Building a Classic ASP File Uploader

Introduction:

Uploading files to a server is a common requirement in web development projects. In this blog, we will explore how to implement file uploads using Classic ASP, providing step-by-step guidance and examples. Classic ASP is a server-side scripting language that is still widely used, and understanding how to handle file uploads with it is essential for web developers working with legacy systems.

Step 1: Setting up the project

Let’s setup the project first.

1. Create a new folder for storing the project files.

   

2. Open the folder and create a new asp file. I have named the file as uploadhelper.asp.

   

3. Paste the below code into uploadhelper.asp. This code is going to help in uploading the file. I found this code while searching for ways to create the uploader. I had to make a lot of changes to this file to make it to work. Now, it’s working. I have set the upload limit to close to 50 MB in the first line of code.
   

   <%
   Const MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE        = 500000000 '50 MB
   Const MSG_NO_DATA            = "Nothing to upload."
   Const MSG_EXCEEDED_MAX_SIZE  = "You exceeded the maximum upload size."
   Const MSG_BAD_REQUEST_METHOD = "Bad request method. Use the POST method."
   Const MSG_BAD_ENCTYPE        = "Bad encoding type. Use a ""multipart/form-data"" enctype."
   Const MSG_ZERO_LENGTH        = "Zero length request."
   
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   ':::                                                                 :::
   ':::  The file was modified by Shekhar Tarare (shekhartarare.com)    :::
   ':::  on 20/06/2023. I have fixed issues with the file by making     :::
   ':::  some changes to the code. It's working as of now. Feel free to ::: 
   ':::  modify according to your needs.                                :::                                
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   Class UploadHelper
   Private m_Request
   Private m_Files
   Private m_Error
   
   Public Property Get GetError
       GetError = m_Error
   End Property
   
   Public Property Get FileCount
       FileCount = m_Files.Count
   End Property
   
   Public Function File(index)
       If m_Files.Exists(index) Then
          Set File = m_Files(index)
       Else  
          Set File = Nothing
       End If
   End Function
   
   Public Default Property Get Item(strName)
       If m_Request.Exists(strName) Then
           Item = m_Request(strName)
       Else  
           Item = ""
       End If
   End Property
   
   Private Sub Class_Initialize
       Dim iBytesCount, strBinData
   
       'first of all, get amount of uploaded bytes:
       iBytesCount = Request.TotalBytes
   
       'abort if nothing there:
       If iBytesCount = 0 Then
           m_Error = MSG_NO_DATA
           Exit Sub
       End If
   
       'abort if exceeded maximum upload size:
       If iBytesCount > MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE Then
           m_Error = MSG_EXCEEDED_MAX_SIZE
           Exit Sub
       End If
   
       If Request.ServerVariables("REQUEST_METHOD") = "POST" Then 
           Dim CT, PosB, Boundary, PosE
           CT = Request.ServerVariables("HTTP_Content_Type")
           If LCase(Left(CT, 19)) = "multipart/form-data" Then
               PosB = InStr(LCase(CT), "boundary=") 
               If PosB > 0 Then Boundary = Mid(CT, PosB + 9) 
               PosB = InStr(LCase(CT), "boundary=") 
               If PosB > 0 Then 
                   PosB = InStr(Boundary, ",")
                   If PosB > 0 Then Boundary = Left(Boundary, PosB - 1)
               End If
               If iBytesCount > 0 And Boundary <> "" Then 
                   Boundary = "--" & Boundary
                   Dim Head, Binary
                   Binary = Request.BinaryRead(iBytesCount) 
   
                   'create private collections:
                   Set m_Request = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
                   Set m_Files = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")
   
                   Call ParseRequest(Binary, Boundary)
                   Binary = Empty 
               Else
                   m_Error = MSG_ZERO_LENGTH
                   Exit Sub
               End If
           Else
               m_Error = MSG_BAD_ENCTYPE
               Exit Sub
           End If
       Else
           m_Error = MSG_BAD_REQUEST_METHOD
           Exit Sub
       End If
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub Class_Terminate
       Dim fileName
       If IsObject(m_Request) Then
           m_Request.RemoveAll
           Set m_Request = Nothing
       End If
       If IsObject(m_Files) Then
           For Each fileName In m_Files.Keys
               Set m_Files(fileName)=Nothing
           Next
           m_Files.RemoveAll
           Set m_Files = Nothing
       End If
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub ParseRequest(Binary, Boundary)
       Dim PosOpenBoundary, PosCloseBoundary, PosEndOfHeader, isLastBoundary
       Boundary = StringToBinary(Boundary)
       PosOpenBoundary = InStrB(Binary, Boundary)
       PosCloseBoundary = InStrB(PosOpenBoundary + LenB(Boundary), Binary, Boundary, 0)
       Dim HeaderContent, FieldContent, bFieldContent
       Dim Content_Disposition, FormFieldName, SourceFileName, Content_Type
       Dim TwoCharsAfterEndBoundary, n : n = 0
       Do While (PosOpenBoundary > 0 And PosCloseBoundary > 0 And Not isLastBoundary)
           PosEndOfHeader = InStrB(PosOpenBoundary + Len(Boundary), Binary, StringToBinary(vbCrLf + vbCrLf))
           HeaderContent = MidB(Binary, PosOpenBoundary + LenB(Boundary) + 2, PosEndOfHeader - PosOpenBoundary - LenB(Boundary) - 2)
           bFieldContent = MidB(Binary, (PosEndOfHeader + 4), PosCloseBoundary - (PosEndOfHeader + 4) - 2)
           GetHeadFields BinaryToString(HeaderContent), Content_Disposition, FormFieldName, SourceFileName, Content_Type
           Set objFileData = New FileData
           objFileData.FileName = SourceFileName
           objFileData.ContentType = Content_Type
           objFileData.Contents = bFieldContent
           objFileData.FormFieldName = FormFieldName
           objFileData.ContentDisposition = Content_Disposition
           Set m_Files(n) = objFileData
           Set objFileData = Nothing
           TwoCharsAfterEndBoundary = BinaryToString(MidB(Binary, PosCloseBoundary + LenB(Boundary), 2))
           isLastBoundary = TwoCharsAfterEndBoundary = "--"
           If Not isLastBoundary Then 
               PosOpenBoundary = PosCloseBoundary
               PosCloseBoundary = InStrB(PosOpenBoundary + LenB(Boundary), Binary, Boundary)
           End If
           n = n + 1
       Loop
   End Sub
   
   Private Function GetHeadFields(ByVal Head, Content_Disposition, Name, FileName, Content_Type)
       Content_Disposition = LTrim(SeparateField(Head, "content-disposition:", ";"))
       Name = (SeparateField(Head, "name=", ";")) 
       If Left(Name, 1) = """" Then Name = Mid(Name, 2, Len(Name) - 2)
       FileName = (SeparateField(Head, "filename=", ";")) 
       If Left(FileName, 1) = """" Then FileName = Mid(FileName, 2, Len(FileName) - 2)
       Content_Type = LTrim(SeparateField(Head, "content-type:", ";"))
   End Function
   
   Private Function SeparateField(From, ByVal sStart, ByVal sEnd)
       Dim PosB, PosE, sFrom
       sFrom = LCase(From)
       PosB = InStr(sFrom, sStart)
       If PosB > 0 Then
           PosB = PosB + Len(sStart)
           PosE = InStr(PosB, sFrom, sEnd)
           If PosE = 0 Then PosE = InStr(PosB, sFrom, vbCrLf)
           If PosE = 0 Then PosE = Len(sFrom) + 1
           SeparateField = Mid(From, PosB, PosE - PosB)
       Else
           SeparateField = Empty
       End If
   End Function
   
   Private Function BinaryToString(Binary)
       dim cl1, cl2, cl3, pl1, pl2, pl3
       Dim L
       cl1 = 1
       cl2 = 1
       cl3 = 1
       L = LenB(Binary)
       Do While cl1<=L
           pl3 = pl3 & Chr(AscB(MidB(Binary,cl1,1)))
           cl1 = cl1 + 1
           cl3 = cl3 + 1
           if cl3>300 then
               pl2 = pl2 & pl3
               pl3 = ""
               cl3 = 1
               cl2 = cl2 + 1
               if cl2>200 then
                   pl1 = pl1 & pl2
                   pl2 = ""
                   cl2 = 1
               End If
           End If
       Loop
       BinaryToString = pl1 & pl2 & pl3
   End Function
   
   Private Function StringToBinary(String)
       Dim I, B
       For I=1 to len(String)
           B = B & ChrB(Asc(Mid(String,I,1)))
       Next
       StringToBinary = B
   End Function
   End Class
   Class FileData
   Private m_fileName
   Private m_contentType
   Private m_BinaryContents
   Private m_AsciiContents
   Private m_imageWidth
   Private m_imageHeight
   Private m_checkImage
   Private m_formFieldName
   Private m_contentDisposition
   
   Public Property Get FormFieldName
       FormFieldName = m_formFieldName
   End Property
   
   Public Property Let FormFieldName(sFieldName)
       m_formFieldName = sFieldName
   End Property
   
   Public Property Get ContentDisposition
       ContentDisposition = m_contentDisposition
   End Property
   
   Public Property Let ContentDisposition(sContentDisposition)
       m_contentDisposition = sContentDisposition
   End Property
   
   Public Property Get FileName
       FileName = m_fileName
   End Property
   
   Public Property Get ContentType
       ContentType = m_contentType
   End Property
   
   Public Property Get ImageWidth
       If m_checkImage=False Then Call CheckImageDimensions
       ImageWidth = m_imageWidth
   End Property
   
   Public Property Get ImageHeight
       If m_checkImage=False Then Call CheckImageDimensions
       ImageHeight = m_imageHeight
   End Property
   
   Public Property Let FileName(ByVal strName)
       strName = Replace(strName, "/", "\")
       Dim arrTemp : arrTemp = Split(strName, "\")
       m_fileName = arrTemp(UBound(arrTemp))
   End Property
   
   Public Property Let CheckImage(blnCheck)
       m_checkImage = blnCheck
   End Property
   
   Public Property Let ContentType(strType)
       m_contentType = strType
   End Property
   
   Public Property Let Contents(strData)
       m_BinaryContents = strData
       m_AsciiContents = RSBinaryToString(m_BinaryContents)
   End Property
   
   Public Property Get Size
       Size = LenB(m_BinaryContents)
   End Property
   
   Private Sub CheckImageDimensions
       Dim width, height, colors
       Dim strType
   
       '''If gfxSpex(BinaryToAscii(m_BinaryContents), width, height, colors, strType) = true then
       If gfxSpex(m_AsciiContents, width, height, colors, strType) = true then
           m_imageWidth = width
           m_imageHeight = height
       End If
       m_checkImage = True
   End Sub
   
   Private Sub Class_Initialize
       m_imageWidth = -1
       m_imageHeight = -1
       m_checkImage = False
   End Sub
   
   Public Sub SaveToDisk(strFolderPath, ByRef strNewFileName)
       Dim strPath, objFSO, objFile
       Dim i, time1, time2
       Dim objStream, strExtension
   
       strPath = strFolderPath&"\"
       If Len(strNewFileName)=0 Then
           strPath = strPath & m_fileName
       Else  
           strExtension = GetExtension(strNewFileName)
           If Len(strExtension)=0 Then
               strNewFileName = strNewFileName & "." & GetExtension(m_fileName)
           End If
           strPath = strPath & strNewFileName
       End If
   
       time1 = CDbl(Timer)
   
       Set objFSO = Server.CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
       Set objFile = objFSO.CreateTextFile(strPath)
   
       objFile.Write(m_AsciiContents)
   
       '''For i=1 to LenB(m_BinaryContents)
       '''    objFile.Write chr(AscB(MidB(m_BinaryContents, i, 1)))
       '''Next          
   
       time2 = CDbl(Timer)
   
       objFile.Close
       Set objFile=Nothing
       Set objFSO=Nothing
   End Sub
   
   Private Function GetExtension(strPath)
       Dim arrTemp
       arrTemp = Split(strPath, ".")
       GetExtension = ""
       If UBound(arrTemp)>0 Then
           GetExtension = arrTemp(UBound(arrTemp))
       End If
   End Function
   
   Private Function RSBinaryToString(xBinary)
       'Antonin Foller, http://www.motobit.com
       'RSBinaryToString converts binary data (VT_UI1 | VT_ARRAY Or MultiByte string)
       'to a string (BSTR) using ADO recordset
   
       Dim Binary
       'MultiByte data must be converted To VT_UI1 | VT_ARRAY first.
       If vartype(xBinary)=8 Then Binary = MultiByteToBinary(xBinary) Else Binary = xBinary
   
       Dim RS, LBinary
       Const adLongVarChar = 201
       Set RS = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
       LBinary = LenB(Binary)
   
       If LBinary>0 Then
           RS.Fields.Append "mBinary", adLongVarChar, LBinary
           RS.Open
           RS.AddNew
           RS("mBinary").AppendChunk Binary 
           RS.Update
           RSBinaryToString = RS("mBinary")
       Else  
           RSBinaryToString = ""
       End If
   End Function
   
   Function MultiByteToBinary(MultiByte)
       '© 2000 Antonin Foller, http://www.motobit.com
       ' MultiByteToBinary converts multibyte string To real binary data (VT_UI1 | VT_ARRAY)
       ' Using recordset
       Dim RS, LMultiByte, Binary
       Const adLongVarBinary = 205
       Set RS = CreateObject("ADODB.Recordset")
       LMultiByte = LenB(MultiByte)
       If LMultiByte>0 Then
           RS.Fields.Append "mBinary", adLongVarBinary, LMultiByte
           RS.Open
           RS.AddNew
           RS("mBinary").AppendChunk MultiByte & ChrB(0)
           RS.Update
           Binary = RS("mBinary").GetChunk(LMultiByte)
       End If
       MultiByteToBinary = Binary
   End Function
   
   Private Function BinaryToAscii(strBinary)
       Dim i, result
       result = ""
       For i=1 to LenB(strBinary)
           result = result & chr(AscB(MidB(strBinary, i, 1))) 
       Next
       BinaryToAscii = result
   End Function
   
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::  This routine will attempt to identify any filespec passed  :::
   ':::  as a graphic file (regardless of the extension). This will :::
   ':::  work with BMP, GIF, JPG and PNG files.                     :::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   ':::          Based on ideas presented by David Crowell          :::
   ':::                   (credit where due)                        :::
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   '::: blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah :::
   '::: blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah :::
   '::: blah blah     Copyright *c* MM,  Mike Shaffer     blah blah :::
   '::: bh blah      ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE      blah blah :::
   '::: blah blah  Permission is granted to use this code blah blah :::
   '::: blah blah   in your projects, as long as this     blah blah :::
   '::: blah blah      copyright notice is included       blah blah :::
   '::: blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah :::
   '::: blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah :::
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::  This function gets a specified number of bytes from any    :::
   ':::  file, starting at the offset (base 1)                      :::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::  Passed:                                                    :::
   ':::       flnm        => Filespec of file to read               :::
   ':::       offset      => Offset at which to start reading       :::
   ':::       bytes       => How many bytes to read                 :::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   Private Function GetBytes(flnm, offset, bytes)
       Dim startPos
       If offset=0 Then
           startPos = 1
       Else  
           startPos = offset
       End If
       if bytes = -1 then        ' Get All!
           GetBytes = flnm
       else
           GetBytes = Mid(flnm, startPos, bytes)
       end if
   '        Dim objFSO
   '        Dim objFTemp
   '        Dim objTextStream
   '        Dim lngSize
   '        
   '        Set objFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
   '        
   '        ' First, we get the filesize
   '        Set objFTemp = objFSO.GetFile(flnm)
   '        lngSize = objFTemp.Size
   '        set objFTemp = nothing
   '        
   '        fsoForReading = 1
   '        Set objTextStream = objFSO.OpenTextFile(flnm, fsoForReading)
   '        
   '        if offset > 0 then
   '            strBuff = objTextStream.Read(offset - 1)
   '        end if
   '        
   '        if bytes = -1 then        ' Get All!
   '            GetBytes = objTextStream.Read(lngSize)  'ReadAll
   '        else
   '            GetBytes = objTextStream.Read(bytes)
   '        end if
   '        
   '        objTextStream.Close
   '        set objTextStream = nothing
   '        set objFSO = nothing
   End Function
   
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::  Functions to convert two bytes to a numeric value (long)   :::
   ':::  (both little-endian and big-endian)                        :::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   Private Function lngConvert(strTemp)
       lngConvert = clng(asc(left(strTemp, 1)) + ((asc(right(strTemp, 1)) * 256)))
   end function
   
   Private Function lngConvert2(strTemp)
       lngConvert2 = clng(asc(right(strTemp, 1)) + ((asc(left(strTemp, 1)) * 256)))
   end function
   
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::  This function does most of the real work. It will attempt  :::
   ':::  to read any file, regardless of the extension, and will    :::
   ':::  identify if it is a graphical image.                       :::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::  Passed:                                                    :::
   ':::       flnm        => Filespec of file to read               :::
   ':::       width       => width of image                         :::
   ':::       height      => height of image                        :::
   ':::       depth       => color depth (in number of colors)      :::
   ':::       strImageType=> type of image (e.g. GIF, BMP, etc.)    :::
   ':::                                                             :::
   ':::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
   function gfxSpex(flnm, width, height, depth, strImageType)
       dim strPNG 
       dim strGIF
       dim strBMP
       dim strType
       dim strBuff
       dim lngSize
       dim flgFound
       dim strTarget
       dim lngPos
       dim ExitLoop
       dim lngMarkerSize
   
       strType = ""
       strImageType = "(unknown)"
   
       gfxSpex = False
   
       strPNG = chr(137) & chr(80) & chr(78)
       strGIF = "GIF"
       strBMP = chr(66) & chr(77)
   
       strType = GetBytes(flnm, 0, 3)
   
       if strType = strGIF then                ' is GIF
           strImageType = "GIF"
           Width = lngConvert(GetBytes(flnm, 7, 2))
           Height = lngConvert(GetBytes(flnm, 9, 2))
           Depth = 2 ^ ((asc(GetBytes(flnm, 11, 1)) and 7) + 1)
           gfxSpex = True
       elseif left(strType, 2) = strBMP then        ' is BMP
           strImageType = "BMP"
           Width = lngConvert(GetBytes(flnm, 19, 2))
           Height = lngConvert(GetBytes(flnm, 23, 2))
           Depth = 2 ^ (asc(GetBytes(flnm, 29, 1)))
           gfxSpex = True
       elseif strType = strPNG then            ' Is PNG
           strImageType = "PNG"
           Width = lngConvert2(GetBytes(flnm, 19, 2))
           Height = lngConvert2(GetBytes(flnm, 23, 2))
           Depth = getBytes(flnm, 25, 2)
           select case asc(right(Depth,1))
               case 0
                   Depth = 2 ^ (asc(left(Depth, 1)))
                   gfxSpex = True
               case 2
                   Depth = 2 ^ (asc(left(Depth, 1)) * 3)
                   gfxSpex = True
               case 3
                   Depth = 2 ^ (asc(left(Depth, 1)))  '8
                   gfxSpex = True
               case 4
                   Depth = 2 ^ (asc(left(Depth, 1)) * 2)
                   gfxSpex = True
               case 6
                   Depth = 2 ^ (asc(left(Depth, 1)) * 4)
                   gfxSpex = True
               case else
                   Depth = -1
           end select
       else
           strBuff = GetBytes(flnm, 0, -1)        ' Get all bytes from file
           lngSize = len(strBuff)
           flgFound = 0
   
           strTarget = chr(255) & chr(216) & chr(255)
           flgFound = instr(strBuff, strTarget)
   
           if flgFound = 0 then
               exit function
           end if
   
           strImageType = "JPG"
           lngPos = flgFound + 2
           ExitLoop = false
   
           do while ExitLoop = False and lngPos < lngSize
               do while asc(mid(strBuff, lngPos, 1)) = 255 and lngPos < lngSize
                   lngPos = lngPos + 1
               loop
   
               if asc(mid(strBuff, lngPos, 1)) < 192 or asc(mid(strBuff, lngPos, 1)) > 195 then
                   lngMarkerSize = lngConvert2(mid(strBuff, lngPos + 1, 2))
                   lngPos = lngPos + lngMarkerSize  + 1
               else
                   ExitLoop = True
               end if
           loop
   
           if ExitLoop = False then
               Width = -1
               Height = -1
               Depth = -1
           else
               Height = lngConvert2(mid(strBuff, lngPos + 4, 2))
               Width = lngConvert2(mid(strBuff, lngPos + 6, 2))
               Depth = 2 ^ (asc(mid(strBuff, lngPos + 8, 1)) * 8)
               gfxSpex = True
           end if
       end if
   End Function
   End Class
   %>
   

4. We need to create a form, which will be having the file selector and a button to upload the selected files. Create a new asp file, let’s call it as uploadhelpertest.asp.

   

5. Paste the below code into uploadhelperTest.asp.
   

   <!-- #include file="uploadhelper.asp" -->
   <!DOCTYPE html>
   <html lang="en">
   <head>
   <meta charset="utf-8">
   <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge">
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
   <title></title>
   </head>
   <body>
   <form action="<%=Request.ServerVariables("SCRIPT_NAME")%>?cmd=upload" method="POST" enctype="multipart/form-data">
     File: <input type="file" name="files[]" multiple>
     <input type="submit" value="Upload">
   </form> 
   <%
   If Request("cmd")="upload" Then
   Dim objUpload : Set objUpload = New UploadHelper
   If objUpload.GetError <> "" Then
       Response.Write("Warning: "&objUpload.GetError)
   Else  
       Response.Write("found "&objUpload.FileCount&" files...<br />")
       Dim x : For x = 0 To objUpload.FileCount - 1
           Response.Write("file name: "&objUpload.File(x).FileName&"<br />")
           Response.Write("file type: "&objUpload.File(x).ContentType&"<br />")
           Response.Write("file size: "&objUpload.File(x).Size&"<br />")
           Response.Write("Saved at: D:\TestASPProject\Photos<br />")
           'If want to convert the virtual path to physical path then use MapPath
           'Call objUpload.File(x).SaveToDisk(Server.MapPath("/public"), "")
           Call objUpload.File(x).SaveToDisk("D:\TestASPProject\Photos", "")
           Response.Write("file saved successfully!")
           Response.Write("<hr />")
       Next            
   End If
   End If
   %>
   </body>
   </html>
   

   Explanation of the above code:
   We are including the uploadhelper.asp first.
   We have a created a form with post action. It’s having an input of type file and a button of type submit.
   At the end, we are having server code. It’s looping over submitted file, It’s printing the details of the file and saving the file one by one to the folder “D:\TestASPProject\Photos”.

6. As we are trying to saving the files to the folder “D:\TestASPProject\Photos”. We need to make sure that the folder is present on the path else it will throw the error. Let’s create a new folder called Photos.

   

Step 2: Publishing the project to IIS

1. If you don’t have IIS installed in your machine. Please follow the tutorial here, I have already written a blog to setup IIS.

2. Let’s setup our project in IIS. Open Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

   

3. Expand the directory. Right click Sites and select Add Website…

   

4. Enter the Site name. Select the project folder in Physical path input and set the bindings. I have selected the port 8080. Click OK to finish the setup.

   

Step 3: Enable Directory Browsing

1. We have successfully published the site. We just need to perform few configuration. Click on the website and under IIS, click on Directory Browsing. If it is not showing under IIS, then you might have not selected this while setting up the IIS.

   

2. Click on the Open Feature button on the right side.

   

3. Click on the Enable button to enable the directory browsing.

   

4. Now we can browse the files after running the project.

   

5. After enabling the Directory Browsing. A web.config file will be added to our project folder.

   

6. It will store the settings. When opening the file, it is having the below content.

   

7. You will get the below screen when running the website.

   

Step 4: Setup Upload Limit

In the uploadhelper.asp file, we have already setup the upload limit to close to 50 MB. But, that’s not enough, we need to setup the upload limit on IIS also to allow the operation. Otherwise, you will get many errors. Let’s setup those:

1. Click on website and select ASP. Click on Open Feature.

   

2. Expand Limits Properties. Set Maximum Requesting Entity Body Limit to 500000000 and click on Apply to save the settings.

   

3. We need to setup one more thing. Click your website and select the Request Filtering. Click on Open Feature.

   

4. Click on Edit Feature Settings…

   

5. Update the Maximum allowed content length (Bytes) to 500000000 and click OK to save the setting.

   

6. It will update the web.config.

   

Step 5: Testing the website

1. Click on Browse to open the website.

   

2. Click on uploadhelperTest.asp.

   

3. It will show the below screen.

   

4. Click on Choose Files. I am selecting 16 files having total of 38 MB.

1. Click on Upload. It has printed the file details and showing the message as five saved successfully!

   

2. Let’s check on our Photos folder. All the uploaded photos have been saved to this folder.

   

Note:If you want to modify the upload limit, then first make the change on the uploadhelper.asp file. In the first line, there is constant called MAX_UPLOAD_SIZE. Set that with whatever limit you want to set. Then, set the Maximum Requesting Entity Body Limit of the ASP Feature and Maximum allowed content length of the Request Filtering to the exact same limit.

Project Code is available here.

Conclusion:

Handling file uploads in Classic ASP is essential for developers working with legacy systems. In this blog, we learned how to implement a file uploader using Classic ASP, following a step-by-step approach. By setting up the environment, creating an HTML form, and writing server-side code, we were able to successfully handle file uploads and store them on the server. Remember to adjust the file upload folder and permissions as needed in your specific scenario.

File uploads are a critical feature in many web applications, and understanding how to implement them using Classic ASP allows you to work effectively with existing systems. With this knowledge, you can enhance user experiences by enabling seamless file transfers between clients and servers.