HTML Input="file" Accept Attribute File Type (CSV)

Question

I have a file upload object on my page:

<input type="file" ID="fileSelect" />

with the following excel files on my desktop:

1. file1.xlsx
2. file1.xls
3. file.csv

I want the file upload to ONLY show .xlsx, .xls, & .csv files.

Using the accept attribute, I found these content-types took care of .xlsx & .xls extensions...

accept= application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet (.XLSX)

accept= application/vnd.ms-excel (.XLS)

However, I cannot find the correct content-type for an Excel CSV file! Any suggestions?

EXAMPLE: http://jsfiddle.net/LzLcZ/

Gian

most browsers do not respect the accept attribute since it can be used to encurage users who are not paying attention to transmit sensitive files. – Lahnda

@Lahnda not true, it's supported by most major browsers – Gian

You can also try this if ($.trim($('#OriginalFileName').val()) != "") { var ext = $('#OriginalFileName').val().split('.').pop().toLowerCase(); if ($.inArray(ext, ['doc', 'docx', 'pdf', 'xlsx', 'xls']) == -1) { $('#OriginalFileNameValid').html('Use .doc,.docx,.pdf files'); } } – Photon

In case any other Ubuntu users are getting confused by this, I have found that in Ubuntu, Firefox defaults to showing "All Files", but adds whatever your "accept" attribute is to the filetype dropdown in the file selection dialog. – Gardell

Answer 1

Well this is embarrassing... I found the solution I was looking for and it couldn't be simpler. I used the following code to get the desired result.

<label for="fileSelect">Spreadsheet</label>
<input id="fileSelect" type="file" accept=".csv, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet, application/vnd.ms-excel" />

Valid Accept Types:

For CSV files (.csv), use:

<input type="file" accept=".csv" />

For Excel Files 97-2003 (.xls), use:

<input type="file" accept="application/vnd.ms-excel" />

For Excel Files 2007+ (.xlsx), use:

<input type="file" accept="application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet" />

For Text Files (.txt) use:

<input type="file" accept="text/plain" />

For Image Files (.png/.jpg/etc), use:

<input type="file" accept="image/*" />

For HTML Files (.htm,.html), use:

<input type="file" accept="text/html" />

For Video Files (.avi, .mpg, .mpeg, .mp4), use:

<input type="file" accept="video/*" />

For Audio Files (.mp3, .wav, etc), use:

<input type="file" accept="audio/*" />

For PDF Files, use:

<input type="file" accept=".pdf" /> 

DEMO:
http://jsfiddle.net/dirtyd77/LzLcZ/144/

---

NOTE:

If you are trying to display Excel CSV files (.csv), do NOT use:

• text/csv
• application/csv
• text/comma-separated-values (works in Opera only).

---

If you are trying to display a particular file type (for example, a WAV or PDF), then this will almost always work...

 <input type="file" accept=".FILETYPE" />

Here's the reason why it is so:

The application types often mean where to open the file. For example, Abode Reader. But when this file is uploaded, the browser doesn't care about opening and asking that app about it. But the extension, however, or type words like the MIME image or audio etcetera work applying directly to file units.

It is possible to use them in relation to a File DOM instance. So, you should use the extension format name. On many devices, like mobiles, it is seen when you click select File, that the non- accepted files in the user menu are excluded in grey... Have a great time spent with your files!

Gian

It seems that Chrome supports this attribute, but Firefox is still working on it. You can vote this bug so they will solve it faster: bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=826176 – Displacement

Hey Dom (and everyone) kind of a nit-picky question, but I used the accept attribute (for csv, xls, and xlsx files) and it works great, except it also allows the user--at least on my machine--to select icon files as well, and then flashes an error message that says "FILE NAME: Catastrophic failure". It will simply allow you to choose another file after that, so not THAT catastrophic, just wondered if anyone had an idea why this would happen? – Concord

@DavidRouten the accept attribute would just filter file types. You would have to use file validation as well to prevent users from selecting other file types. Hope that helps! – Gian

Note: in Chrome (v 32) it works even with combined types like txt and csv: <input id="fileSelect" type="file" accept="text/plain, .csv, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet, application/vnd.ms-excel" /> – Dehaven

I wonder why such an obvious file selector feature is not supported by all modern browsers...maybe issues with native OS support, a best effort strategy is the way to go. – Prime

@HowardShieh what version of safari are you using? – Gian

@Gian 7.0.3(9537.75.14) – Paulie

for csv file in FF on ubuntu accept="text/csv" works not ".csv" – Covington

<input type="file" accept=".csv" /> is not works in Firefox. Is there any other solution to make as works this in Firefox. – Sartor

Is there a way to combine two value of Mime type? – Shush

<input type="file" accept=".csv" /> doesn't work here either. – Kassie

<input type="file" accept=".csv, text/csv" /> worked for me in firefox, chrome and opera on mac. only .csv did not work in all browsers. – Venusberg

when we are using accept=".csv", why there is a semi-colon ( *.csv; ) at last of filter tab in file upload dialouge box. ( Ubuntu 14.04- Firefox 40.0.3 ) – Fascicule

i used accept="<*.csv>" it working fine and in filter tab it doesn't contained "*.csv;", it contained " CSV Document". Thnx – Fascicule

yuup,, it works for me. thanks a lot. To select ONLY *.xls and *.xlsx using this code : accept="application/vnd.ms-excel, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet" – Hiding

For the xls and xlsx mime types mentioned above, make sure that you have the correct player application installed (like Microsoft excel or word etc). – Bott

@ni8mr try accept=".xml" or accept="application/xml" or accept="text/xml" – Miscible

excel type "application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet" – Folly

in MVC 5, in a .cshtml View, '@accept = ".xlsx, .xls, .csv" ' works perfectly. The solution above with 'accept="application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet" ' does not work. – Latinalatinate

After my test, on 【macOS 10.15.7 Catalina】, the answer of 【Dom / Rikin Patel】 cannot recognize the [.xlsx] file normally. So I sum up the following answers : 【accept=".csv, .xls, .xlsx, text/csv, application/csv, text/comma-separated-values, application/csv, application/excel, application/vnd.msexcel, text/anytext, application/vnd. ms-excel, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"】 – Mattie

As I was expecting to have to hunt down a mime-type, I was happily surprised by the simplicity of just '.whatever' to work. And since some comments on this page were suggesting lack of support by 'modern browsers', I'm happy to report that on windows it works just fine in at least Chrome, Firefox and Edge (august 2023). – Aerify

Answer 2

These days you can just use the file extension

<input type="file" ID="fileSelect" accept=".xlsx, .xls, .csv"/>

Bilocular

Although amazingly this (and the alternative application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet,application/vnd.ms-excel) still doesn't appear to work on Edge 41.16299.820.0 #31876117 wpdev.uservoice.com/forums/257854-microsoft-edge-developer/… – Ginseng

Answer 3

Dom this attribute is very old and not accepted in modern browsers as far as I know, But here is an alternative to it, Try this

<script type="text/javascript" language="javascript">
function checkfile(sender) {
    var validExts = new Array(".xlsx", ".xls", ".csv");
    var fileExt = sender.value;
    fileExt = fileExt.substring(fileExt.lastIndexOf('.'));
    if (validExts.indexOf(fileExt) < 0) {
      alert("Invalid file selected, valid files are of " +
               validExts.toString() + " types.");
      return false;
    }
    else return true;
}
</script>

<input type="file" id="file" onchange="checkfile(this);" />

I guess it'll help you of course you can change this script according to your needs.

Crofton

Cool workaround but I do not understand why such an attribute is considered 'old'. This is a basic file selector feature on nearly every OS, the browsers should do their best to make it work and it would help many users... – Prime

The accept attribute is not old and is supported in the major browsers except for IE/Edge: caniuse.com/#feat=input-file-accept. Please rephrase your answer as it is misguiding. – Eliseoelish

The most important aspect of the accept attribute is the hint it provides to the open-file dialog. The user should be presented with matching files by default, presumably with an option to select other types if they wish -- this is how most modern browsers behave now. – Raeannraeburn

sender.value no longer works. It should be sender.target.value – Buenabuenaventura

Answer 4

I have used text/comma-separated-values for CSV mime-type in accept attribute and it works fine in Opera. Tried text/csv without luck.

Some others MIME-Types for CSV if the suggested do not work:

• text/comma-separated-values
• text/csv
• application/csv
• application/excel
• application/vnd.ms-excel
• application/vnd.msexcel
• text/anytext

Source: http://filext.com/file-extension/CSV

Churn

Hi Dom! I want to say sorry because your answer (marked as right) is OK and I do not have many attention on it before because I was testing the site in Opera only. After testing in other browsers, I see that you answer is more complete. But it does not work in all browsers. Firefox 17 does not support accept attr how a filter in File Dialog (bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=83749#c14), so this property is suspenseful for me. I will use javascript file validation anyway, but use text/csv in accept attr because it is the default of IANA iana.org/assignments/media-types – Churn

Answer 5

This didn't work for me under Safari 10:

<input type="file" accept=".csv" />

I had to write this instead:

<input type="file" accept="text/csv" />

Reviel

Hii,,, it working well on my safari too. But how if we want to accept excel documents? do you have any clue ? @Reviel – Hiding

Check the answer of Big Money. TLDR; <input type="file" ID="fileSelect" accept=".xlsx, .xls, .csv"/> – Ambo

Answer 6

just write the extensions you want to accept comma separated in the action atr in the out

<input type="file" accept=".any, .ext, .you, .want">

Atingle

Answer 7

In addition to the top-answer, CSV files, for example, are reported as text/plain under macOS but as application/vnd.ms-excel under Windows. So I use this:

<input type="file" accept="text/plain, .csv, application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet, application/vnd.ms-excel" />

Voltaire

Answer 8

You can know the correct content-type for any file by just doing the following:

1) Select interested file,

2) And run in console this:

console.log($('.file-input')[0].files[0].type);

You can also set attribute "multiple" for your input to check content-type for several files at a time and do next:

for (var i = 0; i < $('.file-input')[0].files.length; i++){
    console.log($('.file-input')[0].files[i].type);
}

Attribute accept has some problems with multiple attribute and doesn't work correctly in this case.

Rodd

Doing this and selecting a .csv file I get type: "text/csv" but using accept="text/csv" on an input doesn't filter files correctly (tested on Brave / Chromium). Using accept=".csv" works though. For playing it safe if you don't want to test in all common browsers I'd use both mime type and file extension like so accept="text/csv,.csv". – Oliy

Answer 9

After my test, on 【macOS 10.15.7 Catalina】, the answer of 【Dom / Rikin Patel】 cannot recognize the [.xlsx] file normally.

I personally summarized the practice of most of the existing answers and passed personal tests. Sum up the following answers:

accept=".csv, .xls, .xlsx, text/csv, application/csv,
text/comma-separated-values, application/csv, application/excel,
application/vnd.msexcel, text/anytext, application/vnd. ms-excel,
application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet"

Mattie

Answer 10

I have modified the solution of @yogi. The addition is that when the file is of incorrect format I reset the input element value.

function checkFile(sender, validExts) {
  var fileExt = sender.value;
  fileExt = fileExt.substring(fileExt.lastIndexOf('.'));
  if (validExts.indexOf(fileExt) < 0 && fileExt != "") {
    alert("Invalid file selected, valid files are of " +
             validExts.toString() + " types.");
    $(sender).val("");
    return false;
  }
  else return true;
}

I have custom verification buildin, because in open file window the user can still choose the options "All files ('*')", regardless if I explicitly set the accept attribute in input element.

Inadvisable

Answer 11

You can use the following accept types

<input id="upload_file" accept="image/png,image/jpg,image/jpeg,.doc, .docx,.xls,.xlsx,.pdf,.csv," name="upload_file" type="file"/>

Arapaho

This is my kind of answer. Simple and straight to the point with a working example. Thanks – Indohittite

Answer 12

Now you can use new html5 input validation attribute pattern=".+\.(xlsx|xls|csv)".

Bathrobe

According to MDN, This attribute applies when the value of the type attribute is text, search, tel, url or email; otherwise it is ignored. Regarding the file input, they go on to say file: A control that lets the user select a file. Use the accept attribute to define the types of files that the control can select. – Gian