XFile, SoftArtisans client-side ActiveX file transfer control, comes bundled with FileManager and Archive components for use client-side. This expands the functionality of XFile to allow more powerful file transfer applications that can manipulate files on the client machine. The DLLs for XFile, FileManager, and Archive are downloaded to the client via a signed CAB file.

Possible uses of FileManager with XFile:

• Iterate through the contents of a client directory and automatically add files to XFile to be uploaded
• Move or delete files after upload
• Create a new directory structure on the client before downloading

Possible uses of Archive with XFile:

• Automatically archive multiple files into a single zip file before uploading
• Automatically unzip files after download

There are two ways to instantiate FileManager or Archive client-side:

You can use an html <object> tag. The user must, at least once, hit a page with an <object> tag for any one of the controls bundled with XFile. The first time this object tag is encountered, the user will be prompted to download the ActiveX object. A CAB file will then be downloaded, and all of the included DLLs will be registered on the client machine.

Once the DLLs have been registered on the client machine, any of the objects can be instantiated within a client-side script, by using the CreateObject command. So, for example, you could instantiate XFile with an object tag (causing the CAB file to be installed), and then instantiate FileManager or Archive within a script with "CreateObject".

For more details, see Knowledge Base, article #208 (select XFile from the list of products).