Angular FileManager - Bind to File Systems

The FileManager UI component uses file system providers to access and modify different file systems. This topic describes how to work with all supported file systems.

DevExtreme File Manager - Bind to File Systems

Object File System

The FileManager UI component provides the Object file system provider to manage files and folders in an in-memory array of JSON objects.

FileManager - Hierarchical Data Structure

Create an Object file system provider and assign the array of hierarchical JSON objects to the provider's data property to bind the FileManager UI component to a hierarchical data structure.

The provider automatically binds data objects to the UI component if the data objects have default fields in their structure. For example:

var fileSystem = [
{
    name: "MyFile.jpg",
    size: 1024,
    dateModified: "2019/05/08",
    thumbnail: "/thumbnails/images/jpeg.ico",
    isDirectory: true,
    items: [
        // ...
        // Nested data objects with the same structure
        // ...
    ]
},
// ...
];

In the example below, the FileManager UI component displays hierarchical data stored in an in-memory array that contains fields with conventional names.

jQuery

index.js

data.js

$(function() {
    $("#file-manager").dxFileManager({            
        fileSystemProvider: fileSystem,
        // ...
    });
});

var fileSystem = [
{
    name: "Documents",
    isDirectory: true,
    items: [{
        name: "Projects",
        isDirectory: true,
        items: [{
            name: "About.rtf",
            isDirectory: false,
            size: 1024
        }, {
            name: "Passwords.rtf",
            isDirectory: false,
            size: 2048
        }]
    }, {
        name: "About.xml",
        isDirectory: false,
        size: 1024
    }]
}];

Angular

app.component.html

app.component.ts

app.module.ts

<dx-file-manager id="fileManager"
    [fileSystemProvider]="fileItems">
</dx-file-manager>

import { Component } from '@angular/core';    

@Component({
    selector: 'app-root',
    templateUrl: './app.component.html',
    styleUrls: ['./app.component.css']
})

export class AppComponent {
    fileItems = [{
        name: "Documents",
        isDirectory: true,
        items: [{
            name: "Projects",
            isDirectory: true,
            items: [{
                name: "About.rtf",
                isDirectory: false,
                size: 1024
            }, {
                name: "Passwords.rtf",
                isDirectory: false,
                size: 2048
            }]
        },{
            name: "About.xml",
            isDirectory: false,
            size: 1024
        }]
    }];    
}

import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser';
import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
import { DxFileManagerModule } from 'devextreme-angular';

@NgModule({
    declarations: [
        AppComponent
    ],
    imports: [
        BrowserModule,
        DxFileManagerModule
    ],
    //...
})
export class AppModule { }

Vue

App.vue

data.js

<template>
    <DxFileManager
        :file-system-provider="fileItems">
    </DxFileManager>
</template>

<script>
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.common.css';
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.light.css';     

import { 
    DxFileManager
} from 'devextreme-vue/file-manager';
import { fileItems } from "./data.js";

export default {
    components: {
        DxFileManager
    },

    data() {
        return {
            fileItems
        };
    }
};
</script>

export const fileItems = [{
    'name': 'Documents',
    'isDirectory': true,
    'items': [{
        'name': 'Projects',
        'isDirectory': true,
        'items': [{
            'name': 'About.rtf',
            'isDirectory': false,
            'size': 1024
        }, {
            'name': 'Passwords.rtf',
            'isDirectory': false,
            'size': 2048
        }]
    }, {
        'name': 'About.xml',
        'isDirectory': false,
        'size': 1024
    }]
}];

React

App.js

data.js

import React from 'react';

import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.common.css';
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.light.css';

import FileManager from 'devextreme-react/file-manager';
import { fileItems } from './data.js';

class App extends React.Component {
    render() {
        return (
            <FileManager fileSystemProvider={fileItems}>
            </FileManager>
        );
    }
}
export default App;

export const fileItems = [{
    'name': 'Documents',
    'isDirectory': true,
    'items': [{
        'name': 'Projects',
        'isDirectory': true,
        'items': [{
            'name': 'About.rtf',
            'isDirectory': false,
            'size': 1024
        }, {
            'name': 'Passwords.rtf',
            'isDirectory': false,
            'size': 2048
        }]
    }, {
        'name': 'About.xml',
        'isDirectory': false,
        'size': 1024
    }]
}];

ASP.NET MVC Controls

Razor C#

@(Html.DevExtreme().FileManager()
    .FileSystemProvider(new JS("fileSystem"))
)
<script src="~/Scripts/data/data.js"></script>

<!-- data.js -->
var fileSystem = [{
    name: "Documents",
    isDirectory: true,
    items: [
        {
        name: "Projects",
        isDirectory: true,
        items: [
            {
            name: "About.rtf",
            isDirectory: false,
            size: 1024
        }, {
            name: "Passwords.rtf",
            isDirectory: false,
            size: 2048
        }]
    }, {
        name: "About.xml",
        isDirectory: false,
        size: 1024
    }]
}];

If the data source's field names differ from the standard field names mentioned above, use the [fieldName]Expr properties when you specify the file system item's name, size, and so on.

jQuery

index.js

data.js

$(function() {
    $("#file-manager").dxFileManager({ 
        fileSystemProvider: new DevExpress.fileManagement.ObjectFileSystemProvider({            
            data: fileSystem,
            isDirectoryExpr: "isFolder",
            sizeExpr: "itemSize"                
        })
    });
});

var fileSystem = [{
    name: "Documents",
    isFolder: true,
    items: [{
        name: "Projects",
        isFolder: true,
        items: [{
            name: "About.rtf",
            isFolder: false,
            itemSize: 1024
        }, {
            name: "Passwords.rtf",
            isFolder: false,
            itemSize: 2048
        }]
    }, {
        name: "About.xml",
        isFolder: false,
        itemSize: 1024
    }]
}];

Angular

app.component.html

app.component.ts

app.module.ts

<dx-file-manager id="fileManager"
    [fileSystemProvider]="objectFileProvider">
</dx-file-manager>

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import ObjectFileSystemProvider from 'devextreme/file_management/object_provider';   

@Component({
    selector: 'app-root',
    templateUrl: './app.component.html',
    styleUrls: ['./app.component.css']
})

export class AppComponent {
    fileItems: object[];
    objectFileProvider: ObjectFileSystemProvider;

    constructor() {
        this.fileItems = [{
            name: "Documents",
            isFolder: true,
            items: [{
                name: "Projects",
                isFolder: true,
                items: [{
                    name: "About.rtf",
                    isFolder: false,
                    itemSize: 1024
                },{
                    name: "Passwords.rtf",
                    isFolder: false,
                    itemSize: 2048
                }]
            }]
        }];
        this.objectFileProvider = new ObjectFileSystemProvider({
            data: this.fileItems,
            isDirectoryExpr: "isFolder",
            sizeExpr: "itemSize"
        });
    }
}

import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser';
import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
import { DxFileManagerModule } from 'devextreme-angular';

@NgModule({
    declarations: [
        AppComponent
    ],
    imports: [
        BrowserModule,
        DxFileManagerModule
    ],
    //...
})
export class AppModule { }

Vue

App.vue

data.js

<template>
    <DxFileManager
        :file-system-provider="objectFileProvider">
    </DxFileManager>
</template>

<script>
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.common.css';
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.light.css';     

import { DxFileManager } from 'devextreme-vue/file-manager';
import ObjectFileSystemProvider from 'devextreme/file_management/object_provider';
import { fileItems } from './data.js';

const objectFileProvider = new ObjectFileSystemProvider({
    data: fileItems,
    isDirectoryExpr: "isFolder",
    sizeExpr: "itemSize"
});

export default {
    components: {
        DxFileManager,
        ObjectFileSystemProvider
    },

    data() {
        return {
            objectFileProvider
        };
    }
};
</script>

export const fileItems = [{
    'name': 'Documents',
    'isFolder': true,
    'items': [{
        'name': 'Projects',
        'isFolder': true,
        'items': [{
            'name': 'About.rtf',
            'isFolder': false,
            'itemSize': 1024
        }, {
            'name': 'Passwords.rtf',
            'isFolder': false,
            'itemSize': 2048
        }]
    }, {
        'name': 'About.xml',
        'isFolder': false,
        'itemSize': 1024
    }]
}];

React

App.js

data.js

import React from 'react';

import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.common.css';
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.light.css';

import FileManager from 'devextreme-react/file-manager';
import ObjectFileSystemProvider from 'devextreme/file_management/object_provider';
import { fileItems } from './data.js';

const objectFileProvider = new ObjectFileSystemProvider({
    isDirectoryExpr: "isFolder",
    sizeExpr: "itemSize",
    data: fileItems
});

class App extends React.Component {
    render() {
        return (
            <FileManager fileSystemProvider={objectFileProvider}>
            </FileManager>
        );
    }
}
export default App;

export const fileItems = [{
    'name': 'Documents',
    'isFolder': true,
    'items': [{
        'name': 'Projects',
        'isFolder': true,
        'items': [{
            'name': 'About.rtf',
            'isFolder': false,
            'itemSize': 1024
        }, {
            'name': 'Passwords.rtf',
            'isFolder': false,
            'itemSize': 2048
        }]
    }, {
        'name': 'About.xml',
        'isFolder': false,
        'itemSize': 1024
    }]
}];

ASP.NET MVC Controls

Razor C#

@(Html.DevExtreme().FileManager()
    .FileSystemProvider(new JS("objectFileProvider"))
)
<script>
    var fileItems = [{
        name: "Documents",
        isFolder: true,
        items: [{
            name: "Projects",
            isFolder: true,
            items: [{
                name: "About.rtf",
                isFolder: false,
                itemSize: 1024
            }, {
                name: "Passwords.rtf",
                isFolder: false,
                itemSize: 2048
            }]
        }]
    }];
    var objectFileProvider = {
        isDirectoryExpr: "isFolder",
        sizeExpr: "itemSize",
        data: fileItems
    };     
</script>

View Demo

Remote File System

The FileManager UI component provides the Remote file system provider to access files and folders located on the server.

FileManager - remote file system on the server

Assign the Remote file system provider to the fileSystemProvider property to connect the UI component to a file system located on the server. The Remote file system provider exposes APIs to get the file system hierarchy and to manage items.

Set the endpointUrl property to the Url of an endpoint used to access and modify a file system.

You can also use helpers for ASP.NET Core and ASP.NET MVC to access different file systems on the server side according to the protocol the FileManager UI component uses. Refer to the online documentation and online demos to get more information about the helpers.

The data object, which is sent back from the server, contains attributes that store the file system items' key, name, size, modification date and so on. If these attribute names differ from the conventional names, use the [fieldName]Expr properties to map item properties.

jQuery

index.js

$(function () {
    $("#file-manager").dxFileManager({            
        fileSystemProvider: new DevExpress.fileManagement.RemoteFileSystemProvider({
            endpointUrl: "https://js.devexpress.com/Demos/Mvc/api/file-manager-file-system-scripts"
        }),
        // ...
    });
});

Angular

app.component.html

app.component.ts

app.module.ts

<dx-file-manager id="fileManager"
    [fileSystemProvider]="remoteFileProvider">
    <!-- ... -->
</dx-file-manager>

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import RemoteFileSystemProvider from 'devextreme/file_management/remote_provider';

@Component({
    selector: 'app-root',
    templateUrl: 'app/app.component.html',
    styleUrls: ['app/app.component.css']
})  

export class AppComponent {
    remoteFileProvider: RemoteFileSystemProvider;

    constructor() {
        this.remoteFileProvider = new RemoteFileSystemProvider({
            endpointUrl: "https://js.devexpress.com/Demos/Mvc/api/file-manager-file-system-scripts"
        });
    }
}

import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser';
import { NgModule} from '@angular/core';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
import { DxFileManagerModule } from 'devextreme-angular';

@NgModule({
    imports: [
        BrowserModule,
        DxFileManagerModule
    ],
    declarations: [AppComponent],
    bootstrap: [AppComponent]
})
export class AppModule { }

Vue

App.vue

<template>
    <DxFileManager
        :file-system-provider="remoteFileProvider">
        <!-- ... -->
    </DxFileManager>
</template>

<script>
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.common.css';
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.light.css'; 

import { DxFileManager } from 'devextreme-vue/file-manager';

import RemoteFileSystemProvider from 'devextreme/file_management/remote_provider';

const remoteFileProvider = new RemoteFileSystemProvider({
    endpointUrl: 'https://js.devexpress.com/Demos/Mvc/api/file-manager-file-system-scripts'
});

export default {
    components: {
        DxFileManager
    },
    data() {
        return {
            remoteFileProvider
        };
    }
};
</script>

React

App.js

import React from 'react';

import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.common.css';
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.light.css';

import FileManager from 'devextreme-react/file-manager';
import RemoteFileSystemProvider from 'devextreme/file_management/remote_provider';

const remoteFileProvider = new RemoteFileSystemProvider({
    endpointUrl: 'https://js.devexpress.com/Demos/Mvc/api/file-manager-file-system-scripts'
});

class App extends React.Component {
    render() {
        return (
            <FileManager 
                fileSystemProvider={remoteFileProvider}>
                {/* ... */}
            </FileManager>
        );
    }
}
export default App;

ASP.NET MVC Controls

Razor C#

@(Html.DevExtreme().FileManager()
    .FileSystemProvider(provider => provider.Remote()
        .Url(Url.HttpRouteUrl("FileManagementScriptsApi", null)))
        // ...
    })

View Demo

Custom File System

Use the FileManager UI component's Custom file system provider to implement custom APIs to access and manage file systems. This provider allows you to handle each file operation manually. Use the custom provider when it's necessary to connect the UI component to an API service with a custom request or response format.

FileManager - Custom Provider

Assign the Custom file system provider to the fileSystemProvider property to implement a custom file system provider and bind the FileManager UI component to it. The getItems function allows you to get file system items. Use the [fieldName]Expr properties specify the attribute names that store file system item keys, names, sizes, modification dates, and etc. You can also use the 'copyItem', 'deleteItem', and other functions to handle file operations.

jQuery

JavaScript

$("#file-manager").dxFileManager({
    // Assigns the Custom file system provider to the UI component
    fileSystemProvider: new DevExpress.fileManagement.CustomFileSystemProvider({
        // Function to get file system items
        getItems: getItems,
        // Functions to handle file operations
        createDirectory: createDirectory,
        deleteItem: deleteItem
        // ...
    }),        
});
function getItems (pathInfo) {
    // your code
}
function createDirectory(parentDirectory, name) {
    // your code
}
function deleteItem(item) {
    // your code
}

Angular

app.component.html

app.component.ts

app.module.ts

<dx-file-manager id="fileManager" 
    [fileSystemProvider]="customFileProvider">
</dx-file-manager>

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import CustomFileSystemProvider from 'devextreme/file_management/custom_provider';

@Component({
    selector: 'app-root',
    templateUrl: 'app/app.component.html',
    styleUrls: ['app/app.component.css']
})

export class AppComponent {
    customFileProvider: CustomFileSystemProvider;

    constructor() {
        // Creates a custom file system provider 
        this.customFileProvider = new CustomFileSystemProvider({
            // Function to get file system items
            getItems,
            // Functions to handle file operations
            createDirectory,
            deleteItem                
        });
    }
}
function getItems(pathInfo) {
    // ...
}
function createDirectory(parentDirectory, name) {
    // ...
} 
function deleteItem(item) {
    // ...
}

import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser';
import { NgModule} from '@angular/core';
import { AppComponent } from './app.component';
import { DxFileManagerModule } from 'devextreme-angular';

@NgModule({
    imports: [
        BrowserModule,
        DxFileManagerModule
    ],
    declarations: [AppComponent],
    bootstrap: [AppComponent]
})
export class AppModule { }

Vue

App.vue

<template>
    <DxFileManager :file-provider="customFileProvider"></DxFileManager>
</template>

<script>
    import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.common.css';
    import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.light.css';     

    import { DxFileManager } from 'devextreme-vue/file-manager';
    import CustomFileSystemProvider from 'devextreme/file_management/custom_provider';        

    // Creates a custom file system provider 
    const customFileProvider = new CustomFileSystemProvider({
        // Function to get file system items
        getItems,
        // Functions to handle file operations
        createDirectory,
        deleteItem            
    });

    export default {
        components: {
            DxFileManager,
            CustomFileSystemProvider
        },

        data() {
            return { customFileProvider };
        }
    };
    function getItems(pathInfo) {
        // ...
    }
    function createDirectory(parentDirectory, name) {
        // ...
    }
    function deleteItem(item) {
        // ...
    }                
</script>

React

App.js

import React from 'react';

import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.common.css';
import 'devextreme/dist/css/dx.light.css';

import FileManager from 'devextreme-react/file-manager';
import CustomFileSystemProvider from 'devextreme/file_management/custom_provider';

// Creates a custom file system provider 
const customFileProvider = new CustomFileSystemProvider({
    // Function to get file system items
    getItems,
    // Functions to handle file operations
    createDirectory,
    deleteItem
});

class App extends React.Component {
    render() {
        return(
            <FileManager 
                fileSystemProvider={customFileProvider} >
            </FileManager>
        );
    }
}   
function getItems(pathInfo) {
    // ...
}
function createDirectory(parentDirectory, name) {
    // ...
}
function deleteItem(item) {
    // ...
}         
export default App;

ASP.NET MVC Controls

Razor C#

@(Html.DevExtreme().FileManager()
    <!-- Assigns a custom file system provider to the UI component -->
    .FileSystemProvider(provider => provider.Custom()
        <!-- Function to get file system items -->
        .GetItems("getItems")
        <!-- Functions to handle file operations -->
        .CreateDirectory("createDirectory")
        .DeleteItem("deleteItem")
    )
)
<script>
  function getItems(pathInfo) {
    // ...
  }
  function createDirectory(parentDirectory, name) {
    // your code                
  }
  function deleteItem(item) {
    // your code
  }
</script>

View Demo

Was this topic helpful?

Thank you!

Feel free to share topic-related thoughts here.
If you have technical questions, please create a support ticket in the DevExpress Support Center.

Thank you for the feedback!