPostedFileBase)Session["emp_leaves.uploadFile"];
        if (emp_leaves.uploadFile != null && emp_leaves.uploadFile.ContentLength>0 && !string.IsNullOrEmpty(emp_leaves.uploadFile.FileName))
        {
            emp_leaves.fileNameOrig = Path.GetFileName(emp_leaves.uploadFile.FileName);
            emp_leaves.uploadFile.InputStream.Position = 0;
            emp_leaves.fileContent = new byte[emp_leaves.uploadFile.ContentLength];
            emp_leaves.uploadFile.InputStream.Read(emp_leaves.fileContent, 0, emp_leaves.uploadFile.ContentLength);    
        }
    }
//code to save follows here...
}

Finally within my edit view: here, i am conditionally showing the file upload control.

< script type = "text/javascript" >
  $("#removefile").on("click", function(e) {
    if (!confirm('Delete File?')) {
      e.preventDefault();
      return false;
    }
    $('#fileNameOrig').val('');
    //toggle visibility for concerned div
    $('#downloadlrfdiv').hide();
    $('#uploadlrfdiv').show();
    return false;
  }); <
/script>

@model PPMSWEB.Models.emp_leaves @{ HttpPostedFileBase uploadFileSession = Session["emp_leaves.uploadFile"] == null ? null : (HttpPostedFileBase)Session["emp_leaves.uploadFile"]; } @using (Html.BeginForm(null, null, FormMethod.Post, new { enctype = "multipart/form-data"
})) { @Html.AntiForgeryToken()

  @*irrelevant content removed*@
  

    Attachment
    
            
                
                    @Model.fileNameOrig
                
            
            @if (isEditable && !Model.readonlyMode)
            {
                @Html.Raw(" ");
                
                      
                
            }
            
  
  

    Upload File @Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.uploadFile, new { @type = "file", @class = "btn btn-default", @title = "Upload file (max 300 KB)" }) @Html.ValidationMessageFor(x => x.uploadFile)
  

}