From: David Heinemeier Hansson <david@...>
Date: 2003-10-26T23:49:19+09:00
Subject: Problems mixing regular form fields with file uploads

I'm trying to build a form that includes both regular form fields, such 
as text inputs and checkboxes, along with file uploading. It seems, 
though, that all the fields are treated like a File when a file input 
is used. I've tried to narrow it down with this script:

require 'CGI'
cgi = CGI.new

if cgi.params.length == 0
     print "<html><body><form method='post' 
enctype='multipart/form-data'>"
     print "<input type='text' name='title'><input type='file' 
name='logo'><input type='submit'>"
     print "</form></body></html>"
else
     $stderr << cgi.params['title'].first
     $stderr << cgi.params['logo'].first.original_filename
end

Entering "A picture" in the title input and choosing a file called 
"123.jpg" would add the following to the log: "A picture123.jpg". 
Instead I get "#<File:0x40b7e8>123.jpg".

Entering "A picture" in the title input and not choosing a file 
produces:
#<StringIO:0x209a52c>#<StringIO:0x20b3f04>

I'm baffled. Why is the title input treated first as a file and since 
as a StringIO? I reckon it has something to do with the enctype, but I 
can't seem to come up with a solution.

How would one go about extracting regular form data alongside file 
handling?

Note, I'm using mod_ruby 1.1.1, Apache 1.3.x, and Ruby 1.8.0 on OS X 
10.3.

// David