How to build a custom file uploader with progress tracking in FlutterFlow?

Building a Custom File Uploader with Progress Tracking in FlutterFlow

Creating a custom file uploader with progress tracking in FlutterFlow necessitates a blend of using FlutterFlow's visual environment and writing custom code to handle file upload management. Follow the detailed guide below to achieve a smooth and responsive file upload functionality with progress tracking.

Prerequisites

• Ensure that you have a FlutterFlow account with an active project where you want to implement the file uploader.
• Basic familiarity with FlutterFlow's interface and customization capabilities, as well as understanding of Dart for writing custom code.

Setting Up Your Project Environment

• Log in to your FlutterFlow account and open the project in which you want to add the file uploader.
• Navigate through the widget tree to where you want the uploader to be accessible, ensuring your project's interface is conducive for file uploads.

Designing the File Upload Interface

• In the FlutterFlow UI, add a Button widget to trigger the file selection process.
• Add a ProgressBar widget to visually represent the upload progress to the user.
• Consider adding a Text widget to display the upload percentage or status messages.

Creating a Custom Action for File Upload

• Since FlutterFlow does not support file uploads directly, you need to script the process using a custom action.
• Create a new Custom Action to open file picker dialogs and manage file selections. Use a package like file\_picker in Dart to enable file selection.
• Example code snippet to include in your custom action for file selection:

  <pre>
  // Import necessary packages
  import 'package:file_picker/file_picker.dart';
  
  Future<String> pickFile() async {
    FilePickerResult? result = await FilePicker.platform.pickFiles();
  
    if (result != null) {
      return result.files.single.path!;
    } else {
      // User canceled the picker
    }
  }
  </pre>
  

Implementing HTTP Upload Logic

• Within the same or a new custom action, write logic to upload the file using HTTP protocols.
• Utilize packages like http or dio to manage the file upload and handle progress tracking.
• Example using dio for progress tracking:

  <pre>
  import 'package:dio/dio.dart';
  
  void uploadFile(String filePath, Function(double) onProgress) async {
    Dio dio = Dio();
  
    dio.post("UPLOAD\_URL",
        data: FormData.fromMap({
          'file': await MultipartFile.fromFile(filePath),
        }),
        onSendProgress: (int sent, int total) {
          onProgress((sent / total) \* 100);
        });
  }
  </pre>
  

Linking and Testing the File Upload and Progress

• In the FlutterFlow action editor, execute the custom action when the user clicks the file upload button.
• Bind the onProgress function from your Dart code to update the UI progress bar and text widget to reflect the upload status.
• Test the implementation using the FlutterFlow preview mode to ensure file selection, uploads, and progress tracking work correctly.

Finalizing and Deployment

• Fine-tune the UI components' alignment and overall aesthetics, ensuring responsive design across different devices.
• Once tested and confirmed functional, proceed to deploy the app, verifying the custom file uploader works seamlessly in real-world usage.

Following these processes, you can effectively create a custom file uploader with progress tracking in FlutterFlow, granting users a seamless interaction for handling file uploads within your app environment. Make sure to implement thorough testing, particularly concerning different file types and internet conditions, to enhance the functionality's robustness.