a!submitUploadedFiles() Function

Function

a!submitUploadedFiles( onSuccess, onError, documents )

To upload files outside of a start form or task, use this function in the saveInto parameter of a submit button or link. This function submits the files uploaded to any file upload or signature components in the interface to their target folder.

Note: In interfaces with file upload or signature components that are used outside of start forms or tasks, if you don't use this function, the file will not be saved to the target document or folder. This function cannot be used in interfaces that are used in start forms or tasks.

See also:

Portal Best Practices: Working with documents

Parameters

Keyword	Type	Description
`onSuccess`	Any Type	A list of saves to execute after the uploaded files are submitted successfully.
`onError`	Any Type	A list of saves to execute after the uploaded files are not submitted successfully. Use `fv!error` to access the returned error code.
`documents`	List of Number (Integer)	Use this optional parameter when you have multiple file upload or signature components on an interface and each one submits with a different button or link. This parameter accepts a list of documents to submit when the user clicks the button or link. See Usage Considerations for more information. Documents that have already been submitted or cannot be found will be ignored. If this parameter isn't used, all uploaded files will be submitted.

Returns

Any type

Usage considerations

Only use this function in the saveInto parameter of a button or link

As soon as Appian evaluates a!submitUploadedFiles() in an interface, it will automatically save the uploaded files to the target folder, no matter where the function is used. It is important to use the function in the correct saveInto parameter to make sure it is uploaded at the appropriate time.

For example, if you use a!submitUploadedFiles() in the saveInto parameter of a file upload component, Appian will add the file to the target folder as soon as a user uploads it. This means that if a user uploads the wrong file, the function adds it to the folder before the user can change the file. This can result in adding unnecessary or incorrect files to the target folder.

To avoid this, use a!submitUploadedFiles() in the saveInto parameter of a button or link. This ensures that Appian will evaluate the function when the user clicks the appropriate button or link to submit the uploaded files.

This function can be used with other functions inside the saveInto parameter. It can also be nested within another function in the saveInto parameter. To see this in practice, check out this example that starts a process and submits an uploaded file.

In the button component, set the submit parameter to false

On buttons that uses a!submitUploadedFiles(), set the value of the submit parameter to false. Using true for the submit parameter is for buttons that submit start forms and tasks, which can't use a!submitUploadedFiles(). The a!submitUploadedFiles() function is for buttons that upload files outside of start forms and tasks. Using submit: true and saveInto: a!submitUploadedFiles in the same button will not work correctly.

Note that the buttons in the form layout and templates in an interface object set the submit parameter to true by default. To use these outside of a start for or task, you will need to update the submit parameter to false.

form layouts in interface

Submitting files from multiple file upload or signature components on one interface

For interfaces such as comment threads, you may have more than one file upload component with a submit button for each.

For example, in the following interface, users can attach a file to a comment or in a reply to a comment. You wouldn't want one of the buttons to submit files from both file upload components. Instead, you need to use the documents parameter to specify which file should be submitted with which button. See this example for how to use the documents parameter.

comment thread example with multiple file upload fields

Submission behavior when one file fails to upload

If multiple files are uploaded and at least one of them fails to submit, then none of the files will submit and they won't be added to the target folder.

Testing and troubleshooting a!submitUploadedFiles() in portals

To make sure files will be uploaded correctly in a portal, publish the portal and test the file upload on the portal website. The file may seem to submit correctly when you test it in the interface object, but it may not work in the portal itself.

Some errors for a!submitUploadedFiles() only happen in a published portal. For example, if the portal service account doesn't have Editor permissions to the target folder, you will see an error in the portal, but not in the interface object. If you are getting an error in a published portal that you aren't seeing in the interface object, try displaying the value of fv!error in the portal interface.

In portals, only the error code displays as the value of fv!error, without a corresponding message. To find out what the error code means, see the following table.

Error Code	Meaning
APNX‑1‑4561‑007	An error occurred when submitting the uploaded file(s).
APNX‑2‑4196‑000	An unexpected error has occurred. The form can't be submitted.
APNX‑2‑4196‑001	The destination folder specified is invalid.
APNX‑2‑4196‑002	The portal service account does not have Editor permissions to upload files to the designated folder. See Service Accounts in Portals for more information.
APNX‑2‑4196‑006	This file is empty.
APNX‑2‑4196‑007	The uploaded file doesn't exist.

Examples

Click EXPRESSION to copy and paste an example into the Interface Definition to see it displayed.

Upload a file outside of a start form or task

This example uses a!submitUploadedFiles() in the saveInto parameter of the Submit button. When the user uploads the file, it will be saved to a temporary folder. When they click Submit, the file will be saved to the target folder.

a!localVariables(
  local!file,
  {
    a!fileUploadField(
      label: "Supporting Image",
      value: local!file,
      saveInto: local!file,
      /* Replace this with a constant of type Folder in your environment */
      target: cons!FOLDER_CONSTANT,
      maxSelections: 1,
      validations: if(
        or(upper(fv!files.extension) = { "PNG", "JPG" }),
        null,
        "Please upload a valid image type: PNG or JPEG"
      )
    ),
    a!buttonArrayLayout(
      buttons: {
        a!buttonWidget(
          label: "Submit",
          style: "SOLID",
          saveInto: a!submitUploadedFiles()
        )
      },
      align: "END"
    )
  }
)

Upload a file outside of a start form or task and start a process

In this example, when the user clicks the Submit button, it starts a process. If the process completes successfully, the image is uploaded to the target folder.

This example uses data from the Acme Auto Solution Application application, available for free in Appian Community Edition. To follow along with this example, go to Appian Community to request the latest Appian Community Edition site.

If you do not see the Acme Auto Solution Application in your existing Appian Community Edition site, request a new Appian Community Edition site to get the latest application contents.

a!localVariables(
  local!data: 'recordType!{aa4ce38f-1a9d-4827-af51-e2ccb80a2c8b}AS Vehicle'(
    'recordType!{aa4ce38f-1a9d-4827-af51-e2ccb80a2c8b}AS Vehicle.fields.{8b9b140f-deaf-4ca3-8066-1c4624cda5ea}vehicleImage': null
  ),
  local!submissionSuccessful,
  {
    a!fileUploadField(
      label: "Vehicle Image",
      labelPosition: "ABOVE",
      value: local!data['recordType!{aa4ce38f-1a9d-4827-af51-e2ccb80a2c8b}AS Vehicle.fields.{8b9b140f-deaf-4ca3-8066-1c4624cda5ea}vehicleImage'],
      saveInto: local!data['recordType!{aa4ce38f-1a9d-4827-af51-e2ccb80a2c8b}AS Vehicle.fields.{8b9b140f-deaf-4ca3-8066-1c4624cda5ea}vehicleImage'],
      /* Replace this with a constant of type Folder in your environment */
      target: cons!FOLDER_CONSTANT
    ),
    a!buttonArrayLayout(
      buttons: {
        a!buttonWidget(
          label: "Submit",
          style: "SOLID",
          saveInto: a!startProcess(
            /* Replace this with a constant of type Process Model that writes the image ID */
            processModel: cons!PROCESS_MODEL_CONSTANT,
            processParameters: {
              vehicle: local!data
            },
            /* Only upload the files if the process completes successfully */
            onSuccess: a!submitUploadedFiles(
              onSuccess: a!save(local!submissionSuccessful, true),
              onError: a!save(local!submissionSuccessful, false)
            ),
            onError: a!save(local!submissionSuccessful, false)
          )
        )
      },
      align: "START"
    )
  }
)

Using the documents parameter with more than one file upload component

This example shows how to use the documents parameter when there is more than one file upload component on an interface. See the usage considerations for more information.

a!localVariables(
  local!comment,
  local!commentFile,
  local!reply,
  local!replyFile,
  {
    a!sectionLayout(
      label: "",
      contents: {
        a!columnsLayout(
          columns: {
            a!columnLayout(
              contents: {
                a!stampField(
                  labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
                  icon: "user",
                  backgroundColor: "ACCENT",
                  contentColor: "#ffffff",
                  size: "SMALL"
                )
              },
              width: "EXTRA_NARROW"
            ),
            a!columnLayout(
              contents: {
                a!paragraphField(
                  labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
                  placeholder: "Enter comment",
                  value: local!comment,
                  saveInto: local!comment,
                  refreshAfter: "UNFOCUS",
                  height: "MEDIUM"
                )
              }
            )
          }
        ),
        a!columnsLayout(
          columns: {
            a!columnLayout(contents: {}, width: "EXTRA_NARROW"),
            a!columnLayout(
              contents: {
                a!fileUploadField(
                  label: "File Upload",
                  labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
                  /* Replace this with a constant of type Folder in your environment */
                  target: cons!FOLDER_CONSTANT,
                  value: local!commentFile,
                  saveInto: local!commentFile
                )
              }
            ),
            a!columnLayout(
              contents: {
                a!buttonArrayLayout(
                  buttons: {
                    a!buttonWidget(
                      label: "Post Comment",
                      saveInto: a!submitUploadedFiles(
                        documents: local!commentFile
                      ),
                      style: "SOLID"
                    )
                  },
                  align: "END"
                )
              }
            )
          }
        )
      },
      divider: "BELOW"
    ),
    a!richTextDisplayField(
      labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
      value: {
        a!richTextItem(
          text: { "1 Comment" },
          size: "MEDIUM",
          style: { "STRONG" }
        )
      },
      marginAbove: "EVEN_LESS",
      marginBelow: "MORE"
    ),
    a!columnsLayout(
      columns: {
        a!columnLayout(
          contents: {
            a!stampField(
              labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
              icon: "user",
              backgroundColor: "ACCENT",
              contentColor: "#ffffff",
              size: "SMALL"
            )
          },
          width: "EXTRA_NARROW"
        ),
        a!columnLayout(
          contents: {
            a!richTextDisplayField(
              labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
              value: {
                a!richTextItem(
                  text: { "Karen Anderson " },
                  style: { "STRONG" }
                ),
                "I have a comment about this.",
                char(10),
                a!richTextItem(
                  text: { "5 minutes ago" },
                  color: "SECONDARY",
                  size: "SMALL"
                )
              },
              marginAbove: "LESS"
            )
          },
          width: "AUTO"
        )
      }
    ),
    a!columnsLayout(
      columns: {
        a!columnLayout(contents: {}, width: "EXTRA_NARROW"),
        a!columnLayout(
          contents: {
            a!cardLayout(
              contents: {
                a!richTextDisplayField(
                  labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
                  value: {
                    a!richTextItem(
                      text: { "Replying to Karen" },
                      color: "SECONDARY",
                      size: "SMALL",
                      style: { "STRONG" }
                    )
                  }
                ),
                a!paragraphField(
                  label: "",
                  labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
                  placeholder: "Enter comment",
                  value: local!reply,
                  saveInto: local!reply,
                  refreshAfter: "UNFOCUS",
                  height: "MEDIUM"
                ),
                a!columnsLayout(
                  columns: {
                    a!columnLayout(
                      contents: {
                        a!fileUploadField(
                          label: "",
                          labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
                          value: local!replyFile,
                          saveInto: local!replyFile
                        )
                      }
                    ),
                    a!columnLayout(
                      contents: {
                        a!buttonArrayLayout(
                          buttons: {
                            a!buttonWidget(
                              label: "POST REPLY",
                              saveInto: a!submitUploadedFiles(
                                documents: local!replyFile
                              ),
                              size: "SMALL",
                              style: "OUTLINE"
                            )
                          }
                        )
                      }
                    )
                  }
                )
              },
              height: "AUTO",
              style: "TRANSPARENT",
              marginBelow: "STANDARD",
              showBorder: false,
              decorativeBarPosition: "START",
              decorativeBarColor: "#DDD"
            )
          },
          width: "AUTO"
        )
      }
    )
  }
)

Displays the following:

comment thread example with multiple file upload fields

Test file submission in a portal and display the error code

Some errors for a!submitUploadedFiles() only happen in a published portal. If you are getting an error in a published portal that you aren't seeing in the interface object, follow the steps below to display the value of fv!error in the portal.

To test the below example:

Create an interface object and copy and paste the example expression into it.
Create a portal object.
- Add a page to the portal using the interface with the example expression.
- For Service Account, create a service account, or select an existing one.
Give the service account Editor permissions to the folder that the files will be uploaded to.
In the portal object, turn on Published, then click SAVE CHANGES to publish the portal.
After the portal publication is complete, test the portal by uploading a file that is less than 10 MB. It should display "File uploaded successfully."
Remove the service account's access to the folder and test the portal again. It should display "File not uploaded. APNX-2-4196-002".

a!localVariables(
  local!file,
  local!submissionSuccessful,
  local!errorCode,
  {
    a!fileUploadField(
      label: "Supporting Image",
      /* Replace this with a constant of type Folder in your environment */
      target: cons!FOLDER_CONSTANT,
      value: local!file,
      saveInto: local!file
    ),
    a!buttonArrayLayout(
      buttons: {
        a!buttonWidget(
          label: "Submit",
          saveInto: a!submitUploadedFiles(
            onSuccess: a!save(local!submissionSuccessful, true),
            onError: {
              a!save(local!submissionSuccessful, false),
              a!save(local!errorCode, fv!error)
            }
          ),
          style: "SOLID"
        )
      },
      align: "END"
    ),
    {
      if(
        isnull(local!submissionSuccessful),
        {},
        if(
          local!submissionSuccessful = true,
          /* Success message */
          a!richTextDisplayField(
            labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
            value: {
              a!richTextIcon(
                icon: "check-circle", 
                color: "POSITIVE"),
                " ",
                a!richTextItem(
                  text: "File uploaded successfully",
                  style: "STRONG"
                )
            },
            align: "RIGHT"
          ),
          /* Error message */
          a!richTextDisplayField(
            labelPosition: "COLLAPSED",
            value: {
              a!richTextIcon(
                icon: "times-circle", 
                color: "NEGATIVE"),
                " ",
                a!richTextItem(
                  text: {
                    "File not uploaded. ",
                    local!errorCode,
                  },
                  style: "STRONG",
                  color: "NEGATIVE"
                )
            },
            align: "RIGHT"
          )
        )
      )
    }
  }
)

Feature compatibility

The table below lists this function's compatibility with various features in Appian.

Feature	Compatibility	Note
Portals	Compatible
Offline Mobile	Incompatible
Sync-Time Custom Record Fields	Incompatible
Real-Time Custom Record Fields	Incompatible	Custom record fields that evaluate in real time must be configured using one or more Custom Field functions.
Process Reports	Incompatible	Cannot be used to configure a process report.
Process Events	Incompatible	Cannot be used to configure a process event node, such as a start event or timer event.

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